Psychology Program Manager

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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.

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

The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed

For the purpose of meeting this requirement – the term “specialty area” refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills

Currently – APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology – or combinations of two or more of those areas

PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science

CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology – and school psychology

There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist

therefore – an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment

Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA – there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology)

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: 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)

(a) The re‑specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program

(b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed

NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re‑specialization program – which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship

(Psychologists who have successfully completed a re‑specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.) 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

(c) VHA facilities that offered full‑time – one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre 1979) 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.) 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

If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript – the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program

NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard

c

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

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment – the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Psychology Program Manager – GS‑14 Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist – with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑13 grade level

Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities: In addition to the experience above – the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1 Availability of organization skills, 2 Knowledge of evidence‑based practice, 3 Ability to work with diverse individuals, 4 Skill in managing others, 5 Ability to translate management goals, 6 Ability to establish and monitor performance, 7 Ability to analyze organizational problems, and implement solutions

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑14

Physical Requirements: The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation

NOTE: Readjustment Counselors are multi‑disciplinary and can be filled by: Social Worker – Psychologist – Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor – and Marriage & Family Therapist. Each discipline is announced separately – and applicants must apply to the announcement for which they are qualified.

Duties

This position is multidisciplinary and may be filled as a Psychologist – Social Worker – Marriage and Family Therapist – or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor – at the Program Manager/Coordinator level

Serves as a Psychology Program Manager – RCS Vet Center Director (VCD) and is responsible for the professional and administrative supervision and oversight of all readjustment counseling – outreach – referrals and follow‑up care coordination services provided to eligible individuals within the designated Vet Center Service Area (VSA)

The VCD supervises both professional and nonprofessional staff including a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals of various performance levels who work in multiple locations (Vet Centers – Vet Center Outstations and Community Access Points) and in communities distant from the Vet Center through planned outreach – often in conjunction with a Mobile Vet Center

Responsible for Administrative and outreach staff service functions – Responsible for the Vet Center's resource and fiscal management – monitoring control points – developing the annual budget – operating within that budget and accounting for appropriated funds

Lead the coordination and briefing during meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff

Lead in planning – establishing and implementing Vet Center policies and procedures – developing staff goals and objectives – and monitoring – coordinating and evaluating the work of all Vet Center staff – including social workers – other Hybrid Title 38 Mental Health Professionals recognized as licensed independent practitioners – Title 5 Readjustment Counselors – outreach workers and program support assistants

Provides direct readjustment counseling services within and outside of the Vet Center to include in‑person and virtual services based on client preference – within the parameters of all current VHA directives – state licensure standards and VA OIG expectations

Responsible for professional assessment and specialized service planning to address the most complex readjustment problems presented by eligible clients within the Vet Center setting – Service provision to such cases requires the incumbent to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment perspectives into the development of the service plan – Performs other duties as assigned

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 $416.66

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: Not Available; Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 34121A – Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Contact Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Compensation and Benefits Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases when setting pay – a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized; Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized; EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Psychologist: https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Mon‑Fri 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

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