Clarification from the agency

Area of consideration: Current permanent employees of the James J. Peters VAMC. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Exhibits expert understanding of rehabilitation principles and practice, specialized in amputee care, as well as a background in the general clinical rehabilitation care.
• Applies advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders.
• Serves as a clinical specialist in amputation rehabilitation, including assessment and identification of patient rehabilitation and prosthetic needs.
• Provides individual patient case management and ongoing support services for veterans with amputations.
• Plans, coordinates, and monitors effective treatment programs for veterans with amputation.
• Supervises students and provides clinical instruction and mentorship related to amputee rehabilitation care.
• Responsible for the administrative planning, organization, development, direction, and evaluation of the Amputation System of Care (ASoC) program for the Northeastern region.
• Organizes and presents in-services and educational materials on amputee care for hospital staff.
• Represents the amputation program to regional and national contacts, including communication of program activities to Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) and Polytrauma Amputation Network Sites (PANS).
• Completes and delivers reports to VACO.
• Collaborates with the Medical Director to develop strategic plans, establish program objectives and meet organizational deadlines.
• Facilitates administrative management of the amputation rehabilitation care delivery system and contributes to the fulfillment of the Veterans HeaIth Administration (VHA) health care system's mission and vision by providing leadership on administrative matters affecting organizational planning, staffing, resource allocation, education, and patient care.

Incumbent selects and monitors quality and performance measures for process improvement and patient satisfaction; completes advanced data pulls from national and local databases and warehouses; reviews and analyzes various reports and complex data; completes trend analysis relating to quality improvement to ensure desired outcomes; monitors clinical services' compliance with the standards of external bodies and accrediting agencies; and recommends remedial action. The incumbent compiles final reports related to these monitors. Conducts workload studies and revises statistical information to determine if the program goals are being met.

The incumbent plans and accomplishes special projects independently and/or participates in process and project management teams. Manages special projects for the Regional Amputation Care Program. Undertakes or participates in special projects, ongoing analyses, investigations and initiatives that have high priority for high-level management. This may involve producing complex analyses and written reports; organizing special committees, workshops or other gatherings; initiating program reviews; developing or fostering cross-agency activities.

The incumbent provides direct supervision for one program assistant when available. Knowledgeable of the HR processes is required. Ensures that competencies are in place, and that all appropriate personnel appraisals are completed in a timely manner. Manages the day-to-day workload of the program assistant. Understands and can implement processes related to recruitment, promotions, awards, training, disciplinary action, etc. Develops competencies and performance standards. Incumbent is responsible for adherence to all provisions of the EEOC Program in accordance with OPM and VA regulations and established Medical Center guidelines. Incumbent demonstrates appropriate attention to and participation in the Incentive Awards Program and ensures that all employees are knowledgeable of and comply with safety rules and that safety program requirements are met.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:14223- F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: This position requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic. Much of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications.

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 identification 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 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:

A. Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned.

B. Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:

• (1) Bachelor's degree in physical therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• (2) Master's degree in physical therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• (4) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non- profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.

C. Licensure. Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

D. Grandfathering Provision. All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

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 REQUIREMENTS:
A. Creditable Experience
(1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:

• (a) Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.
• (b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.

(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level.


Grade Determinations:
GS-13 Physical Therapist (Program Coordinator)
(A) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.
(B) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty areas to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders.
2. Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness.
3. Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education methodologies. This includes the ability to monitor and track data, utilize available resources effectively, evaluate program quality, and generate reports for local, and/or VISN and/or VACO leadership.
4. Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury.
5. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within departments and with other departments or affiliated programs.
6. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team.

(C) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. PTs at this level have experience that demonstrate advanced practice skills and judgment across one or more areas of physical therapy. The individual may be assigned broad administrative responsibility. The individual is assigned a major content specialty area to include assessing, planning, evaluating and delivering care within a special clinical program or component of a Rehabilitation Service, which usually involves multiple disciplines. See the definition for specialty areas in paragraph 2. i, that includes Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain, Amputation, Spinal Cord Injury and clinical education programs. PTs provide administrative direction and decisions related to the program. The Physical Therapy Program Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of multiple professionals from a variety of disciplines for optimal clinical care and educational programming. He/she implements programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, policy and external accreditation requirements. He/she monitors outcomes, participates in strategic planning and implements strategies for program improvement particularly in assigned content specialty area. The Program Coordinator supports the rehabilitation service and serves as a point of contact providing guidance to facility leadership on matters related to specialty content area.


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

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.