Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is only open to current, permanent, employees assigned to San Francisco VA Health Care System Rehab Service only.

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Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:30am-17:00 pm.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09518F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

This position is in the Audiology Section of the Rehabilitation Service at the SAN FRANCISCO facility (Ft. Miley) with Program Manager duties and responsibilities at the SAN FRANCISCO facility. 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. Lead audiologists will lead three or more audiologists to accomplish the work through leadership, team building skills, group facilitation, coaching and integration of work products and processes. Lead audiologists provide comprehensive clinical services, coordinate special projects, as well as oversee the day-to-day core clinic operations. These individuals ensure the work assignments of the clinical team are completed and make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities. Audiologist clinic coordinators and lead audiologists collect, analyze, and incorporate data to monitor and evaluate the efficiency, utilization, quality, and effectiveness of clinic services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
In carrying out clinical duties and responsibilities of this position:
a. Ability to lead a diverse clinical team on work methods, practices, and procedures.
b. Ability to coordinate assignments, special projects, and objectives to lead work.
c. Ability to monitor work, evaluate programs, and adjust to accomplish workload.

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

a. Diagnoses audiologic disorders, conducts audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments, treats auditory disorders through a various modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders.
b. Consults with medical center staff on various patient care issues.
c. Participates in program evaluation, teaching, training and research activities.
d. Provides individual, family and/or group audiologic rehabilitation.

Education
a. Provides orientation/training of medical staff.
b. Participate in research activities.
c. Assists in orientation and training of new staff.
d. Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals.
e. Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs.
f. Provides individual, family, and group audiologic rehabilitation.
g. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights.

Administrative
a. Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs.
b. Participates in program evaluation and peer reviews.
c. Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center.
d. Maintains, supplies, equipment, and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency.
e. May be requested to service on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network, or national committees.
f. May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial;
g. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights.

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 examination.
• 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:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Education
  • Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org
    • OR
  • Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE.

NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology.

• Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States 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).

• English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified.

Lead Audiologist, GS-13
Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required:

• Ability to lead a clinical team on work methods, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to coordinate assignments, special projects, and objectives to lead work.
• Ability to monitor work, evaluate programs, and adjust to accomplish the workload.

Assignments: Lead audiologists spend at least 25% or more of their time performing lead duties. Lead audiologists provide comprehensive clinical services, coordinate special projects, as well as oversee the day-to-day core clinic operations. These individuals ensure the work assignments of the clinical team are completed and make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities. Audiologist clinic coordinators and lead audiologists collect, analyze, and incorporate data to monitor and evaluate the efficiency, utilization, quality, and effectiveness of clinic services.

Preferred Experience: At least one year of comparable experience as a lead. Demonstrate the ability to lead a diverse clinic team on methods, practices and procedures. Exhibit skills to coordinate and lead assignments and special projects. Display the ability to monitor work and evaluate programs.

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.

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.