Psychology Program Manager

DutiesDuties include:BHIP Team SupervisorThe incumbent has direct oversight and responsibility for the functioning of one Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Team within the outpatient mental health clinic. The incumbent is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and functioning of the program, as well as long-term outcome evaluation and efficiency. This includes attending program meetings and solving problems which arise within and outside of the BHIP section of the Mental Health Service, as well as recruiting qualified staff to participate in interviewing, selection, and orientation.BHIP consist of several multi-disciplinary teams of mental health provides who work together to ensure Veteran's mental health and related needs are met. Each BHIP team structure consists of up to four team-lets, with up to four psychiatric providers on each team. The incumbent in this position will function as an administrative supervisor for one BHIP team, the incumbent is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of one BHIP team and ensure coordination of all mental health and related services for each Veteran assigned to their respective VHIP team.The incumbent is delegated the full scope of authority and responsibility for the administration and coordination of said program and their staff, to include performance standards and evaluations, evaluation of their clinical skills in conjunction with their discipline-specific program areas (social work, substance abuse, etc.), workload evaluation, competencies, efficiencies, and all other personnel related responsibilities. The incumbent assumes professional, technical, and administrative responsibilities for social work programs extended to these areas. The incumbent is responsible for various control points assigned to the program within the assigned areas. The incumbent manages and controls the use of data related to these programs regarding day-to-day functioning and program evaluation. In conjunction with the BHIP Program Coordinator and Mental Health Outpatient Section Chief, plans, organize and directs administrative, operational, patient and personnel activities for the service.The incumbent is responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices in regard to race, color, religion, sex, and affirmative action for the area under his/her supervision in the following: (1) merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants; (2) fair treatment of all employees; (3) encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; (4) career development of employees; and (5) full of their skills. - The incumbent performs a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to state, local, and private agencies, and universities. Technical assistance provided is based on monitoring activities and program reviews, and the development and analysis of information. In addition, the incumbent uses sound judgement in the interpretation of trends and patterns; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements. The incumbent performs program analysis, development, review, research, design, and public contact work, The incumbent is responsible for key project activities related to the planning, development, and implementation of the project component.Clinical CareThe incumbent is a role model for the interns and postdoctoral residents, as well as psychologists and psychotherapists within BHIP, demonstrating the application of psychological knowledge to clinical practice, and a sensitivity to and knowledge about the influence on the services provided of ethnic, cultural, and individual differences.Consistent with the expectation of all doctoral level psychologists, the incumbent is a full member of the medical staff and meets all the requirements consistent with functioning as a licensed independent practitioner (LIP) within this medical center.The incumbent is competent to function in any of the following areas and provides specialized clinical services within a designated clinic. These include:Provide a full range of psychological testing, psychodiagnostics, assessment services including administration, interpretation, and reporting writing of psychological testing.Offer a variety of psychological interventions, to include clinical skills in evidenced based treatments appropriate for the nature of the referral problem.Provide consultation services to other health care providers in BHIP as well as outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community-based health care settings in areas such as differential diagnosis, treatment planning recommendations, recommendations regarding interventions with family or significant others, or in other clinical areas which are addressed by performance standards or clinical reminders. Requirements Conditions of Employment(Duties continued)
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. work schedule, but work schedule may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service.Compressed/Flexible:May be consideredTelework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.Virtual: This is not a virtual position.Functional Statement #: 000000Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized:
This position is eligible for 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 your start date. 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. Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance.Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
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.You may be required to serve a probationary period.Subject to background/security investigation.Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. QualificationsBasic 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. 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: (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,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. 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.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: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:
Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.Preferred Experience: At least 5 years post-doctoral outpatient psychology experience; 2-3 years in managerial/leadership.References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II appendix G18, Psychologist Qualification Standards, GS-180, Veterans Health Administration.Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with prolonged periods of sitting. The work requires moderate lifting, carrying, pushing, standing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; ability to read without strain; ability to hear the whispered voice with or without hearing aid; emotional & mental stability.
EducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: .
Additional informationDuring the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
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Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou 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.
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