Physician (Psychiatric Physician) - Direct Hire

Clarification from the agency

• THIS IS A DIRECT HIRE ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS. • THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SERVES AS A PUBLIC NOTICE FOR DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY. • PLEASE REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS IN THE HOW TO APPLY SECTION IN ORDER TO APPLY. • DUTY LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED DURING SELECTION.

Provides professional health care services for federal prisoners confined within a BOP facility and/or provides consultative services via BOP telehealth network to assigned facilities.

Responsible for meeting the health needs (both physical and/or mental) of the inmates assigned to his/her caseload.

Responsible for providing psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and programs for patients suspected of having mental disorders.

Responsible for the development of the master treatment plan and or mental health component of the ambulatory treatment plan and subsequent reviews for patients under his/her care and is directly responsible for the continuity of psychiatric care given to the patients assigned to his/her caseload.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed one regular and recurring basis.

Conditions of employment

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

Be rated well-qualified for the position based on the competencies listed above; and submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified is defined as having knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum qualification requirements for the vacancy.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Selective Service Requirement

Qualifications

NOTE: In order to make a full and complete assessment of a candidate's work history for salary purposes, applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure detailed information on the following items is provided in their application.Candidates should provide clearly delineated information on:

1. Scope of present practice, i.e., direct patient care, supervision of subordinates, national consultant, etc.
2. Complexity of current practice, i.e., forensic evaluation, neuropsychiatry, etc.
3. Specialized training, if any (addiction, dual diagnosis, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CPT), or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) training, psychosomatic fellowship training, etc.)
4. Experience with special mental health programs, i.e., self-harm behaviors, etc.
5. Primary (and secondary) board certification(s)
6. Specific professional accomplishments, i.e., publications, university positions held, professional organization positions held, presentations, national psychiatry awards, etc.
7. Multi-lingual capabilities as it relates to professional practice.
8. Specific correctional psychiatry experience, if any.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements.

Basic Requirements:

Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or equivalent from a school in the United States or Canada. This degree must have been accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association; Association of American Medical Colleges; Liaison Committee on Medical Education; Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Degree from Foreign Medical School: A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school must provide education and medical knowledge equivalent to accredited schools in the United States. Evidence of equivalency to accredited schools in the United States is demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed pre-medical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination.

AND

Licensure: Applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

NOTE: ALL applicants MUST electronically upload proof of current, active, full and unrestricted license as a Physician, and proof of successful completion of an accredited graduate training internship, fellowship, or residency program for verification at the time you apply.

AND

Graduate Training: Subsequent to obtaining a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, a candidate must have had at least 1 year of supervised experience providing direct service in a clinical setting, i.e., a 1-year internship or the first year of a residency program in a hospital or an institution accredited for such training. For purposes of this standard, graduate training programs include only those internship, residency, and fellowship programs that are approved by accrediting bodies recognized within the United States or Canada. Descriptions of such programs are described below.

An internship program involves broadly based clinical practice in which physicians acquire experience in treating a variety of medical problems under supervision (e.g., internal medicine, surgery, general practice, obstetrics-gynecology, and pediatrics). Such programs are in hospitals or other institutions accredited for internship training by a recognized body of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

A residency program involves training in a specialized field of medicine in a hospital or an institution accredited for training in the specialty by a recognized body of the American Medical Association (AMA), American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

A fellowship program involves advanced training (beyond residency training) in a given medical specialty in either a clinical or research setting in a hospital or an institution accredited in the United States for such training.

All qualified referred candidates will undergo a credentialing process. This process includes validation of examinations, licensure, education, internship and residency. Please electronically upload these documents along with your required supporting documentation at the time you apply.

AND

Additional Requirements:

GS-13: Applicant must have three years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled (Psychiatry) OR equivalent experience and training.

GS-14: Applicant must have four years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled (Psychiatry) OR equivalent experience and training.

GS-15: Applicant must have five years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled (Psychiatry) OR equivalent experience and training.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

GS-13:

• Experience providing routine psychiatric treatment to patients.
• Experience knowing the mechanism of action, side effects, toxic nature and drug interactions of prescription medications.
• Experience in applying medical standards and regulations in assessing patient's condition and appropriate care.
• Experience preparing basic medical correspondence for various uses, such as physicals, referrals, and dictated history.

GS-14:

• Experience performing techniques, procedures and treatment planning for recurring or non-complicated cases.
• Experience in preparing reports for and/or testifies in the U.S. District Courts.
• Experience performing in a clinical setting where exposure to infectious and contagious disease is common.
• Experience providing a broad range of direct treatment services and by creating a psychological environment and climate conducive to rehabilitation of mentally ill offenders.

GS-15:

• Experience monitoring and evaluating quality of patient care in accordance with administrative policies and other regulatory agencies.
• Experience in providing clinical and administrative oversight to a specific area regarding key issues and potential solutions for services.
• Experience in making diagnoses and selecting and providing appropriate treatment for emergency medications or emergency consults.
• Experience in coordinating and providing training for a specific specialty.
• Experience making recommendations on matters of policy, procedures, training, personnel, and equipment as related to specific area of responsibility and expertise.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid work. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2027.

Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous public notice. Given our continuing need for Psychiatric Medical Officers, we will routinely review application and refer for potential candidate's multiple times during the open period of the announcement.

Once the job opportunity announcement closes (at 11:59 pm ET on 09/30/2027 ), your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) to verify you meet the basic qualifications for the position and grade level selected. Qualified candidates are then referred to the selecting official at their preferred locations for further consideration. The Hiring Official may select any qualified candidate. Veterans' preference is not applicable. Applications received under Direct Hire public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection.

When addressing the specialized experience statement, applicants must present evidence of the experience in their resume.

What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?
The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:

GS-13, GS-14 and GS-15:

• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical procedure to treat diseases and illness to include knowledge of the mechanism of action, side effects, toxic nature and drug interactions of medications.
• Ability to assess patients' condition and initiate appropriate treatment.
• Knowledge of medical standards and regulations.
• Ability to relate and deal effectively with physicians, supervisors, peers and others.
• Ability to communicate in writing, to include report preparation using technical data.
• Ability to perform current techniques, procedures and treatment plans associated with psychiatric medicine.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13069749

Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.

Veterans' Preference Documentation:
Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.

• DD-214: Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
• SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit:
  • A completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" andall required documentation identified on the SF-15.
  • Note: A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain the Veteran's Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation.
  • For a copy of the most current SF-15, Click Here.
• If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information:
  1. the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and
  2. the character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and
  3. any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals

Resume - All Applicants:
You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) that includes your name, contact information, and relevant experience (cover letter optional).Additionally, for each job entry listed in your employment history, you must include:

• Official position title,
• Employer name and contact information,
• Start and end dates (month and year, MM/YYYY, format),
• Indicate number of hours worked per week, and
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, MOU, etc.). If providing a memorandum, it must follow the format above AND clearly cite the duties performed.

For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify for this position, or education is required, you must submit a transcript containing a school name and student name in addition to full listing of courses, credit earned, grade and grade-point-average, subject area, degree(s) earned, and dates of award (if applicable). Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcripts will be required prior to your first day.

SF-50: If you are a current/former federal government employee, you must provide an unredacted copy of your latest SF-50.

Proof of ICTAP/CTAP Eligibility:
If you are a displaced Federal employee claiming eligibility under CTAP or ICTAP, you must submit:

• A copy of the agency notice (i.e., letter of intent to separate, separation notice, or agency RIF letter),
• Your most recent performance appraisal, and
• Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.

Professional Certification/License: if applicable.

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

Next steps

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