Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open only to current, permanent employees of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS).

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Clinical
- Supervises and assigns work to PTs and PTAs, trainees, and volunteers in the delivery and/or support of treatment and education of patients and families.
- Triages consults to Physical Therapy for appropriateness and completeness prior to scheduling.
- Coordinates scheduling for all consults for new patients.
- Coordinates with other sections and other services in the area of PT treatment, treatment scheduling, and delivery of care.
- Serves as a consultant to PT staff and other hospital personnel in evaluating and planning PT treatment.
- Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of PT services.
- Performs all other duties/activities of a staff PT including evaluation and treatment of patients.

Education
- Identifies continuing education needs based on performance of PT staff.
- Serves as the Clinical Educator Coordinator for coordinating the administration of clinical training programs for physical therapy students or interns, PT assistant students, and the training of facility staff as clinical educators.
- Develops and plans educational programs to include patient, family, and professional personnel.
- Educates other facility personnel in the scope of PT services and programs involving a variety of healthcare specialties.
- Will coordinate research studies and serve as consultant to staff in research initiatives.
- Provides leadership and coordination of national and local VA training for VHA staff.
- Provides consultation to VA medical centers throughout the system in the area of rehabilitation.

Administrative
- Performs a full range of supervisory duties that include interviewing candidates, recommending appointments, advancements, and promotions and taking disciplinary action when indicated.
- Contributes to the development and completion of performance evaluations for the physical therapy staff at SAVAHCS.
- Organizes and supervises the PT section. Guides and manages clinics in respect to training, work assignments, performance, conduct, and patient welfare.
- Provides orientation and training of new staff members. Conducts department meetings and/or inservices on a regular basis to expand the knowledge and disseminate appropriate information to Physical Therapy staff.
- Ensures consults are handled in the most expeditious manner based upon acuity of need.
- Develops, plans, and implements and assists in the planning, development, and implementation of various treatment programs for PM&RS.
- Develops, plans, and implements monitors of quality of care (QM) with respect to PT services as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within the medical center.
- Collects and compiles appropriate data for statistical and narrative reports. Submitting such reports in a timely fashion.
- Makes recommendations for equipment and budgetary needs based upon the needs of the PT sections.
- Assures the cleanliness, maintenance, repairs, and successful operation of all PT equipment, treatment areas, and operational supplies. Ensures the purchase of appropriate equipment to deliver state of the art physical therapy treatment.
- Actively supports and promotes all programs of PM&RS.
- Develops and implements policies and procedures for physical therapy.
- Responsible for submitting requests for expendable and nonexpendable equipment and reviewing the equipment needs and budget with the Administrative Officer.
- Responsible for ensuring that all OSHA standards as well as the facility safety guidelines and infection control policies are being met in the treatment areas.
- Responsible for assuring confidentiality compliance as defined in the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act.
- Responsible for special assignments associated with the preparation for Joint Commission, and other surveys, as applicable, and ensuring that the standards are met.
- Represent the VA at a national level through lectures, education, and training.

Customer Service
- The employee's relationship with supervisors, co-workers, patients, visitors, and the general public is consistently courteous and cooperative in nature, and overall contributes to the effective operation of PM&RS.
- Meets the needs of the customers while supporting VA missions.
- Communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
- Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
- Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.
- Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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.
• 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.

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 and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • 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.
• 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.

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: GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Supervisory)

• Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff PTs within the department.
  • Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to interview and select qualified applicants, monitor and evaluate performance, and maintain effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility.
  • Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a diverse physical therapy staff.
  • Skill in forging positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution.
  • Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section.
  • Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems in order to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems.
  • Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the greater rehabilitation community.

Preferred Experience: Outpatient, subacute and acute care physical therapy experience, 5 years

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

Physical Requirements: The incumbent of the position will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements for the position as required. There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients, providing patient transfers, some lifting of 50 pounds and supporting patients.

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
• 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
• License
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• 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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