Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration: Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VHA Employees. 3. All Other Applicants. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Health and Wellness Coaches work with individuals to identify their motivation for change, determine goals for their work together, develop sustainable action steps toward achieving their short- and long-term goals, implementing action plans, and assess progress and to adjust plans as needed. Health and Wellness Coaches provide support to positively influence the relationship between lifestyle and health outcomes. Health and Wellness Coaches may collaborate with Veterans and Veterans' primary care and specialty care treatment providers to develop goals designed to improve health and well-being, reduce impact from chronic illness and lessen the likelihood of admission to the emergency department, inpatient care or long-term care.

Major Duties include the following but are not limited to:

• Provides health coaching to individuals or groups in outpatient and inpatient settings using multiple formats to promote a positive behaviors.
• Support Veterans in fostering internal strengths and external resources to develop self-directed strategies for making personalized, sustainable, healthy lifestyle behavior changes and more effectively manage chronic disease.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary clinical and non-clinical staff throughout the VA health care system to empower Veterans to achieve self-determining goals related to health and well-being.
• Utilizes motivational interviewing, coaching theories, and coaching techniques to assist clients in accomplishing their action steps and goals.
• Provides education around health and wellness coaching services, evidence, and research.
• Follow national Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation guidance and VHA policy relevant to health and wellness coaching.
• Utilizes a coaching process model that aligns with NBHWC standards.
• Connects Veterans with wellbeing services when they are in service of the Veteran's self-identified wellness goals.
• Documents coaching encounters in alignment with local and national guidance.
• Completes other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 0800am - 4:30pm
Telework: Ad-Hoc Only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 99325-S/99326-S
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.
• 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

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 by the closing date of the announcement.

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 and/or Experience:
(1) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
(2) Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR
(3) Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

**NOTE** If you intend to qualify via education, you MUST provide a copy of transcripts identifying the education and/or degrees attained that you are using as the basis for your qualifications.

Certification:
Candidates must be currently certified by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).

Exception for Non-Certified Health and Wellness Coaches:

• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification, may be given a temporary appointment as Health and Wellness Coach under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
• Non-certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Health and Wellness Coach at or above the full performance level or other designated occupation with the appropriate training and expertise.
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted until certification is obtained.
• Temporary appointments of non-certified Health and Wellness Coaches may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, Health and Wellness Coaches must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of their placement into the occupation. At the time of appointment, the Human Resources (HR) Office staff in collaboration with the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health and Wellness Coaches with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline.
• Note: If a non-certified candidate is selected, he/she will be expected to obtain the required certification within one year of hire, with no exception proceedings.
• Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR office staff, must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required certification of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation, which may also result in separation from employment.

Grandfathering Provision: 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: In addition to the basic requirements outlined in paragraph 4, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Health and Wellness Coach, GS-07
Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of health and wellness coaching processes and techniques.
(b) Ability to promote positive lifestyle choices.
(c) Ability to effectively communicate in writing through a variety of modalities.
(d) Ability to effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally.

Health and Wellness Coach, GS-09
Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness, including behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle and well-being.
(b) Skill in using health and wellness coaching techniques to promote positive behavior change using one-on-one, couple or group modalities.
(c) Skill in exercising effective interpersonal communication techniques to develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships.
(d) Ability to assist the client in developing a comprehensive personalized health plan based on a patient's action-oriented goals.
(e) Ability to identify resources internal and external to the organization that are necessary for achieving patient overall health and well-being goals.
(f) Ability to use information technology (IT) equipment and various/emerging technologies to carry out work responsibilities.
(g) Ability to document patient information using appropriate system

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.

Preferred Experience:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience in group facilitation experience and teaching skills
• Technical proficiency with virtual meeting platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and other relevant software applications
• Completion of a training program that meets or exceeds the NBHWC standards is highly preferred for non-certified applicants

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-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration: Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VHA Employees.
3. All Other Applicants.

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.