Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026 or until the position is filled.

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Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Development of short and long- range goals and objectives consistent with the health care system strategic plans, development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure provision of high-quality, cost-effective mental health services and management of administrative and programmatic resources.
• Develops clear and comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures for programs assigned to the mental health supervisor, ensuring staff follow the procedures and all relevant VA directives and guidelines.
• Responsible for ensuring initiation and completion of Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) reviews for employees assigned to the incumbent's areas of responsibility.
• Responsible for effectively managing and supervising program resources including staff, funds, space and equipment-utilized in the development and direction of the mental health services, consultations, research, and training provided the Veterans and staff of the medical center.
• Responsible for: approval/disapproval of leave and various Human Resources actions, setting employee performance standards and evaluating work performance; establishing procedures for reviewing written materials and interviewing candidates for vacant positions and making selections; counseling and/or administering corrective actions within the delegated authority; hearing and resolving employee complaints/grievances; providing or arranging for needed training, dealing effectively with matters pertaining to the labor-management agreement; and informing employees about policies, procedures, and practices of management as they relate to programs.
• Provides all services in scope of practice, which include assessment, diagnosis, individual/group therapy, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment/safety planning, consultation for other professional staff, and assumes professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
• Ensures all clinical activities, including documentation, comply with VA and medical center policies and procedures.
• Provides clinical consultation on complex, difficult cases, using advanced practice skills and expertise.
• Other duties as assigned

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education Requirement : You must have a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/.

• Licensure: Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.
• Loss of Licensure: Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS- 0101 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

• Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
• Assignments. LPMHCs manage the daily operations of multiple programs, develop and implement program policies and procedures, or serve as chief or principal counselor to a number of LPHMCs. They are responsible for oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes. They prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national leadership. Decisions may affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. They may be responsible for the program's budget. They may also supervise employees assigned to the program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-13 you must possess 1 year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade which demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
  • Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
  • Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
  • Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
  • Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.