Psychology Program Manager - Substance Abuse Disorder Job in Grand Junction, CO

Summary

This job is open to

• 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.

Duties

• Assumes, under the direct supervision of the SUD Program manager, the responsibility for the coordination & management of outpatient substance use treatment services offered by the VA WCHCS & community partners.
• Plans, supervises, executes, & monitors all activities carried out by the Outpatient SUD Program.
• Provides care to the region's eligible Veterans, many of whom have complex needs that include serious & persistent mental health, medical, & psychosocial problems.
• Leads a multidisciplinary team, to include psychologists, social workers, nurses, & other health care professionals. Leads regularly scheduled staff meetings.
• Responsible for the oversight of the Outpatient SUD operational policies & procedures, with the approval of the SUD Program Manager.
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation & data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s).
• Organizes & leads leadership team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, & the adherence to administrative demands.
• Monitors & distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders & ensures provider adherence to workload standards.
• Plans work to be accomplished by team members, including establishing priorities, timelines for completion, & necessary adjustments therein.
• Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team, in accordance with local & national policies.
• Initiates & maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
• Monitors compliance of team members with VA performance measures & effectively shapes provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures.
• Provides clinical supervision, as appropriate, to assigned team members regarding adherence to VA WCHCS medico-legal stands & policies, documentation of CPRS procedures, & the clinical management of difficult, complex, & dangerous patients.
• Assists in the hiring of new staff members for the Outpatient SUD Program, to include constructing job announcement(s), preparing functional statements, &/or selecting final job candidates.
• Resolves conflicts among assigned staff & adjudicates complaints & problems of employees in a timely & effective manner.
• Functions as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders & provides input on the performance evaluations for administrative staff within the section.
• Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely & effective manner.
• Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave. Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision.
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs for effective continuity of care & coordinate services. Ensures optimal collaboration between Outpatient SUD Program & other VA WCHCS SUD Programs.
• Attends & participates in administrative & informational meetings held by the Psychosocial Services Section Chief, Mental Health Chief, Chief of Staff, &/or Facility Director.
• Attends recurring Mental Health Service meetings & trainings.
• Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts & confidentiality statutes. Follows regulations & instructions regarding release of sensitive or protected patient or employee information.
• Allocates resources within the Mental Health Service, based on a data-driven decision making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization & Service Line.
• Oversees survey readiness for the Outpatient SUD Program, in collaboration with the SUD Program Manager, Mental Health Leadership, & the QM Manager.
• Oversees & collaborates with Outpatient SUD team to ensure success on facility & Mental Health performance metrics.
• Completes suspense actions related to the management area.
• Conducts all required Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) & Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE).
• Ensures that staff are trained in conducting peer chart reviews.
• Ensures that clinical privileges are appropriate, & where needed additional privileges are requested by staff.
• Provides regular clinical supervision to team.
• Establishes & clearly communicate guidelines & performance expectations.

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 & spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

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 06/30/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12707451.

1. 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.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

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.