Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Chief, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services (Chief, PM&RS) reports to the Chief of Staff. The Chief, PM&RS, is responsible for the administrative supervision, management, and implementation of facility goals of the physical medicine and rehabilitation program at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, a Complexity Level 3 facility with more than 60 employees, five (5) Center Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and 14-county catchment area. The incumbent serves and is charged with responsibility over all medical and non-medical activities and workflow of Acupuncture, Audiology, Chiropractic, Home-Based Primary Care - Rehab, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Prosthetics, Recreation Therapy, Speech Pathology, and specialty clinics such as Amputee, Brace, Pain Management, and Wheelchair Seating and Power Mobility.

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Independently plans, implements, directs, and manages all technical and operational aspects of PM&RS at Altoona VAMC. Plans, develops, and implements short and long-term goals and objectives as part of strategic planning, in collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team, to ensure the provision of quality services to meet the needs of our patient population.
• Develops and issues direction and policy to clinic staff given the extensive scope of the specialties and the large multi-state geographic referral area.
• Oversees the resources of the service, coordinating the development and implementation of budgetary, regulation and policy, position management, space and equipment programs, and advises/ recommends priorities to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Prepares and submits reports as required; directs, obtains, and consolidates planning information from subordinate units; and directs / recommends action or adjustments necessary to achieve required objectives.
• Developing, providing, and coordinating programs for therapies and clinics, which include physicians, fellows, residents, allied health disciplines, and administrative staff.
• Maintains program requirements/ validation criteria for assigned organizations and directs supervisors and staff members to participate in cyclic or special evaluations.
• Performs other duties as directed.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000 / Supervisory Occupational Therapist
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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• 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

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/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist. OR;
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field. OR;
  • Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.

NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy.

• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.§7403(f).

Grade Determinations: Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-14

Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level (Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions; Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service; Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution; Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.).

Demonstrated KSAs: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing clinically appropriate treatment interventions.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, team leaders, and administrators.
• Ability to manage [resources] for a large, integrated service including not only occupational therapy, but also other focused rehabilitation, ancillary, or other health care services.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff.
• Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into cogent and useful policy in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
• Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight [and supervision of] multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
• Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, and system reorganizations.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but requires some walking and in times of staff shortages or absences, assisting with direct patient care activities. Work is performed in an office and/or clinic setting within a medical center environment; however, travel may be required to visit CBOC facilities and attend conferences. Telework is available via an ad hoc agreement, i.e., inclement weather or other facility emergency.

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.