Chief Respiratory Therapist/Detail/Temporary Promotion

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to current permanent employees of facility. (You must provide your most recent non-award SF-50 to be included as an internal applicant.)

DUTIES MAY INCLUDE HOWEVER ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

• Functions as a member of the medical team in treating and assessing the needs of individuals who may be seriously ill and provide around the clock care to individuals who otherwise would not be able to survive life-threatening conditions.
• Assumes a high level of supervision of a large, complex section and, as necessary, provides supervision to
  subordinate supervisors
• Directly contributes to the administrative management of the VAWNYHCS and is the principle advisor for planning, organizing, developing, managing and evaluating the programs under their supervision
• Applies specialized principles and practices of health care management in leading programs
• Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment
• Develops and implements the organizational vision that integrates program goals, strategic priorities, ICARE values, and other factors
• Plans the sequence of operations, recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments to improve work, services, job satisfaction, etc.
• Develops statements of goals, policies, priorities and plans for the full range of department related concerns, including guidelines and policies for non-routine or complex assignments
• Resolves technical work problems, including those not covered by precedents or established policies
• Develops and reports to higher level leadership changes in budget requirements based on anticipated workload and productivity capability of the section
• Prepares formal requests for filling vacancies and for addition personnel to meet work requirements, reviews candidates, performs interviews and selects staff
• Serves as a consultant and works in collaboration with case managers, discharge coordinators, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and ancillary staff regarding the respiratory care provided
• Develops policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and
  functional statements
• Consults with affiliates and works collaboratively with the Medical Center's managers, and discipline specific functional area professional and clinical leaders to develop and enhance program opportunities and performance in support of mission objectives
• Prepares special reports and responses for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential, and of a complex nature
• Provides oversight in developing procedures and methodologies for monitoring quality assurance and continuous improvement programs
• Develops audits and selects methods for measuring quality of services
• Analyzes quality and performance improvement data to assess compliance with multiple specific and technical guidelines and functions and makes recommendations for changes to ensure desired outcomes
• Implements, evaluates, and monitors a risk management program.
• Performs administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised and has authority to prepare and follow up on actions for most supervisory personnel functions
• Establishes a master staffing plan, including numbers and skills for staff based on patient needs, staffing guidelines, staff qualifications, infection control concerns, work area geography, and human resources supply and demand
• Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff; observes workers performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques
• Develops performance improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary; proposes and effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area
• Plans and implements an effective educational program for in-services, orientation, continuing education and other personnel training including; respiratory therapists, medical students, residents, house staff, nursing staff, patients/families/caregivers and other Medical Center personnel
• Formulates training and education plans for subordinates and arranges for appropriate training courses
• Plans instruction and participates as an instructor for the facility
• Responsible for ensuring all legal, regulatory, quality and safety standards for his/her areas are met,\ including; Joint Commission, AWE and OIG requirements, Fire Safety, Infection Control, Blood Borne Pathogens, Chemical Hazards, CPR, education documentation, patient confidentiality, employee orientation, and employee competency
• Develops a safety training program and encourages a culture of safety
• Works with logistics and contracting to set up appropriate contracts with vendors

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Ad hoc may be available at service discretion as needed.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 21Q46-O
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.

Conditions of employment

• 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.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

NOTE: This will be for a detail or temporary promotion for 120 days and may be up to 1 year. Temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition.

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) for more information.

Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.

Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.

a. Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must:

• i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties such as critical care, pulmonary, education and sleep medicine.
• ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

b. Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field.

c. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• i. Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data.
• ii. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care.
• iii. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies.
• iv. Ability to supervise employees.
• v. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters.

d. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

• RRTs at this grade in this assignment are designated as Chiefs.
• They manage complexity level 1 and 2 respiratory care department.
• They manage all administrative and clinical aspects of the organizational unit.
• The organizational unit may be located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility.
• Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.
• They have broad and overall responsibility for the service-level department and full responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management, budget management and supervision for employees whose work involves providing high acuity care.
• They provide leadership with objective, independent assessments and recommendations for policy, operational and administrative issues and initiatives requiring decision and action.
• They plan, assess and evaluate programs to ensure coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of health care within the facility.
• Supervisory RRTs initiate and conduct audits and analyze a wide variety of data related to program planning and the specialized needs of the Veteran, the service and the medical center.
• They advise leadership on policy implications, key issues, relationships to both internal and external interest groups and recommend courses of action.
• They maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.
• They coordinate and negotiate resolutions to complex problems and report progress and resolution of problems in achieving goals and objectives to higher levels of management.
• They prepare special reports and responses, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs and decision papers for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential and of a complex nature.
• They develop policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements.
• They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees. They represent the facility to VISN-level leadership.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 3 above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is 14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 14 to 14.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• 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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