Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent Facility West Palm Beach Healthcare System employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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This recruitment is to announce the GS-13 Advanced Practice Speech-Language Pathologist position within the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service. The role carries specialized clinical and administrative responsibilities in the assessment and management of neurogenic communication disorders, including but not limited to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with interdisciplinary clinic coordination, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluation and device management, and Polytrauma rehabilitation including mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). The incumbent supports advanced program functions essential for maintaining high-quality care delivery and ongoing training programs funded by OAA.

Major Duties

• Perform advanced differential diagnosis and evidence-based treatment for complex speech, language, voice, swallowing, and cognitive-communication disorders.
• Lead specialized clinical program operations and ensure coordinated workflows across interdisciplinary teams.
• Develop program goals, set priorities, and communicate objectives to staff and stakeholders.
• Gather, analyze, and evaluate outcome data to monitor and improve program quality and effectiveness.
• Serve as a primary clinical resource to other health-care providers regarding specialized speech-language pathology practice.
• Provide education, consultation, mentorship, and clinical guidance to colleagues, trainees, and students.
• Manage complex patient cases requiring advanced clinical judgment, including patients with multiple physical, sensory, motor, cognitive, or swallowing issues.
• Contribute to quality improvement activities, data collection, outcome monitoring, and program evaluation.
• Support compliance with VA policies, evidence-based practice standards, and service-level objectives.
• Support service in obtaining and maintaining ANCDS accrediation.

Work Schedule: Flexible schedule with Ad-Hoc telework options. Ad-Hoc telework may be approved occasionally, depending on operational needs.
Compressed/Flexible:Flexible
Telework: (Ad-Hoc available)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41907F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• 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 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. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education and Experience

Applicants must meet one of the following:

• Master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience.

- OR -

• Doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences, or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Licensure. Applicants must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice Speech-Language Pathology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or 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).

Grandfathering Provision. Individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series (or performing SLP duties in another series) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including education and licensure.

Grandfathering applies as follows:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to the full performance level, or downgraded, but cannot be promoted beyond the full performance level nor placed in supervisory/managerial roles.
2. Leaving the occupation removes protected status; re-entry requires meeting all qualification standards in effect at that time.
3. Grandfathered employees who subsequently obtain required education/licensure must maintain those credentials as a condition of employment.
4. Temporary appointees prior to the effective date cannot have temporary appointments extended or renewed until they fully meet all basic requirements.

Grade Determinations, Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-13: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-12 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of scientific principles and contemporary, evidence-based practice in differential diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, voice, swallowing and cognitive-communication disorders as it relates to a specialized clinical program.
(b) Skill in prioritizing program goals and objectives.
(c) Ability to build consensus among clinical team members, interests and points of view.
(d) Ability to gather and evaluate outcome data to determine program quality and effectiveness.
(e) Ability to serve as a resource to other health care providers regarding a specialized clinical program.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. SLPs with special clinical program responsibilities plan, guide and facilitate the work of a specialized, intra- or interdisciplinary clinical team to accomplish program goals and establish well-coordinated work operations. At this level, SLPs are responsible for communicating team goals and objectives to other medical center staff; and serve as a resource to other health care providers. SLPs with special clinical program responsibilities evaluate the program's work by developing quality improvement indicators and monitoring outcome data, making adjustments as needed.

Preferred Experience: Leadership or coordination within an ALS interdisciplinary clinic; expertise in AAC device evaluation, selection, and long-term management; comprehensive Polytrauma/TBI assessment and treatment skills; and demonstrated competency in program management responsibilities, particularly those involving oversight and support of OAA-funded health professions trainees.

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: 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.

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.