Videos

Duties Include:

• Provides individual and group Health and Wellness Coaching to Veterans using Whole Health principles and evidence-based health behavior change strategies.
• Assists Veterans in identifying what matters most, developing Personal Health Plans, establishing SMART goals, and building skills for sustainable health behavior change.
• Facilitates Whole Health groups and educational programs; collaborates with interdisciplinary teams; supports outreach and engagement activities; documents care in the electronic health record; and assists Veterans with navigation to appropriate VA and community resources.
• Duties may be performed across multiple clinical settings and locations based on program and patient care needs.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 evaluation.
• 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 Requirement:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a

Education and/or Experience:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

• Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

• Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Certification:

• Candidates must be currently certified by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).

Exception for Non-Certified Health and Wellness Coaches:

• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification, may be given a temporary appointment as Health and Wellness Coach under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
• Non-certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Health and Wellness Coach at or above the full performance level or other designated occupation with the appropriate training and expertise.
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted until certification is obtained.
• Temporary appointments of non-certified Health and Wellness Coaches may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.

Note: If selected a non-certified candidate is selected, you will be expected to obtain the required certification within one year.

GS-7 Qualifications:

• Specialized Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of health and wellness coaching processes and techniques.
  • Ability to promote positive lifestyle choices.
  • Ability to effectively communicate in writing through a variety of modalities.
  • Ability to effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally.

GS-9 Qualifications:

• Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness, including behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle and well-being.
  • Skill in using health and wellness coaching techniques to promote positive behavior change using one-on-one, couple or group modalities.
  • Skill in exercising effective interpersonal communication techniques to develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships.
  • Ability to assist the client in developing a comprehensive personalized health plan based on a patient's action-oriented goals.
  • Ability to identify resources internal and external to the organization that are necessary for achieving patient overall health and well-being goals.
  • Ability to use information technology (IT) equipment and various/emerging technologies to carry out work responsibilities.
  • Ability to document patient information using appropriate systems.

Physical Requirements: While some of the work is sedentary including researching, writing, program planning and data analysis, the position will have periods of extensive walking and movement throughout the healthcare system, prolonged standing, and transporting light to medium weight objects. The Whole Health Coach will also be required to travel between sites (CBOCs and outlying clinics) encompassed in the healthcare system. The work is conducted in a medical center environment and involves risk of exposure to a variety of contagious diseases. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, air conditioned, and ventilated

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.