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 Announcement is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees only.

Videos

**THIS POSITION IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT VA EMPLOYEES**

The incumbent must meet all requirements for a staff Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist and have a minimum of four years of professional experience, including at least two years in a supervisory capacity within SCI rehabilitation.

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to:

Clinical

- Coordinates with interdisciplinary departments to ensure efficient daily operations of SCI therapy services.
- Oversee day-to-day functioning of the SCI therapy department across all care settings.
- Collaborates with physicians and clinical staff through participation in specialty clinics, team conferences, and educational sessions.
- Identifies and resolves issues affecting delivery of SCI therapy services.
- Performs the full scope of duties required of a clinical occupational or physical therapist.
- Demonstrates advanced knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide care for adult patients with SCI, including understanding age-related changes, comorbidities, and functional needs. Ensures patient evaluation, communication, and treatment planning reflect individualized care and engages family/support systems when appropriate.

Educational

- Identifies continuing education needs of occupational, physical and recreational therapy staff based on competency assessments and performance.
- Develops, coordinates, and evaluates educational programs for patients, families and healthcare professionals.
- Provides education to facility personnel regarding the scope and capabilities of PT/OT/RT services and SCI programs involving a variety of health care specialists.
- Delivers in-service training within the medical center and supports VISN-wide SCI training initiatives.

Administrative & Supervisory

- Supervises SCI personnel as delegated by the SCI Service Chief.
- Oversee day-to-day operations of SCI therapy services across inpatient, outpatient and home-based settings (excluding physician/primary care functions), including specialty programs such as Assistive Technology, Wheelchair Seating and Gait and Mobility.
- Provides administrative oversight for therapy staff working off station through programs such as SCI Home Care Program.
- Develop operational plans that align with VA, VISN, and SCI Service goals and ensure staff understand their role in achieving these objectives.
- Recruits qualified applicants, conducts interviews, evaluates staff performance, and recommends personnel actions (appointments, promotions, advancements, or disciplinary actions).
- Provide direction, mentoring, and counseling to SCI therapy staff regarding performance, conduct, and patient care standards.
- Assists SCI Service Chief in designing and implementing therapy programs that address emerging patient needs.
- Maintains required statistical data, prepares reports, and ensures accurate documentation of service activity.
- Develops and monitors quality of care standards related to PT/OT/RT services, integrating Joint Commission and CARF requirements.
- Ensures proper maintenance, functionality, and cleanliness of therapy equipment and treatment areas, reviews and monitors equipment and supply requests.
- Actively supports and promotes SCI Service initiatives and strategic priorities.
- Participate in scholarly activities such as submitting abstracts, presenting at SCI conferences, and collaborating on presentations to referral sources, hospital leadership and VISN representatives.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 61869F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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.
• 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.
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in 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). All persons employed in VHA [in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
(3) OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(4) OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Grade Determinations GS-13

Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled and one of the following]:
(a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years;
(b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA;
(c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or
(d) An additional advanced degree in a related field.

Demonstrated KSAs.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
(b) Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners.
(c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
(f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.

Preferred Experience:

• Must meet all requirements for a Staff Occupational Therapist and have a minimum of four years of professional experience; including at least two years in a supervisory capacity within a SCI Rehabilitation Unit.

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: The work requires long periods of standing, walking, and sitting. Work involves constant bending, lifting, and twisting. The work requires pushing wheelchair and stretcher patients. Positioning patients who are unconscious or disabled requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions. Lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees.

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.