Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens.

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Duties include but not limited to:

• Responsible for independently providing comprehensive clinical services for the speech section and team
• Conducting screenings and diagnostic evaluations of patients presenting with a variety of communication and cognitive disorders; to make accurate diagnoses and to establish appropriate treatment plans
• Conducting speech, voice, cognition, and language therapy sessions and related management of patients with impairments in areas including but not limited to motor speech disorders or aphasia resulting from Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or neuromuscular disorders.
• Providing screenings on swallowing, providing assessment and treatment for patients with swallowing disorders (dysphagia), providing recommendations on diet management for patients with swallowing difficulties, functions to reduce complications of swallowing such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration.
• Management of tracheostomy/laryngectomy patients for the purpose of maximizing communication and swallowing as requested by the providers
• Educating patients and families regarding the results of assessments, progress in treatment and methods to maximize communication and swallowing
• Conducting augmentative alternative communication evaluations and prescribing devices when indicated.
• Working in conjunction with other medical specialists and is knowledgeable in making appropriate referrals to other professionals as necessary

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92547A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 evaluation.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Education and Experience:
  • A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology (SLP), communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience
    • OR
  • A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in the conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• English Language Proficiency: Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 USC § 7403(f)

Grade Determinations:
Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-11
(1) Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge of principles and techniques in assessing and treating disorders of speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing.
• (b) Knowledge of instrumentation and technologies for assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders.
• c) Ability to adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions, needs and goals.

Assignment. SLPs at this entry developmental grade level assess and treat patients with routine speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders following the principles of evidence-based practice and perform clinical procedures with respect to age-specific, unique patient conditions and needs. When assessing and treating patients with complex or rare speech, language, voice, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders, SLPs may require consultation with an SLP at the full performance or higher level.

Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-12
(1) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level, GS-11, and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology.
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• (a) Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations.
• (b) Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.
• (c) Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions.

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).

Preferred Experience: Experience in treatment of Parkinson's Disease via a voice treatment protocol such as LOUD preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:
This position entails constant talking, engaging, hearing patients, families, and VA team members. It requires constant fingering or hand movement to include typing, manipulation of clinical supplies. It requires constant vision including far and near for standard size print, with depth perception for test manipulation and reading equipment or electronic records. It requires frequent reaching, standing, walking, repetitive motion, balancing, bending, and kneeling for working with age-specific patients with various mobility issues and posturing. It requires occasional lifting over 25-50 pounds for supplies or moving patients in wheelchairs or other mobility devices. It requires occasional pushing and crouching.
This position requires the incumbent to travel by government vehicle to Community Based Clinics, Saginaw locations, and Home-Based Care as a regular and reoccurring part of their duties (valid driver's license required).

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants.
Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.