Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens to include current and permanent employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs and other Agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Supervisory Licensed Professional Mental health Counselor functions as the Clinical Operations Manager (COM) and works in close collaboration with the Mental Health (MH) Management Team to facilitate the logistical and operational needs across MH programs at their site. The Redding COM directly supervises a workforce of approximately 8 employees. The COM helps to ensure that the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program BHIP Team meets the overall performance standards, measures, and mission of the VA and the BHIP Program. The COM ensures timely, integrated, efficient and effective delivery of MH service across the continuum of care for Veterans who are served at that site. Duties for the position may include but are not limited to:

• Ensures efficient delivery of services related to BHIP program, involving both day-to-day operations and long-term planning and growth;
• Attends and/or facilitates regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery;
• Assists the BHIP Program Manager by managing and monitoring appropriate performance indicators, making adjustments as needed to assure adherence to programmatic expectations;
• Provides oversight to BHIP team operations in order to assure comprehensive provision of collaborative care;
• Assists the BHIP Program Manager by managing, monitoring, and adjusting site-based and individual productivity metrics to address inefficiencies and assure systemic growth;
• Provides local operational oversight around utilization, bookability, and performance metrics, assures grid accuracy and maintains DSS mapping to meet programmatic expectations.
• Hires and trains all BHIP staff at a given site;
• Resolves informal complaints and grievances; develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary;
• Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area;
• Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests;
• Assures that subordinates are properly trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations;
• Establishes and monitors clinic profiles in terms of availability, utilization and scheduling, and staff productivity;
• Reports gaps in resources, either personnel or equipment, in a timely manner to the ACOS Office and appropriate management team members.
• Attends site management meetings and serves as a liaison with delegated authority as needed to address site specific operational concerns;
• Works with the facility management to maintain a clear understanding of policy and up to date procedures concerning local safety issues, disaster planning, and related preparedness concerns;
• Communicates with other MH Managers and MH Administrative Officer regarding any space needs or issues at a given site. This includes acting as the MH POC and MH liaison, directing issues to and reporting back from the appropriate authority;
• Coordinates with and serves as MH liaison to Telehealth, BDMS, Clinical Informatics, IT and other services as needed in order to facilitate efficient clinical operations and address local problems across programs;
• Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program, service line and medical center level;
• Coordinates with facility management to assure that engineering and physical plant concerns are addressed in a timely manner;
• Participates in root cause analysis and addresses action plan items related to patient safety and patient care issues.
• Diagnostic assessment of the patient's present mental and social functioning based on developmental and vocational history that can be used by others for treatment planning or disability rating purposes.
• Use of the DSM 5-TR to make clinical assessments and develop psychotherapeutic modalities including referral to a psychiatrist for prescription of appropriate medications or clarification of diagnosis.
• Represent VA NCHCS at professional community group/events and committees, in conferences/meetings with higher ranking managers, supervisors, and staff from other disciplines or work units, and/or with representatives of local public interest groups, congressional district offices and employees of state and local governments, as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule Full Time; Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency
Telework: Authorized ad hoc as per agency policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• 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.

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 Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
• English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs 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:
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13

Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Assignments. LPMHCs manage the daily operations of multiple programs, develop and implement program policies and procedures, or serve as chief or principal counselor to a number of LPHMCs. They are responsible for oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes. They prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national leadership. Decisions may affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. They may be responsible for the program's budget. They may also supervise employees assigned to the program.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
1. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
2. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
3. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
4. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

References: VA Handbook 5005/106, Part II, Appendix G43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standards, GS-0183, Veterans Health Administration,

The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13

Physical Requirements: Hearing required (aid permitted).

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
• 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.



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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