Clarification from the agency

This position is open to permanent, current, full time VA Healthcare employees only. NOTE: The 2-page resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. Provides clinical and training services as well as supervises these programs and has technical and administrative oversight.
2. Serves as Chief of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC), demonstrating exceptional achievement, professional competence, and leadership in promoting rehabilitation services for blinded veterans.
3. Exercises supervision, administrative management, and direction of professional areas in the BRC or equivalent programs.
4. Develops and implements policies and procedures for complex service-level departments and has overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs to ensure coordination between BRC care and overall facility health care.
5. Authoritatively represents VA expertise and points of view on blindness related activities, services, and issues while interacting with other organizations such as local and state agencies for the blind, universities, professional organizations such as the Association of Education and Rehabilitation, and consumer organizations such as the Blinded Veterans Association.
6. Prepares for the Healthcare System's Chief's signature responses to congressional inquiries and controlled correspondence pertaining to the BRC.
7. Develops and coordinates in-service training and career development programs for a highly specialized multidisciplinary staff.
8. Consults and negotiates with Health Care Group/Service Chiefs in Medicine, Surgery, Nursing, Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Human Resources, and other services/sections to identify and commit available staff and resources necessary to effectively provide appropriate training and supervision.
9. Directs activities such as budgeting, personnel management, and analysis.
10. Collaborates with the Regional Consultant to the Blind Rehabilitation Programs.
11. Plans, administers, supervises and performs work concerning the program and is responsible for the timely and acceptable accomplishment of the end results.
12. Responsible for program development, implementation, compliance, evaluation, and outcome review for all of the sections/services under their direction.
13. Effectively supervises, motivates, and manages a diverse clinical staff at a large blind rehabilitation center.
14. Assesses the qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees and manages large budgets.
15. Establishes and monitors productivity standards, production, and performance priorities, and applies administration and human resource policies effectively.
16. Submits to the Chief, Blind Rehabilitation Service, VACO, and the Chief, Prosthetic Service, VACO, statistical and narrative accounts of the research staff's findings.
17. Collaborates with the following professional support personnel to ensure integrated care for visually impaired Veterans: Clinical Psychologist, Nurse Manager, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Recreation Therapist, Social Worker, and Food and Nutrition staff.
18. Determines goals and objectives that need additional emphasis; determines the best approach or solution for resolving budget shortages; and plans for long-range staffing needs, including such matters as whether to contract out work.
19. Supervises, motivates, and manages a diverse clinical staff at a large blind rehabilitation center.
20. Exercises significant and extensive coordination and integration of several important projects or program segments of professional, scientific, technical, managerial, and administrative work.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
Education. The individual must have earned:

• 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

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in above that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following:
  • 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).
  • One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 -18 semester hours).
  • 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.
  • 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. Required at the GS-11 grade level and above. Applicants must possess at least 1 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.
The ACVREP administers 4 certification programs:

1. Low Vision Therapy
2. Orientation and Mobility
3. Assistive Technology Instruction
4. Vision Rehabilitation Therapy

They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2)) below:

BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:

1. Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS).
2. Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT)
3. Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT)
4. Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS)

Loss of Credential

• Once certified, a BRS must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of certification will result in removal from the BRS occupation and may result in termination of employment.
• A BRS who has, or has ever had his/her certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, Paragraph 16 of this part.
• If hired based on experience as a social worker, rehabilitation counselor, or equivalent, relevant professional counseling credential in rehabilitation, the VIST Coordinator must still maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment.

Preferred Experience

• Leadership experience in managing blind rehabilitation programs within a healthcare or VA setting.
• Extensive knowledge of blind rehabilitation techniques, assistive technology, and adaptive skills training for visually impaired Veterans.
• Experience in program development, strategic planning, and resource allocation.
• Proven ability to supervise multidisciplinary teams, including blind rehabilitation specialists, therapists, and administrative staff.
• Familiarity with VA policies, accreditation standards, and compliance requirements related to rehabilitation services.
• Advanced proficiency in implementing innovative rehabilitation strategies and integrating emerging assistive technologies for visually impaired Veterans.
• Demonstrated success in fostering collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness.
• Strong ability to analyze program data, measure outcomes, and apply evidence-based practices to improve service delivery.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills to mentor staff and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Grade Determination
Supervisory BRS, GS-14 (Service Chief)

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of experience as a BRS equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Certification. Candidates must meet the credentialing/certification requirements in paragraph 4c(1) and (2); VIST Coordinators must meet the certification requirements in 4c(4) (VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-13 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Skill to supervise, motivate, and manage effectively a diverse clinical staff applicable to a large blind rehabilitation center or equivalent program.
• Ability to assess qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees.
• Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities and to apply administration and human resource policies effectively.
• Skill to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks and responsibilities and to manage and direct the work of others to accomplish program goals and missions.
• Ability to adapt to new and changing work conditions.
• Ability to advance scientific methods in the oversight and management of highly creative, innovative, and complex blind rehabilitation research and to convey scientific concepts and methodological principles to individuals with diverse levels of technical expertise.
• Ability to provide consultation and promote best practice procedures in blind/low vision rehabilitation nationally and serve as a national leader in the field of blind/low vision rehabilitation.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and a range of variety, as described in this standard, at the specified grade level, will be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. BRS at this grade level demonstrate exceptional achievement, professional competence, and leadership and are appointed to service chief positions that have broad and overall responsibility for larger blind rehabilitation centers or their equivalent clinical programs. They manage substantive blind rehabilitation centers that deliver specialized, complex, professional services. Responsible for general supervision of clinical and/or training programs and overall technical and administrative oversight for operations within the service. Responsible for overseeing research programs that evaluate effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery, provide evidence to inform best practice, and evaluate and recommend technology for the entire blindness program. Service chiefs make decisions with great 19 autonomy that affect section supervisors, assistant chiefs, clinical and clerical staff, and other resources associated with the department. Service chiefs exercise supervision, administrative management, and direction of professional areas in a blind rehabilitation center or equivalent clinical program

References. VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41 - Blind Rehabilitation Specialist Qualification Standard.
Physical Requirements. Requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 35lbs, bending/stooping.

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.