Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all current federal employees, veterans and the public. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Supervisory BRS provides supervision as well as direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male patients. This work involves overseeing the evaluation and needs assessment, capabilities and limitations, goals and development of a treatment plan for individuals experiencing blindness/visual impairment caused by injury or disease. The Supervisory BRS oversees the staff as part of a team supervising and coordinating care for blind and visually impaired Veterans. The Supervisor will also provide training/direct patient care, to visually impaired Veterans.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in managing the BRS program by providing administrative, management and technical supervision, compliance with rehabilitation program accreditation standards, strategic direction and leadership for blind rehabilitation professional staff at their respective VA medical facilities.
• Managing staff education and performance improvement including establishing local operating procedures on obtaining and using patient outcomes data to continually improve the quality of care to patients and their families.
• Ensuring BRS staff competencies and quality of clinical practice for each supervised staff member adhere to evidence-based practices. Core competencies are reviewed annually by the employee's supervisor or designee.
• Monitoring practice credentials, certifications and/or licenses of the blind rehabilitation professionals for whom they supervise are current.
• Confirming BRS providers evaluate various aids, devices, appliances and technologies to determine their clinical effectiveness for Veterans with visual impairment and recommending inclusion and exclusion criteria for use, if delegated by the Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) Service Chief.
• Supporting outreach efforts to inform internal and external stakeholders about the benefits of blind and vision rehabilitation.
• Participating in the planning, review and evaluation of proposed therapy programs at the inpatient BRC.
• Coordinating with BRC Admissions Coordinator the scheduling of patient's treatment program. The Supervisor manages the weekly/daily staff teaching schedule and patient assignments for the unit.
• Supervising a staff of employees to accomplish the work of the organizational unit; assigning and reviewing work as well as the administrative and personnel management functions. Collecting clinical, FIM and patient care data, analyzing trends and developing definitive plans and programs in order to optimize delivery of care specific to the Service.
• Providing coverage of Veterans' treatment programs in the absence of their regularly assigned blind rehabilitation specialists.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 40072F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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

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.

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. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education. Applicants must have earned:
  1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education; OR,
  2. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in 1. above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following:
     • At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university).
     • One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours).
     • A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree.
     • Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation. OR,
     • 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).
• Certification.
  1. Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation

Grade Determinations: GS-12 Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

• Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

AND:

• Certification. BRS must meet the certification requirements listed above.

AND:
Meet the following GS-12 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to plan, direct, mentor, and distribute work assignments to volunteers, assistants, interns, and/or Blind Rehabilitation Specialists at lower grade levels.
• Ability to act as a subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field and as consultant, supervisor and/or mentor in evaluating and treating Veterans in specialty or program areas.
• Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with Veterans, employees, other team leaders, managers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors.
• Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, develop short term and long-range goals, and plan for future utilization of resources.
• Skill in developing, planning, and administering complex treatment programs.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: It requires reaching overhead, reaching at or below the shoulder, pushing, pulling, some light lifting less than 25lbs. Walking, bending, sitting and stooping. The employee works with inpatients and occasionally with outpatients in a medical center setting.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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