Clarification from the agency

This is an Internal Announcement open to ONLY current permanent VA employees of the Facility. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Incumbent is a supervisory speech-language pathologist. Incumbent is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the speech-language pathology program in a unified audiology and speech-language pathology department. Incumbent has responsibility for general and technical supervision of key clinical programs and overall technical and administrative oversight of speech-language pathologists and assigned health technicians within the clinic. The incumbent will be responsible for additional supervisory duties as assigned by the Service Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology.

Duties include, but not limited to:

Incumbent functions as an independent practitioner for clinical, administrative and managerial responsibilities and is fully responsible for all clinical decisions under general oversight of the audiology and speech pathology service chief. Speech pathology supervisors at this level manage a speech-language pathology section within a larger service. They maintain oversight of the section's diagnostic and rehabilitative speech pathology services. In addition, they implement policies and procedures consistent with management goals, objectives and the medical center mission. Supervisors set priorities and assign responsibilities to accomplish speech-language pathology section goals, ensuring proper coordination between care delivered by the section and the overall health care delivery within the facility. Supervisors maintain oversight for continuous performance improvement within the section. They perform supervisory duties, including initiating personnel actions, conducting performance management; planning, scheduling and assigning work; managing leave; assessing competency; appraising performance; and recommending clinical privileges or scope of practice.

In carrying out the administrative duties and responsibilities of the position, incumbent:

Develops, organizes, directs, manages, supervises, controls, and implements policies and procedures in focused clinical programs. Plans, assesses, and evaluates programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivery within the section or service and the overall delivery of health care. Makes decisions that affect staff and other resources associated with the section and are made with wide latitude of control and independent judgment. Exercises supervisory responsibilities such as planning and scheduling work; assigning work to employees; accepting, amending or rejecting completed work; assuring that production and accuracy requirements are met; appraising performance and recommending performance standards and ratings; assigning delineated clinical privileges; approving leave; and effecting disciplinary measures. Balances responsibilities and to work with great autonomy. Shows potential to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. Shows potential to analyze and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the section. Has skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. Has knowledge of, and ability to utilize, evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area, and to guide the section staff in applying these tools.

Analyzes organizational and operational problems and develops and implements solutions that result in efficient section operation. Has skill in problem solving and conflict resolution. Has skill in the application and analysis of scientific and clinical literature. Prepares productivity and service reports, monitors productivity, and provides performance and productivity reports to the audiology and speech pathology section chief at defined intervals.
Uses knowledge and skills acquired through education and experience to evaluate patients presenting with complex problems, develop coherent treatment strategies, and to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology or speech pathology scope of practice. Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age- specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectation. Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Evaluates patients to determine nature, type, and severity of disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and Experience: (1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.). OR, (2) 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.

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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Supervisory Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-13.

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-12) is required. Examples of experience at the GS-12 level include: 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, Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations, and Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Skill to translate contemporary and evidence-based speech pathology practice knowledge into clinical procedures.
• Skill in effective conflict resolution.
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions.
• Ability to provide clinical and administrative oversight and ensure that section activities are aligned with management goals and objectives.

Preferred Experience: None.

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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-13.

Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients.

See https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/OCHCO/SitePages/D5019.aspx VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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.