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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Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapists oversee the daily operations and staff of the respiratory department while ensuring high-quality patient care and regulatory compliance. Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and supervising the respiratory department, including assigning and evaluating staff work.
• Resolving issues that may affect patient examinations or treatment.
• Evaluating new procedures, products, and equipment and recommending emerging practices.
• Providing instruction and training to new staff.
• Interviewing candidates and recommending selections, advancements, and promotions.
• Implementing disciplinary actions when necessary.
• Guiding staff on complex or non-standard clinical cases.
• Managing departmental budget and fiscal resources.
• Representing the department in interdisciplinary meetings and facility-level committees.
• Conducting audits of inpatient and outpatient records to ensure proper documentation of care, assessments, procedures, outcomes, and patient safety.
• Providing information to the Chief to support regulatory compliance and quality care.
• Maintaining departmental policies, procedures, objectives, and quality assurance programs.
• Assisting in determining quality assurance and compliance data to be collected.
• Attending professional meetings and participating in professional development activities.
• Monitoring technical and clinical competence of personnel through training, review of results, and quality control checks.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of new procedures and equipment.
• Investigating workflow or performance issues and implementing corrective actions.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Individuals must have successfully completed respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.
English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required 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: Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-13.

1. Experience, Licensure and Credential.

Candidates must:

• Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. (Defined as: Ability to develop policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures; implement and maintain policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures. Ability to perform complex analytical studies of patient care; interpret results to coordinate the management and evaluation of patient care. Ability to coordinate the work of subordinate staff. Ability to manage all aspects of a complex patient care program including day-to-day operation, training program resources and fiscal management.)
• Hold an active license and RRT credential.

2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.
In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Ability to plan and assist in the establishment of a completely integrated respiratory care program.
• Ability to recommend improvements based on evaluation of facility operations.
• Ability to supervise employees.
• Ability to manage the fiscal aspects of the functions supervised

Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory RRTs manage and supervise the respiratory department which includes, at a minimum, assigning and evaluating the work of subordinate staff, resolving problems which may interfere with patient examination or treatment, evaluating new procedures, products and equipment, reviewing 21 and recommending new and emerging procedures, providing instruction and training to new staff, interviewing candidates for positions, recommending selections, advancements and promotions, taking disciplinary action when necessary, providing guidance in more complex and non-standard cases and budget management. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees. They conduct audits of inpatient and outpatient records to ensure appropriate documentation of plan of care, assessments, therapy, procedures, clinical outcomes and patient safety. They provide information to the Chief to ensure appropriate care and compliance with regulatory standards. Supervisory RRTs maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives and quality assurance programs. They assist in determining quality assurance and compliance data to be collected. They attend professional meetings and professional development events and monitor the technical and clinical competence of all personnel working in the department through appropriate training, review of results and quality control checks. They evaluate the effectiveness of new procedures and equipment. They investigate quality and quantity of work problems and operating effectiveness and take needed action.

Preferred Experience: Seeking a candidate with 3-5 years of clinical experience in respiratory therapy, sleep studies, CPAP, PFT, or EEG, including at least 2 years in a lead or management role. Applicants must demonstrate strong electronic health record proficiency, excellent communication skills, and proven team leadership abilities.

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: Work is primarily performed in patient care areas, in-patient and outpatient. Extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members and visitors involved. Moving equipment and supplies, lifting to 40 pounds, bending, stooping and possible exposure to body fluids is involved.

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.