Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the Nebraska Western-Iowa VA Health Care System.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Program Administration
  • The REC Service Chief will provide leadership and direction for effective uniform and economical accomplishments of the REC service line. Incumbent is responsible for planning, organizing, developing, implementing, controlling, and refining a comprehensive REC program which provides services necessary to meet clinical and administrative requirements relating to the care and treatment of both inpatients and outpatients in a cost-effective, efficient, and timely manner.
  • The incumbent must possess clinical knowledge that provides the ability to manage a multidisciplinary patient-care program, specifically with regard to customer satisfaction, quality of services provided, and efficiency of service delivery.
  • Demonstrates leadership in interpreting and supporting the VISN mission, vision and values, while operating in accordance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies, facility and VISN policies, and standards of federal professional and accrediting agencies external to VHA.
  • Provides direction and support to the REC staff regarding equipment technology, policies and procedures employed by the Health Care System.
  • Participates/reviews and documents performance improvement activities including, but not limited to, external review programs, internal peer review programs, and accreditation requirements.
  • Serves as an active member of various Health Care System committees and may serve on VISN or National boards or committees.
  • Maintains a peer review process for all REC Service Line/ICC clinicians as well as Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPEs). Implements Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPEs) when appropriate.
  • Incumbent carries out a variety of special assignments as required, of which may be handled individually, as a leader of a task force, or as a group participant.
  • Incumbent will also be required to investigate sensitive materials or subjects affecting both clinical and administrative operations.
• Custodial Officer Designation
  • Custodial Officers will comply with and be held responsible for adhering to the responsibilities set forth in VA Handbook 7002, part 2.The Custodial Officer designated by the facility director to assume responsibility for nonexpendable property will do so by personally signing the Equipment Inventory Listing (Ell).
• Budget and Fiscal Management
  • Collaborates with the Chief of Staff to develop and execute a strategic plan and annual budget for the Service Line.
  • Has responsibility and discretion once the budget is formulated and released to the Service Line for allocations in the areas of recruitment, performance recognition recommendations, materials, and other associated Service Line expenditures.
• Human Resources Management
  • The incumbent is responsible for direction of a human resources management program for Service Line employees and works with Human Resources staff in the employment of groups of employees.
  • Responsible for action in matters such as recruitment, selections, promotions, on the job training, awards, Equal Employment Opportunity complaints, labor relations, disciplinary actions, training, and career development.
  • Responsible for the development of mechanisms to assure staff competency and continuing education compliance.
  • Establishes employee performance plans that align with Agency and Departmental goals and objectives and is responsible for evaluating and communicating employee performance.
  • Develops a team that is technically competent and understands the interrelationship of the REC Service Line and other facility Service Lines and departments to achieve the mission of the Health Care System and VISN.
• Clinical Lead
  • Oversees provision of all other REC services in outpatient and inpatient settings.
  • Promotes and enforces compliance with access targets, measures, metrics, policies, etc.
  • Ensures strategies are implemented to increase supply and shape demand as defined in the advanced clinic access principles. Pulls/reviews supply and demand data within individual clinics via a variety of VHA Support Service Center reports.
• Research and Education
  • Identifies continuing education needs based upon performance of all subordinate staff and on needs generated by new technologies/programs, VA NWIHCS and national VA requirements.
  • Provides the opportunity for staff to participate in continuing educational activities to keep staff current with advancements in REC service line practice.
  • Maintains resident and intern training programs and positive relationships with academic affiliates.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
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.
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.
• 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.
• 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 Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• Education and experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
  • NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in postbaccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.
  • NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.
  • 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.
• 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.

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:

GS-14 Physical Therapist (Service Chief):

• Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.
  • Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators.
  • Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development.
  • Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work.
  • Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, system reorganizations, etc.

Preferred Experience: Experience in managing geriatric services.

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-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.

This job is open to current permanent employees of the Nebraska Western-Iowa VA Health Care System. Only current employees of this healthcare system will be referred.

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.