Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA employees and all US Citizens. Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be review and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. All other applicants. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Incumbent is a staff audiologist who has special clinical program responsibilities with clinical education activities.
• Incumbent is responsible for creating, training, monitoring and tracking the audiology trainee program within the unified ASP Clinic.
• The clinical specialist provides leadership and directs oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the ASP-traineeship program.
• Serves as a coach or facilitator for an interdisciplinary team and is responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program.
• Provides orientation/training of medical staff and trainees.
• Assists in orientation and training of new staff and trainees.
• Primary preceptor in the training and supervision of students, trainees, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals.
• Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs.
• Ensures all TMS training is completed by trainees to current standards in compliance with VHA and HIPAA guidelines.
• Has overall responsibility for developing and directing education and training programs within the unified audiology and speech pathology clinic at all campuses within the Columbia VA Health Care System.
• Uses knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology education practices.
• Assists as a coach or facilitator for an interdisciplinary team and for training of staff and trainees as it relates to preceptor coordination processes within the CVAHCS ASP Clinic.
• Articulates and communicates goals, objectives, and focused initiatives for a specialized clinical program, as well as guiding other service staff members on work methods, practices, and procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates the work of a specialized clinical program and makes adjustments in procedures or practices to accomplish program goals.
• Created and maintains the handouts, training guides, questionnaires and presentations for the audiology and speech pathology clinical education program.
• Tracks the performance of each program through analysis of data supplied by the clinicians.
• Recommends appointment, advancement, or disciplinary actions of trainees under the clinical education program.
• Develops, organizes, directs, manages, supervises, controls, and implements
  policies and procedures in focused clinical programs.
• All other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Tuesday-Friday; 730am- 6:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement: 55083F
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: Audiologist (Clinical Specialist) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and Experience: (1) A doctoral, 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.

Audiologist, (Clinical Specialist), 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:

• Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program.
• Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met.
• Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members.
• Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes.
• Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Audiologists (Clinical Specialists) provide leadership and direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning, and management of the specialty program. They serve as coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and are responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. These individuals serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program.

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.