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Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Program Manager

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

Summary

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Program Manager will assist in overseeing a multispecialty behavioral health program consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses and other multi-disciplinary team members who are part of our level IC organization.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$106,437 - $138,370 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBST-13040392-26-DAY
Control number
883516800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, VHA HPTs, and U.S. 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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Duties

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The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Program Manager will exercise oversight of clinic services in one or more of the following areas, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Specialty Mental Health, Residential treatment, Compensated Work Therapy Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Recovery Center, Primary Care Mental Health Integration, Substance Use Disorders, Acute Inpatient, and General Mental Health.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Program Management

  • Oversee and manage major behavioral health programs, including PCMHI, PTSD, Specialty Mental Health, Residential Treatment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Substance Use Disorders, and more.
  • Exercise independent judgment in decisions affecting staff and resources.
  • Monitor work performance, interpret data, and ensure program requirements are met.
  • Manage key clinical, training, and administrative programs, including day-to-day operations and strategic planning.
  • Develop and implement policies, procedures, and quality assurance processes; monitor outcomes and drive improvements.
  • Prepare reports, briefing papers, and responses for leadership, including Congressional and sensitive correspondence.
  • Develop performance standards, conduct appraisals, and set training objectives for staff.
  • Oversee budget, fund control points, and daily operations; ensure cost-effective management.
  • Integrate program efforts with medical center operations and community agencies.
  • Serve as liaison with local, state, and national officials, community groups, and affiliate institutions.
  • Represent Behavioral Health Service at meetings and conferences; provide expert advice and testimony as needed.

Clinical Responsibilities

  • Provide direct responsibility for behavioral health services, including those by trainees and staff.
  • Consult and serve as a resource for other professional staff.
  • Deliver a full range of psycho-diagnostic and psychotherapeutic services (individual, couple, family, group, substance abuse).
  • Perform psychotherapy across various areas of the Health Care System.

Academic/Teaching/Training

  • Develop and facilitate in-service training and career development programs.
  • Provide education and training to Medical Center staff and serve as faculty for local or network-wide programs.
  • Participate in professional training programs, including internships and residencies.
  • Provide clinical consultation and leadership in staff education and development.

Supervisory & Administrative

  • Supervise staff, approve time/leave, oversee performance evaluations, and manage personnel policies.
  • Ensure compliance with program policy manuals, directives, and accreditation requirements.
  • Monitor and report on Mental Health Performance Measures; implement corrective actions as needed.

Customer Service & Compliance

  • Communicate and treat customers with courtesy and respect.
  • Provide age-appropriate care and ensure staff training in age, development, and cultural needs.
  • Protect sensitive data and comply with privacy and security regulations.
  • Support safety, occupational health, and environmental management programs.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (subject to change based on the needs of the facility.)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00592F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
  • 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).
  • Must have a current, valid, unrestricted state driver's license.
  • Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
  • Must be able to independently operate a Government Vehicle.
  • 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. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English
  • Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.
  • Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.
    • Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, LPMHCs must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed within three years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC series and may result in termination of employment.
    • Loss of Licensure. Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment
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:

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13

Experience, Education and Licensure.
In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the KSAs below:
1. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
2. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
3. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
4. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

Preferred Experience:
  • 3-5 years of supervisory experience.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective teamwork in a medical setting.
  • Accurate diagnosis of complex issues and substance use disorders.
  • Functions independently while seeking clinical consultation when needed.
  • Excellent writing, computer proficiency, organizational, and time management skills.
  • Demonstrated ethical behavior and clinical leadership, receptive to feedback.
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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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:
1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System employees;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees;
3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees;
4th Area of Consideration - all other applicants based on Veterans' Preference

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System is a level 1c complexity, multi-site healthcare system that is accredited by the Joint Commission to serve Veterans across three states, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Our healthcare system consists of the Biloxi VA Medical Center, located in Biloxi, Mississippi; Joint Ambulatory Care Center, located in Pensacola, Florida; and three Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Mobile, Alabama; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and, Panama City Beach, Florida. Our medical center operates 248 beds, including a 96-bed Community Living Center and 26-bed Blind Rehabilitation Center. Each of our locations offer Primary Care, Women's Health, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and many other Specialty Care services to more than 82,000 Veterans and other beneficiaries.

Agency contact information

Dawn Yamura
Phone
(808) 433-0184
Email
Dawn.Yamura@va.gov
Address
Biloxi VA Medical Center
400 Veterans Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39531
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Veterans Health Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://vacareers.va.gov/

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