Lead Occupational Therapist

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. Open only to current permanent VA Puget Sound Health Care System facility employees

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

Will serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of outpatient OT services, demonstrate the ability to teach and mentor medical center staff, provide clinical practice guidance and training for other staff OTs/OTAs, and demonstrate the ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team. The incumbent will also provide the described evaluation and treatment elements for general outpatient occupational therapy services in face-to-face and virtual clinics.

This position requires knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice and the ability to apply advanced occupational therapy knowledge to provide clinical guidance and mentorship to OT practitioners. Clinical responsibilities include: general patient assessment, evaluation and treatment for Veterans with physical dysfunction, neurological and orthopedic diagnoses, as well as cognitive and psychosocial impairment

This position carries a high level of independence and problem solving ability and integral knowledge for appropriate referrals and OT services within the medical center. In addition to direct patient care responsibilities, the incumbent will efficiently coordinate outpatient OT services, triaging consults, coordinating staff coverage, monitoring and facilitating patient access and ensuring all consults and treatments are addressed based on facility guidelines. This provider will also represent RCS OT for any process improvement initiatives at their assigned CBOC and will incorporate lean methodology into coordination of OT services to optimize the flow of patient care and access.

The focus of this position is multifaceted and requires a working knowledge of a variety of outpatient OT services that are typically provided in an outpatient setting. This Occupational Therapist must demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge and apply systems improvement strategies to maximize the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the Veteran's experience in the medical center. It requires excellent coordination, organizational, leadership and communication skills.

Functions

• Demonstrates clinical knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions, and services to independently develop treatment strategies for referred for outpatient occupational therapy services.
• Serves as the subject matter expert to other therapists and staff to solve complex problems requiring occupational therapy intervention to include but not limited to triaging consults, assessment, treatment and discharge planning.
• Develops protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, research and practice
• Implements, revises/updates evidence-based occupational therapy services at assigned CBOC.
• Participates in committees, workgroups, team meetings, etc. as the subject matter expert in outpatient occupational therapy services.
• Plans and provides in-service educational programs to professional staff, community members and/or trainees to promote understanding of, and appropriate use of, occupational therapy services in this specialty area
• Collaborates with other RCS outpatient occupational therapists to expand telehealth services.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of patient/caregiver education and training to ensure safe and proper use of adaptive equipment that is issued to Veteran.
• Educates, collaborates with, and makes referrals to the appropriate services and team member(s) to facilitate coordination of care.
• Maintains personal productivity and assists the section in maintaining/increasing effectiveness and efficiency in meeting its objectives.
• Has a working knowledge of requirements for successful hospital accreditations, including CARF and Joint Commission surveys as evidenced by involvement in these and other surveys, as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the RCS OT Program Manager.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4pm
Compressed/Flexible:May be available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• Education and/or Experience:
  • The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
    • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
    • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
    • Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
  • Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
• Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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:

Lead Occupational Therapist, GS-13

Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
2. Ability to apply advanced occupational therapy knowledge to provide clinical guidance and mentorship to OT practitioners.
3. Ability to independently monitor and evaluate clinically appropriate treatment programs.
4. Ability to act as a liaison between OT practitioners and the supervisor by coordinating clinical activities, program development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
5. Ability to assess, prioritize, and address interpersonal or programmatic conflicts at the lowest possible level.
6. Ability to implement, revise and update evidence based protocols, procedures and approved competencies for occupational therapy services.

Assignment: Lead OTs provide professional guidance and consultation for OT practitioners. They monitor and evaluate clinically appropriate treatment programs with great autonomy. Individuals assigned as a lead OT are responsible for completing complex evaluations and treatments. They are required to apply advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairments and patients. They provide clinical practice guidance for other OT practitioners. Lead OTs collaborate with staff throughout the medical center to coordinate care and triage operations for their assignment. Lead OTs generally would be found in more complex facilities or departments.

Preferred Experience: At least 3 years of VA OT experience (preferably outpatient, telehealth, power mobility, home safety evaluations, and/or general hand therapy). Program development or process improvement experience.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated on 4/17/2026.

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.

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE BELOW.

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

• License
• Full resume with no page limits
• Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• 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)
• License
• Full resume with no page limits
• Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT
• Other (3)
• 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.

Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held

Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Failure to provide this information will result in resume disqualification and non- referral.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action

If you are claiming Facility Employee Eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent (not more than 1 year old) Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 (Not an award SF-50). Your SF-50 must include:

• Position title, pay plan/series/grade
• Tenure code
• Position Occupied type of appointment (Competitive or Excepted)

Within Grade Increase, General Adjustments, or Promotion SF-50's are best, Award SF-50's do not include this pertinent information.

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