Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration will be given to current permanent Veterans Health Administration employees. Second area of consideration will be given to US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This job is also open in another announcement to:

The public

Internal to an agency

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans the work to be accomplished, sets goals based on the facilities strategic plan, analyze data for reporting and develops/implements action plans to assist with the achievement of goals/performance.
• Plans, organizes, and attends meetings at the service line level up to the PENTAD to assist with plan development and reporting of actions to obtain facility performance.
• Tracks and analyze all data pertaining to service performance. Standardize processes and forms, establishes performance measures and analyzes actions, develops actions based on analysis of results, metrics, quality assurance/compliance, operating practices, and reporting within the system. Exercises the management responsibility for the coordination and integration of new systems or has full delegation responsibilities for the functions of the PM&R service to include personnel management, assignment of duties.
• Establishes, maintains, and promotes VA PM&R area and supports personnel training and professional development programs, which are integral to the success of the PM&R programs. Develops training programs, develops curriculum, creates training opportunities, and develops tests designed to enhance the skills and abilities of subordinate staff. Fulfillment of these responsibilities includes management of a professional development program and career path for physical, occupational, recreational therapists, oversight of PM&R workforce training programs. Mentors and guides PM&R personnel.
• Engages customers regularly and coordinates satisfaction surveys with customers to determine their needs and satisfaction with the way the PM&R service is meeting those needs; advises academic affiliations of programs and opportunities. Participates in facility and VISN Customer Support groups and seeks out best practices in the local private sector healthcare rehabilitation community.
• Provides staff service, advice, and guidance to all supervisory levels on the practice of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, techniques, and best practices. Also serves as a reviewer and authorizes/denies physical/occupational therapy community care consults. The incumbent will advise medical center providers at all levels in the organization as to the appropriate course of action regarding PM&R.
• Responsible for establishing and maintain good working relationships with groups and organizations external to the VA. This includes area colleges, universities and high schools, veteran's organizations, professional societies, and community groups. Will also contact/respond to White House & congressional offices as required.
• Analyzes data and develops methods and systems to acquire information needed for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Unannounced survey agency in the CLC, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Data is analyzed for use in policy, process improvements, creation of plans, development of action plans, participation in surveys, training of staff to prepare and plan, achievement of best standards of practice and evidence-based care to achieve accreditation.
• Independent in operations and decision-making on pertinent clinical and managerial subjects without compromising the medical responsibility and scope of practice as assigned. Assignments are received in terms of goals, priorities, deadlines, and suggested sources of information.
• Independently accomplishes the work and has wide latitude in decision making, selecting methods and approaches to be used, and resolving problems that arise. Independently selects additional tasks and projects to be undertaken based upon known or suspected problem areas and management needs. Performance is evaluated in terms of the incumbent's effect on the overall improvement in the delivery of medical rehabilitation health care services and the impact these programs have on the medical center.
• Identify the training and development needs of the section personnel, Develops, plans, and conducts training programs to meet needs. Evaluates the effectiveness of the training programs and makes revisions as necessary. Maintain current knowledge of physical medicine and rehabilitation techniques and management skills through reading, attendance at local, regional and national meetings, seminars and the involvement in professional organizations.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 93832-O
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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists.

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: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• Licensure: Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

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).

Creditable Experience
(1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:

• (a) Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.
• (b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.

(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level.

Grade Determinations: GS-14 Physical Therapist (Supervisor, Service Care Line Manager or Service Chief)

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. This experience may include, but is not limited to: supervision, administrative management, and direction of the physical therapy program in a rehabilitation service or equivalent service-level department which consists of three or more PTs or other multi-discipline staff. Provides supervision of key clinical and training programs, including the overall technical oversight of the staff that He/she administratively supervise. Supervisors are responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures to address focused clinical needs and the overall services delivered and provided within the section. Demonstrates autonomy in performing supervisory responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, assigning work to employees, monitoring workload and clinical volume, reviewing work of employees to assure accuracy and validity of submissions, assuring adequate clinical staffing, imposing disciplinary measures, and monitoring clinical privileges. Required to provide overall clinical supervision that assures the proper coordination and delivery of care within the section and the facility.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.
2. Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators.
3. Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development.
4. Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work.
5. Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, system reorganizations, etc.

Preferred Experience: Minimum 2-5 years as Supervisor of Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab Medicine Service.

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-14.

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include but is not limited to the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 - a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• 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 (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action - To verify your eligibility as a VHA employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (dated in the year 2026), Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from your eOPF. Failure to provide this will exclude you from your claimed eligibility
• 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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