Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for their individual program within the service and serves as a mentor to other staff. The services are performed in accordance with the guidelines established by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC), American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), and policies and procedures of Miami Veterans' Hospital. The protocol and procedures are established for the treatment, management, evaluation and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assists in keeping Section Chief, Assistant Chief and Respiratory Care Services abreast of changes and improvements. Assures information exchange is open with colleagues though departmental meetings, e-mail, in-services and discussions.
• Maintains departmental standards, policies, SOPs, and performance reviews in alignment with Joint Commission (T JC), VHA, and medical center requirements; ensures appropriate inventory and supply ordering through Logistics.
• Provides comprehensive support for the STAT Blood Gas Laboratory and related clinical areas (ICU, wards, ER), including QA checks, cleaning, calibration, and evaluation of respiratory equipment; maintains controls and documentation for blood gas/chemistry analyzers and Co-oximetry.
• Serves as mentor and preceptor, orienting new respiratory therapy staff and selected personnel; delivers formal in-services and just-in-time training for therapists and nursing teams on equipment, therapies, medications, infection control, and safety
• Functions as the COPD Coordinator by implementing and facilitating a patient-centered seamless transition to the home or other post-discharge setting for chronic lung disease patients.
• Represents Respiratory Therapy in interdisciplinary meetings and team rounds (e.g., daily work rounds, grand rounds, monthly Surgical Service meetings), collaborating on complex clinical approaches and patient management.
• Collaborate on hospital discharge planning with primary medical team, case management, and social work.
• Ensures work is distributed among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization.
• Assures timely accomplishment of the assigned workload, assess the status, quality and progress of work and make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities.
• Provides clinical practice guidance for other respiratory staff and assist with technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for non-routine or complex procedures.
• Assist RRTs in determining treatment options for complex patients.

Work Schedule: Monday though Friday 08:00 am to 4:30 pm
(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 30233F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment 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

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: Registered Respiratory Therapist's appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• 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.
• Credential: Must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist.

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 for theLead Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12.
Candidates must possess:

• Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Registered Respiratory Therapist at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient. Knowledge, skills, and abilities at the GS-11 grade level include:
  • Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
  • Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
  • Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management.
• Hold an active license and Registered Respiratory Therapist credential.

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

• Ability to assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload.
• Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance in a manner that assures completion of the workload.
• Ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution.
• Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions.
• Ability to recommend ways to improve patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies.

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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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:

• License
• OTHER (Standard Clinical Resume)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• 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.

Your resume must include all of the following information:

• Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
• Duties (be specific in describing your duties)
• Employer's name and address
• Start and end dates including month, and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position.
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

Professional License Reminder - You must submit a copy of a current active certification. Expired certifications will not be considered.

The following additional supporting documents may be submitted, if applicable:

• SF-50: All VA/Federal employees should submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (that is not an award SF-50) that shows you're a current, permanent VA/Federal employee. You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF. VA employees may go to:https://eopf.opm.gov/va/. Other Federal employees must contact your current HR Office for assistance assessing your eOPF/personnel folder
• To be considered for Veterans preference submit: Copy of your DD-214 that shows your type of discharge (Member 4 copy).
• Disabled Veterans & those claiming 10-Point Preference must submit: SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference) along with the supporting documents required by that form (such as VA disability rating). Please read page 2 of the form for acceptable supporting documents. (Available at: http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf)
• Those claiming 0-Point (Sole Survivorship) Preference must also submit: Proof of your eligibility.

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
• OTHER (Standard Clinical Resume)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• 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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