Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Qualified applicants to this position will be referred and considered in the following order 1- Current, permanent employees of the Battle Creek VAMC/CBOCs 2- Current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration 3- Current, permanent employees of other federal agencies other than VHA

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Serves as Program Manager for the Mental Health Clinic (MHC) at the Battle Creek VAMC and Lansing CBOC, providing leadership, direction, and administrative oversight to multidisciplinary outpatient mental health programs. Exercises broad independent judgment in supervising approximately 27 FTEE, including Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Nurse Practitioners, Social Workers, Nursing staff, and Peer Support Specialists. Holds line and staff authority for resource allocation, staffing, performance management, and clinic operations across multiple sites.

Ensures efficient, high-quality delivery of outpatient mental health services, including psychotherapy, psychiatric consultation, case management, and evidence-based, patient-centered care. Oversees clinic performance improvement, compliance with the Mental Health Uniform Services Package, accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission), and all required facility, VISN, and VACO program reporting. Ensures timely access to care, coordinated transitions, and adherence to performance measures.

Provides leadership for integration with Primary Care and other clinical services; ensures immediate availability for mental health consultation across the medical center. Leads implementation and operation of BHIP, MHTC 2.0, and the FLOW model, ensuring effective team huddles, case coordination, and workload management. Manages intake and discharge processes to optimize access and patient flow.
Conducts hiring actions, prepares functional statements, selects candidates, and evaluates staff through ongoing and focused professional practice evaluations. Handles conflict resolution, employee relations, disciplinary actions, and ensures adequate clinical coverage during absences. Uses local data and stakeholder feedback to improve customer service and operational effectiveness. Facilitates continuous improvement and a recovery-oriented environment.

Provides direct clinical services (20-40% of time), including psychological assessment and evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy for a wide range of behavioral health conditions. Ensures early identification and intervention for mental health needs and health-interfering behaviors.
Supports academic training programs by supervising psychology practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral residents; participates in training of medical students, psychiatric residents, nursing trainees, and other health professions learners. Provides education and consultation to staff regarding behavioral health.

Serves on committees and workgroups such as the Psychology Training Committee and Mental Health Performance Measures Workgroup. Demonstrates ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze operational problems, and implement effective solutions. Establishes and monitors productivity and performance standards and collaborates effectively with individuals and groups across diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Approved. Additional approvals are required.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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.
• 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 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology).
    OR
    (2) 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
    (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.]
    AND
• Internships
  (a) 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
  (b) 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
  (c) 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
  (d) 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. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.)
  [OR
  (e) 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.
• License.- 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.
• Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
  • GS-14:
    • Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
    • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
      • Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
      • Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.
      • Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups.
      • Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
      • Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
      • Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.
      • Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 14.

Physical Requirements: .
Physical qualifications require the ability to stand, walk, bend, and move freely. Must be able to utilize good body mechanics in lifting or restraining patients. Must have good hearing, eyesight, and physical dexterity. Must be clean and
neat in appearance. Must be emotionally stable and cooperative. Work is accomplished predominantly on the nursing unit and through escorting to various clinics or hospital areas. The physical surroundings involve working with the acute and chronically physically and mentally ill patients, which may cause discomfort related to negative verbal and physical activities from these patients. Position also may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who provide assistance and support to the facility and its Veterans. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing;
viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Work involves regular and recurring exposure to infection and contagious diseases. Infection Control Standard Precautions are required as safety precautions; such as hand hygiene, gloves, gowns or masks, which may be
required for personal protective equipment and to promote a safe environment

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.