Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all US citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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RRT's at this grade level work independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings.The incumbent is accountable for delivery of direct patient-centered care for their department. The responsibilities include demonstration of competent clinical practice and delivery of care through the established standards of care.

Typical duties may include, but not limited to :

• Supervisory RRTs at this grade in this assignment manage and supervise all aspects of respiratory care including clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management and supervision of the service.
• They advise leadership on policy implications, key issues and relationships to both internal and external interest groups and recommend courses of action.
• They maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.
• They coordinate and negotiate resolutions to complex problems.
• Supervisory RRTs maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives and quality assurance programs.
• They participate in respiratory teaching and training.
• The incumbent assumes a high level of supervisory responsibility by providing clinical and administrative personnel support in the medical center.
• Planning work schedules and operations, making changes in the organization of work within allowable costs and established policies.
• Reviewing and analyzing records and reports of work production, costs and equipment and staff resources used to evaluate progress and control or reduce costs.
• Resolve technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for nonroutine or complex procedures.
• Studies continuing problems on the quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and takes or recommends needed actions.
• Assigns work on a selective consideration of such factors as difficulty and requirements of assignments, availability, capability, and special qualifications of employees.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Yes
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 61895F
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 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

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.

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. 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).
• Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a 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.

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). The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation.
(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
(4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA.

Grade Determinations: GS-13

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. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties.

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

Hold an active license and RRT credential.

• Ability to assist in establishing a completely integrated patient care program.
• Ability to organize work, delegate task, evaluate performance, manage fiscal matters and meet multiple deadlines
• Ability to supervise and manage subordinate employees.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships including conflict resolution.
• Ability to establish and monitor standards and priorities for production and patient care.
• Skill in recommending improvements to operations based on evaluation of data.

Assignments. At the GS-13 level, This Supervisory RRT assignment is designated as the Chief. They manage complexity level 3 facilities whose work involves providing respiratory and related care in the facilities whose work involves providing respiratory and related care in the facility or at multiple sites. These facilities may offer specialty care and services and may be affiliated with academic institutions. Supervisory RRTs at this grade in this assignment manage and supervise all aspects of respiratory care including clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management and supervision of the service. They manage staff members, assess the needs of patients and delegate tasks appropriately. They advice leadership on policy implications, key issues and relationship to both internal and external interest groups and recommend courses of action. They maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. They coordinate and negotiate resolutions to complex problems. They participate in the audit of respiratory care, identify opportunities for performance improvement and recommends changes where indicated. Supervisory RRTs maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives and quality assurance programs. They participate, identify and develop opportunities for performance improvement. They ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Joint Commission, Core Measures). They participate in respiratory teaching and training. They assess and evaluate staff qualifications and competency upon employment and on an ongoing basis. They recommendation appointments, advancements and disciplinary actions, when appropriate. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees and represent the facility to VISN-level leadership.

Reference: FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G11. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting: 45 pounds and over, Heavy Carrying: 45 pounds and over, Straight Pulling: up to 1 hour, Pushing: 1-2 hours, Use of both hands required, Walking: up to 4 hours, Standing: up to 4 hours, Repeated bending: up to 2 hours, Reaching over shoulders, Both legs are required, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16", Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Specific visual requirement (good), Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid permitted), Mental and emotional stability required.

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.