Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs Employees located at the Augusta, GA facility. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties to include but not limited to:

• Administering all aspects of a VA inpatient or outpatient blind rehabilitation program of four or more Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, as well as other professionals and support staff.
• Directing and administering all aspects of blind and vision rehabilitation at a medical center. The position of Chief requires mastery of the broad functional areas of blind and vision rehabilitation theory, practice and specialized knowledge in specific areas, including research methodology.
• Provide supervisory authority over the assigned FTEE.
• Provide extensive knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of blind and vision rehabilitation practice necessary to plan and direct the range of activities relating to the overall operation of an inpatient or outpatient program in a VA medical Center.

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.

• 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

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:
(1) The individual must have earned:
(a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education.
OR,
(b) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following:
i. At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university).
ii. One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours).
iii. A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree.
iv. Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.

Certification.
(1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph(2)) below:
(2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:
(a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®).
(b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®).
(c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT®).
(d) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®).
(3) BRS Advanced Practitioners at the GS-13 grade level must possess two certifications awarded by ACVREP.

English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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 for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-13:
(1) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of experience as a BRS equivalent at the GS-12 grade level.
(2) Certification. Candidates must meet the credentialing/certification requirements in paragraph 3c(2) above. Advanced Practitioners at the GS-13 grade level must achieve two ACVREP certifications to demonstrate mastery in two areas of blind rehabilitation.
(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the education and experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.
(a) Ability to develop educational materials/in-service education curriculum for VA staff and providers, as well as non-VA personnel.
(b) Ability to act as a subject matter expert to create, update, and deploy models for best practice, including researching literature, developing clinical practice guidelines and guiding BRS professionals in applying these tools, as well as following up to evaluate outcomes of new practices.
(c) Ability to manage the implementation and evaluation of BRS programs.
(d) Skill to provide technical assistance in day to day operations, budget formulation, program planning, and special projects.
(e) Knowledge of scientific concepts and methodological principles related to vision impairment and blindness rehabilitation.
(f) Ability to analyze and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity.
(g) Knowledge of telehealth policies and procedures, to include best practice for deployment, assessment, and training, to support and evaluate telehealth.
(h) Ability to identify and develop recommendations for acquisition, training, and deployment of cutting edge technology.
(i) Skill in professional writing, such as technology evaluations, newsletters, letters to editors, etc., that are relevant, germane, and elevate the practice and profession of blind and vision rehabilitation.

(4) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and a range of variety, as described in the standard, at the specified grade level, and will be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Service Chiefs at this grade level have overall responsibility for a blind rehabilitation center or its equivalent clinical program. These individuals have responsibility for general supervision of clinical[,] and/or training programs, and overall technical and administrative oversight for operations within the service. Service chiefs develop, organize, direct, manage, supervise, control, and implement policies and procedures for complex service-level departments. They have overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs[,] to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by the service[,] and the overall delivery of health care within the facility. Service chiefs make decisions that affect section supervisors and/or assistant chiefs (if applicable), clinical and clerical staff, and other resources associated with the department, with great autonomy. Service chiefs exercise supervision, administrative management, and direction of all professional areas in a unified blind/vision rehabilitation service.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/109, Part II, Appendix G41.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.