U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Senior Psychologist- Service Chief Mental Health
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Grand Junction, Colorado, United States, 81503
Senior Psychologist- Service Chief Mental Health
– U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Base pay range: $171,057.00/yr – $222,373.00/yr
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 This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 30th, 2026. The initial cut‑off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 19th, 2025 with subsequent cut‑off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as‑needed basis until positions are filled.
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: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – section A – paragraph 3j.
Education: 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 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: The re‑specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program, and 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.
Psychologists who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution – with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature – can fulfill the internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate’s doctoral program.
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.
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.
Board Certification: Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education.
Experience & Grade Determinations
At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist – with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑14 level.
GS‑14 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.
The Psychologist Service Chief manages a stand‑alone Service – Product Line or Service Line.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Ability to supervise and manage a large group of professional staff effectively.
Skill in interpersonal relationships – including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with supervisors from other units.
Ability to accurately apply the qualification standards – assess the potential of current and prospective employees – and promote their professional development.
Ability to develop appropriate productivity standards for professional staff – often across multiple program lines.
Knowledge of the goals and objectives of the medical center and VISN and ability to communicate these to subordinates.
Preferred Experience
Five or more years of supervisory experience.
Physical Requirements Duties are performed in an office setting and/or on hospital wards and clinics where there is exposure to communicable diseases common to the client population.
Duties
Provide broad program management responsibilities for several programs – including leadership in the development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of complex programs responsible for comprehensive clinical care of Veterans.
Lead several multidisciplinary teams.
Develop, implement, and oversee operational policies and procedures for the programs.
Conduct ongoing program evaluation and data‑driven quality improvement projects.
Organize and lead leadership team meetings to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, and adherence to administrative demands.
Monitor and distribute provider‑specific workload reports to team leaders and ensure provider adherence to workload standards.
Plan work to be accomplished by team leaders and program managers.
Ensure timely access to care of patients assigned to each team in accordance with local and national policies.
Monitor compliance of team leaders and members with VA performance measures and effectively shape provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures.
Provide clinical supervision regarding adherence to WCHCS clinical and legal standards and policies.
Provide leadership in hiring new staff for each program.
Resolve conflicts among staff and adjudicate complaints and problems of employees in a timely and effective manner.
Ensure appropriate coverage and approve leave for employees directly under their supervision.
Facilitate liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services.
Serve as voting member of Clinical Executive Board – Medical Executive Committee – Peer Review and Medical Records Committee.
Allocate resources within programs – based on a data‑driven decision‑making process with consideration given to the overall needs.
Ensure timely completion of all program evaluations.
Function as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders/program managers.
Coordinate with the assigned administrative partner to ensure section administrative support – human resource – strategic planning – space and budget needs are met.
Practice psychological assessment and diagnosis.
Deliver psychotherapy treatment to individuals, groups, and couples/families using education, supportive therapy, behavioral interventions, and evidence‑based psychotherapies.
Assess, stabilize, and determine disposition of patients with emergent mental health conditions consistent with medical staff policy.
Conduct and document suicide and homicide risk evaluations and assessments and implement safety planning.
Administer and interpret standardized measures to assess patient outcomes and progress.
Provide counseling and education to patients, families, and caregivers on mental health.
Provide ongoing consultation and education to staff nurses, the medical team, and student trainees.
Admit patients to the Mental Health Inpatient Unit and residential unit – including evaluation for admission and initiation of inpatient orders.
Manage behavioral treatment of patients on the Mental Health inpatient and residential units.
Serve as on‑call clinician for Mental Health Service – providing mental health consultation to the Emergency Department and medicine wards.
Compensation, Benefits & Work Schedule
Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): May be authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized.
EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP – former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the program.
Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions or assistance.
Pay: Competitive salary & regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days per year (13‑26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays).
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with 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, up to a maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) & federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA Insurance; federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
Telework: Position authorized for telework – situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54577‑O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Authorized.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
– U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Base pay range: $171,057.00/yr – $222,373.00/yr
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 This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 30th, 2026. The initial cut‑off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 19th, 2025 with subsequent cut‑off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as‑needed basis until positions are filled.
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: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – section A – paragraph 3j.
Education: 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 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: The re‑specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program, and 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.
Psychologists who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution – with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature – can fulfill the internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate’s doctoral program.
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.
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.
Board Certification: Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education.
Experience & Grade Determinations
At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist – with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑14 level.
GS‑14 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.
The Psychologist Service Chief manages a stand‑alone Service – Product Line or Service Line.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Ability to supervise and manage a large group of professional staff effectively.
Skill in interpersonal relationships – including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with supervisors from other units.
Ability to accurately apply the qualification standards – assess the potential of current and prospective employees – and promote their professional development.
Ability to develop appropriate productivity standards for professional staff – often across multiple program lines.
Knowledge of the goals and objectives of the medical center and VISN and ability to communicate these to subordinates.
Preferred Experience
Five or more years of supervisory experience.
Physical Requirements Duties are performed in an office setting and/or on hospital wards and clinics where there is exposure to communicable diseases common to the client population.
Duties
Provide broad program management responsibilities for several programs – including leadership in the development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of complex programs responsible for comprehensive clinical care of Veterans.
Lead several multidisciplinary teams.
Develop, implement, and oversee operational policies and procedures for the programs.
Conduct ongoing program evaluation and data‑driven quality improvement projects.
Organize and lead leadership team meetings to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, and adherence to administrative demands.
Monitor and distribute provider‑specific workload reports to team leaders and ensure provider adherence to workload standards.
Plan work to be accomplished by team leaders and program managers.
Ensure timely access to care of patients assigned to each team in accordance with local and national policies.
Monitor compliance of team leaders and members with VA performance measures and effectively shape provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures.
Provide clinical supervision regarding adherence to WCHCS clinical and legal standards and policies.
Provide leadership in hiring new staff for each program.
Resolve conflicts among staff and adjudicate complaints and problems of employees in a timely and effective manner.
Ensure appropriate coverage and approve leave for employees directly under their supervision.
Facilitate liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services.
Serve as voting member of Clinical Executive Board – Medical Executive Committee – Peer Review and Medical Records Committee.
Allocate resources within programs – based on a data‑driven decision‑making process with consideration given to the overall needs.
Ensure timely completion of all program evaluations.
Function as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders/program managers.
Coordinate with the assigned administrative partner to ensure section administrative support – human resource – strategic planning – space and budget needs are met.
Practice psychological assessment and diagnosis.
Deliver psychotherapy treatment to individuals, groups, and couples/families using education, supportive therapy, behavioral interventions, and evidence‑based psychotherapies.
Assess, stabilize, and determine disposition of patients with emergent mental health conditions consistent with medical staff policy.
Conduct and document suicide and homicide risk evaluations and assessments and implement safety planning.
Administer and interpret standardized measures to assess patient outcomes and progress.
Provide counseling and education to patients, families, and caregivers on mental health.
Provide ongoing consultation and education to staff nurses, the medical team, and student trainees.
Admit patients to the Mental Health Inpatient Unit and residential unit – including evaluation for admission and initiation of inpatient orders.
Manage behavioral treatment of patients on the Mental Health inpatient and residential units.
Serve as on‑call clinician for Mental Health Service – providing mental health consultation to the Emergency Department and medicine wards.
Compensation, Benefits & Work Schedule
Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): May be authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized.
EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP – former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the program.
Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions or assistance.
Pay: Competitive salary & regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days per year (13‑26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays).
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with 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, up to a maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) & federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA Insurance; federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
Telework: Position authorized for telework – situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54577‑O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Authorized.
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