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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• Responsible for program management of neuropsychological and psychological assessment services at the respective locations, including Inpatient, Residential and Specialty Treatment Programs
• Responsible for managing all psychological services that operate within these programs
• Manages the workload of various clinical staff, ensuring that work is assigned in a systematic way and meets facility and VA guidelines/standards for inpatient, residential and specialty programs
• Serves as the representative for the Psychology Section on administrative committees or work groups within Psychology Section, Mental Health Service Line, and VISN in reporting back the effectiveness of neuropsychological and psychological assessment services
• Manages performance standards, measures, and clinical utilization rates within the neuropsychological and psychological assessment
  services and is responsible for ensuring adherence to the UMHSH, Joint Commission; develops Memorandum of Agreements and adherence to SVAHCS facility requirements
• Develops and leads recovery oriented interdisciplinary team meetings
• Serves as a consultant/liaison to regular outpatient and other Mental Health programs to ensure transition of patients between clinics is smooth and efficient
• Coordinates with discipline supervisors of matrixed staff assigned to the neuropsychological and psychological assessment services to ensure staff are working in accordance with the service agreements of SVAHCS and reviews workload productivity targets
• Attends weekly Program Managers meetings with the Chief of Mental Health to review effective service delivery and maintenance of structure
• Works in conjunction with MH Leadership on responding to VACO and VISN on tracking data, performance measures, access monitoring, wait times and panel sizes
• Completes the Mid-Year and Annual Performance Evaluations for assigned staff
• Completes OPPE's, FPPE's and Performance Appraisals for new and existing staff as needed
• Approves leave requests, reviews wRVU productivity and CUSS reports for supervisees, and supervises graduate psychologists
• Provides a range of psychological diagnostic services for patients enrolled in neuropsychological and psychological assessment services at the SVAHC
• Performs psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for individuals with mental health and medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning recommendations
• Provides a range of psychological therapeutic interventions utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated
• Consults with and serves as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for, evaluation of, and development of psychological services in SVAHCS
• May be asked to assist in the selection, training, and supervision of staff at lower grade within assigned program area, Psychology Service, or SVAHCS
• Serves as a clinical supervisor for psychology pre-doctoral interns, postdoc fellows, and doctoral level practicum students in psychology and other disciplines
• Prepares and teaches seminars/workshops for SVAHCS trainees/staff on topics within interest/competency areas
• Serves as a member of the SVAHCS Psychology Training Committee

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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).
• 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

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j
• Education. Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• OR
• Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions:(a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• OR
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• .Internship: Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed;
• OR
• New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern;
• OR
• VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement;
• OR
• Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• OR
• Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.
• Licensure. Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• Experience. At least 3 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Knowledge of and ability to understand and communicate existing policies and regulations.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize resource materials as well as ability to develop new materials when needed.
• Ability to relate to individuals at many different levels both within and external to the organization.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff.
• Ability to provide information about policy to various stakeholders or audiences in a useable and understandable manner.
• Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.

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.