Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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This program manager serves as the assistant service line director (Assistant Chief) for Social Work Service at VAPAHCS. In this role, assisting the Chief, the incumbent is a full-time administrator for more than 180 interdisciplinary FTEE (including subordinate supervisors and program managers) across a broad range of program areas including: Inpatient Medicine & Surgery; Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT); Specialty Care; Polytrauma Systems of Care, Transition and Care Management; Spinal Cord Injury/Disease; Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, Caregiver Support; Extended Care and Contract Nursing Homes; Survivor Assistance Memorial Support (SAMS); Coordinated Mental Health (acute care, outpatient and specialty) and Homeless RRTP. SWS provides services across 7 Divisions or CBOCs, including CRH and community-based locations spanning a broad geographic area. The position requires that the employee travel to various sites and to other VA facilities, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), or VACO as necessary.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:

• Maintains a leadership role and serves as an assistant to the Chief of Social Work Service and is responsible for supporting all aspects of the Social Work Department, including oversight of multiple distinct programs.
• Incumbent makes independent professional decisions and recommendations to the Chief, Social Work Service, and serves as the Chief's alternate and back-up; in this capacity, the Program Manager may serve as the Acting Chief and may directly fulfill the responsibilities listed in this functional statement or may provide oversight while delegating other workers to fulfill them.
• Incumbent will perform assignments that are collateral to primary duties but deemed necessary to meet the needs of the organization and VISN.
• The Social Worker Program Manager will oversee multiple mandated Social Work Service programs to include Care Coordination & Integrated Case Management (CCICM), Caregiver Support Program (CSP), and Survivor Assistance Memorial Support; serves as a liaison to other Service or care-lines within the organization related to social work and the management of these comprehensive programs.
• Incumbent participates in making major decisions and recommendations to the Chief affecting the basic content and character of the operations of programs.
• Assumes responsibility for administrative functions of Social Work Service, such as the annual Service budget submission and management of funds (i.e. Fee Basis, Overtime); management of the Patient Welfare Fund; travel and education funding requests; fulfillment of Social Work responsibilities with the Compensation and Pension Unit; development and maintenance of contracts; COR training, preparation of contract documents, assessment of quality, and certifying invoices; and tracking the special funding for Caregiver Support Program (CSP) and Intimate Partner Violence Program (IPVAP).
• Incumbent makes selections for supervisory and non-supervisory positions, hears group grievances and serious employee complaints, reviews serious disciplinary cases, and disciplinary problems involving key employees.
• Other Duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor.
Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive. Contact v21ccoeedrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full-time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09810-F

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 identification 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

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: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for a master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work.
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification: In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
• Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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:
Social Worker (Program Manager), GS-14

• Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. An individual may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
• Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program managers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
  • Skill in large-scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
  • Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
  • Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient-centered care.
  • Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and, when appropriate, disciplinary action.
  • Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
  • Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient-centered care.
• Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the GS-14 grade level, social worker program managers are assigned to manage, direct, and oversee a major specialty program(s) at the facility, VISN, or VA Central Office level. As the facility level program manager, typical assignments include serving as a care/product line manager. Program managers may have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, program criteria, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements. Additionally, program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments, determined by the needs of the local facility. The program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They develop and monitor staff compliance with practice, standards, and guidelines. As the VISN-level program manager, typical assignments include overseeing a VISN-level program. The program manager serves as a consultant to facilities in matters of program operations. They develop and monitor facility compliance with practice, standards, and guidelines across the VISN. The program manager reviews program status with facility leadership. Additionally, program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments, determined by the needs of the VISN. The VISN program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. As the national level program manager, typical assignments include supporting the implementation of a national program. The national program manager reports to a senior executive service equivalent or a GS-15 grade level national program director. They may have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements. Program manager responsibilities also include developing and serving as a subject matter expert for program-specific policy and regulations and interfacing with congressional representatives. Program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments determined by the needs of the VHA Central Office. The national program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They develop and monitor staff compliance with program standards, guidelines, and service delivery. They develop and implement national training programs for internal and external partners. Program managers are responsible for ensuring program development, management, and evaluation that includes assessing the mission, goals, and programs of the organization in terms of psychosocial needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers, and establishing objectives consistent with organizational goals.

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-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-14.

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.