Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

Open to (Current & Permanent) Federal Employees and US Citizens. Note: 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans preference to external applicants for appointments made from this announcement. This position is posted to multiple occupations. Please see benefits section for details. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

This announcement will remain posted until filled. The first cutoff for consideration is: 11/28/2025.

The Mental Health Integrated Services (MHIS) Program Manager is directly responsible to the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health (ACOS MH) and coordinates programmatically with Chief of Psychology as needed. The incumbent assists in planning, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures for the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Program, Health Behavior Coordination (HBC), Pain Psychology, Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Psychology, Urgent Care Mental Health Integration (UCMHI), and other Mental Health Integration (MHI) programs; administratively and clinically supervising personnel across those programs; and developing individual or group goals and objectives as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating, and overseeing mental health services delivered under those programs for the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS). The PCMHI program includes clinical and non-clinical staff from multiple disciplines including direct report supervisee psychologists, licensed professional mental health counselors, clinical social workers, and psychology technicians, as well as staff (mental health RN and clinical pharmacists) who are directly supervised through other services. The HBPC, HBC, and Pain staff currently include clinical psychologist direct reports, while the UCMHI clinicians are presently Social Workers or Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors. The incumbent works with the other MHIS supervisor to ensure all MHIS staff adhere to all current directives of VHA, and meet current Joint Commission standards, State licensure standards, and VA-OIG expectations. The incumbent will conduct ongoing intensive reviews and appraisals to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing and accreditation bodies. The incumbent also provides direct clinical services for a portion of his/her time. In addition, the MHIS Program Manager functions as a subject matter expert and leader within the health care system in issues that relate to the MHIS programs.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Exhibits leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups served through MHI programs that cross service and discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. The incumbent provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of MHIS personnel.

Assists with performance measure monitoring, evaluation, and action plans for program improvement/enhancement as well as accreditation reviews and pertinent site visits.

Duties are continued in the Education Section of this announcement.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator at VISN17EDRP2@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Yes-This is an onsite position. Telework may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54668-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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

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:
(1)Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. OR
(2)Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. OR
(3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND
Internships:
(a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR
(b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR
(c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR
(d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR
(e) Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.
NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.
Licensure. Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Preferred Experience:

Experience organizing work, setting priorities, delegating tasks, and meeting multiple deadlines.
Experience utilizing evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines.
Experience supervising others in the use of evidence-based practice guidelines.
Experience working effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
Experience in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
Experience in translating management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
Experience establishing and monitoring production and performance priorities and standards.
Experience in analyzing organizational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

Grade Determinations:

GS-14 Psychology Program Manager

Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

NOTE: To be equivalent to the GS-13 level, experience must be gained while having a full, unrestricted license to practice psychology in a U.S. State or territory.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(A) Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
(B) Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.
(C) Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
(D) Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
(E) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
(F) Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.
(G) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

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:
Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Accreditation Information: The doctoral degree must be fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) https://www.apa.org/, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) https://www.pcsas.org/ , or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)https://cpa.ca/.
NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
NOTE: If your school was accredited by APA, PCSAS or CPA at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the APA, PCSAS or CPA website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Duties Continued:

Guides and oversees MHI services, determining staffing requirements and assignments in conjunction with members of treatment teams and staff areas where individual skills are best utilized. These duties include development of functional statements, position descriptions, and performance standards with service personnel as well as function as the professional expert relative to MHIS practice issues.

Assists with directing operation and management of all clinical, training, and administrative needs within MHIS programs.

Provides oversight of programmatic resources of MHIS programs, ensuring delivery of specialized, complex, and highly professional mental health services integrated with primary care and specialty medicine settings, which significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans.

Works with all local medical center, health care center and community-based outpatient clinic leadership to meet site specific administrative and operational goals and may assume local leadership functions as necessary and as approved by ACOS for Mental Health.

Works with ACOS Mental Health in identifying and prioritizing MHIS resource needs to include staffing and equipment needs of MHIS providers.

As delegated, is responsible for the oversight of funds assigned to Psychology Section control points.

Performs the following duties related to the area of clinical guidance:

Coordinates and monitors clinical training/development of staff who provide psychotherapy, mental health assessments, care management, and other psychosocial services within MHIS programs; and,

Responsible for assessing, verifying, monitoring, and reporting on the clinical competency of staff providing these services; and,

Considers and recommends staff members for further clinical training and development based on staff abilities, goals, and clinic operational needs.

Performs the following duties related to the area of research and research integration into clinical practice:

Guides MHIS staff in application of current psychological research to their clinical work; and,

Encourages utilization of evidence-psychotherapy protocols; and,

Encourages research activities deemed beneficial to VHA patient care of Veterans or to clinical and health care system operations.

Is responsible and accountable for assisting the Chief of Psychology, the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health, the Chief of Staff, and the Director in planning, organizing, and coordinating all MHIS programs. The incumbent may be called on to act for other System-level Program Managers including serving as the Acting Chief of Psychology or Acting Chief of Staff for Mental Health.

Performs the following duties related to practice evaluation and management including the following:

1. Reviewing, analyzing, approving, or disapproving all new program developments or role changes within the MHIS programs; and,
2. Presenting, interpreting, and implementing new policies and procedures or changes in the previous ones.

Orients, teaches, and serves as a consultant to Primary Care and Medical Care staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients.

Provides leadership, guidance and consultation on staff education and development to all MHIS staff, as appropriate.

Provides general and beneficial supervision for MHIS clinical staff and participates in the performance appraisal process for all directly supervised clinical, support, and administrative staff. Incumbent completes the following management system; and,

Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance formally; and,
Exercises supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignments; and,
Reviews the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised; and,
Incumbent recommends awards and changes in position classification to the Chief of Psychology Section or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health and approves expenses such as within-grade increases, compensatory time, and employee travel.
Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system; and,
Observes employee performance and conducts work performance critiques in accordance with performance expectations, which includes FPPEs and OPPEs or clinical competencies; and,

Duties Continued in Additional info section.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Duties Continued:

The incumbent performs the following remedying actions:

Resolves informal complaints and grievances; and,
Establishes and executes performance improvement plans; and,
Makes personnel recommendations; and,
Enforces disciplinary measures as appropriate to delegated authority and in coordination with Human Resource Management Service (HRMS) and appropriate Union representatives; and,
Incumbent hears and resolves complaints voiced by MHIS staff and works to resolve issues involving staff, including committee chairs, supervisors, and managers within the appropriate services; and,
Incumbent is responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by adhering to non-discriminatory employment practices regarding race, color, religion, and sex for the area under incumbent supervision:
- Merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants; and,
- Fair treatment of all employees; and,
- Encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; and,
- Career development of employees; and,
- Full utilization of their skills.

The incumbent performs the following operational duties:

Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests; and,
Assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of safety regulations as appropriate for general and area specific operations; and,
Reviewing and assuring that the documentation of the assigned staff reflects the services provided and meets TJC, Health Care System, and mental health documentation standards.
Reviewing and assuring that the documentation of the assigned staff reflects the services provided and meets TJC, Health Care System, and mental health documentation standards.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

This position is posted to multiple occupations:

Psychology Program Manager (MHIS): - CAZM-12803721-25-JRH:
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (MHIS Program Manager) - CAZM-12803722-25-JRH:
Social Worker (MHIS Program Coordinator): - CAZM-12803723-25-JRH:

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume

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
Resume/CV
Other (2)
PCS Orders
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certification
Resume
Separation Notice (RIF)
SF-15
SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
Transcript

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/19/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12838056.

To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Agency contact information

VISN 17 SSU USAS Group

Email: VISN17SSUUSAS@va.gov

Address: VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS
2601 Veterans Drive
Harlingen, TX 78550
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Psychology Program Manager (MHIS) - EDRP Approved Job in Corpus Christi, TX