Psychologist (Program Manager) Recruitment / Relocation Incentive

The Psychology Program Manager directs the New Patient Access Team (NPAT) in Behavioral Health Services. The Psychology Program Manager reports directly to the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Behavioral Health (Deputy ACOS-BH), and ultimately to the Associate Chief of Staff for Behavioral Health (ACOS-BH). 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. Education : (1) Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions : (a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND (4) Internships (a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE : Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR (e) Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. Licensure : Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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 Psychology Program Manager Experience : At least 3 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs : 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Preferred Experience : 1. Experience in working with Veteran Population. 2. At least 2 years of supervisory experience. 3. Demonstrated skill in efficiently managing new patient walk-ins and crises. 4. Demonstrated skill in efficiently managing complex consult processes. 5. Demonstrated skill in effective collaboration with outside departments References : VA Handbook 5005 / 103 Part II Appendix G18 dated February 7, 2018. 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 : The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking / standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and / or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. ["VA Careers - Psychologist : Psychologist : The NPAT is responsible for managing consults, community care referrals, and desk requests for all new patients as well as managing requests and assignments from established patients who no longer have an assigned provider. Program Management Responsibilities : 1. The incumbent exhibits leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups served through assigned program(s) that cross service and discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. The incumbent provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of assigned program(s). 2. Assists with performance measure monitoring, evaluation and action plans for program improvement / enhancement as well as accreditation reviews and pertinent site visits. 3. Guides and oversees services for assigned program(s), determining staffing requirements and assignments in conjunction with members of treatment teams and staff areas where individual skills are best utilized. These duties include development of functional statements and performance standards with service personnel as well as function as the professional expert relative to program practice issues. 4. Incumbent assists with directing operation and management of all clinical, training, and administrative programs within assigned program(s). Supervisory Responsibilities : The incumbent provides general and beneficial supervision for assigned staff and participates in the performance appraisal process for all directly supervised clinical, support, and administrative staff. Incumbent completes the following duties : (a) Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system; (b) Observes employee performance and conducts work performance critiques in accordance with performance expectations, which include FPPEs and OPPEs;(c) Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance formally; etc. Clinical Responsibilities : 1. Direct Clinical Service : As a licensed, practicing psychologist the Psychology Program Manager is responsible for the assessment, identification, facilitation, referral and linkage to appropriate medical, psychotherapeutic, and psychiatric services for Veterans identified as eligible for services. The Psychology Program Manager conducts brief behaviorally focused individual, group, and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of substance abuse, psychiatric illness, and social needs as treatment issues. Professional judgment, including the knowledge of normal and abnormal behavior, is a competency applied in daily interactions with Veterans. Teaching / Academic Responsibilities : BHS currently has training programs for social work, psychology, psychiatry, and Supervision of Health Profession Trainees : As a licensed, practicing psychologist the Psychology Program Manager is responsible for assisting in and supporting the training programs within BHS, etc. Work Schedule : Monday to Friday 8 : 00am to 4 : 30pm Recruitment / Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : May be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave : After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy : After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $ Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework : Available; Ad-hoc-(Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable) Virtual : This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # : 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report : Not required Note : This is a Non-Bargaining Unit Position"]