Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs. This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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NOTE: This recruitment will result in the hiring of one of the following disciplines: Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Social Worker (Program Coordinator), Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant.

To apply to the Psychologist Program Manager: CBTD-12909066-26-MK
To apply to the Social Worker Program Manager: CBTD-12909067-26-MK
To apply to the Nurse Practitioner Program Manager: CBTD-12909026-26-CC
To apply to the Psychiatrist Program Manager: CBTD-12910547-26-CC

Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) is a program of the Mental Health Service (MHS) that utilizes a collaborative care model and is co-located in the Primary Care Setting. The program is organized around a stepped model of care that aims to support the mental health needs of Veterans being served in the Primary Care setting.

The Program Manager for PCMHI reports directly to the Chief of Mental Health or her/his designee; and shares responsibility with other MH Program Managers and Section Leads, along with the Chief and Assistant Chief of MHS for the overall quality of MHS clinical services and operations. The incumbent exercises broad program management responsibilities that are complex in scope, involving organization, direction, and management of outpatient treatment programming and staff from multiple professional backgrounds (psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice providers, social workers, professional counselors, et.al.). The program manager's oversight for PCMHI extends to all sites of care within the system that include a PCMHI component. The Incumbent serves as a subject matter expert for integrated mental health care and has sufficient depth and breadth of experience in this area to advise senior leaders on matters related to this field. The nature and scope of management duties is expected to change as the needs of the Mental Health Service evolve, and the incumbent is expected to adapt to these changing needs over time.

The Incumbent will also function as a clinical provider within the PCMHI program. They will provide the full range of consultation, education, assessment, diagnosis, and brief interventions consistent with the PCMHI model of care. Services will be provided in a multi-disciplinary integrated care setting, and the incumbent will work closely with colleagues to provide timely, comprehensive, state-of- the-art mental health care.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborates with Mental Health Administration, Section Leads, Human Resources, and others as necessary in the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of team members. Initiates personnel actions, award recommendations, disciplinary actions, and other related activities in accordance with policy.
• Furthers the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices in regard to race, color, religion, sex, and affirmative action for the area under incumbent supervision in the following: (1) merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants; (2) fair treatment of all employees; (3) encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; (4) career development of employees; and (5) full utilization of their skills.
• Administratively supervises an interdisciplinary staff performing work up to the full performance levels of their respective occupations, including psychiatry, psychology, advanced practice providers, social work, professional counseling, and others.
• Monitors and communicates to supervised staff performance and workload expectations consistent with local and national VA standards.
• Provides the full range of direct patient care services within the PCMHI program, consistent with the PCMHI model and the incumbent's scope of competence. Services include assessment, intervention, case management, consultation, and education.
• Provides regular consultation to Primary Care staff.
• Successfully utilizes and can coach others in the use of the PCMHI model
• Successfully utilizes and can coach others in the use of recovery-oriented, evidence-based practices in mental health.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
• Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include, but is not limited to:

1. Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
2. Ability to perform patient history and physical.
3. Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
4. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

• Experience and Education. The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:

1. Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR
2. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency. OR
3. A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

1. Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
2. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
3. Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
4. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
5. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

• Experience and Education. PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multi-disciplinary teams, and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs, and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by:
• Three years of successful practice as a PA OR
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA; OR
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.

• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position
• This position is in the Excepted Service
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

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.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.