Psychology Program Manager (Vet Center Director) Job in Fairbanks, AK

Vacancy No. CBZY-12634980-25-CC Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $138,035.00 to $179,448.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/23/2024 Close Date 1/3/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fairbanks, AK


Summary

The incumbent serves as Psychology Program Manager (Vet Center Director) on the multidisciplinary team that is located in a community-based Vet Center that provides Veterans, service members, and their family members with community outreach, counseling, therapy, treatment, direct services, and referral to VA and community resources and community education in the effort to address problems, needs, and to make the transition from military to civilian life successful.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

VETERANS PREFERENCE IS WAIVED FOR THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES IAW Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) BULLETIN "FY25 Staffing Shortage Determinations" dated: 10/01/2024

Duties

***Recruitment / Relocation Incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates ***

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for 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 your start date. 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. Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance.


Major Duties Include (But are not limited to):

  • Supervising a multidisciplinary staff composed of clinical and administrative team members, whose primary mission is to provide direct readjustment counseling to eligible individuals in the areas of suicide prevention, crisis intervention, short-term and long-term treatment for symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other related readjustment issues.
  • Planning, developing, implementing, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating professional services rendered by subordinates.
  • Setting guidelines and establishing intervention strategies and / or treatment priorities for individual, group, conjoint, and families employing varying clinical and therapeutic modalities.
  • Conducting Performance Based Interviews (PBI) and determining selection processes to ensure fair and equitable recruitment of qualified, high achieving, and well prepared applicants.
  • Developing networks and working relationships external to Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) and the Department of Veteran Affairs, with Veteran service organizations, community based agencies, and mental health organizations to enhance service delivery and develop referrals of Veteran clients to appropriate care.
  • Serving as a Consultant and Subject Matter Expert to programs and resources external to the Vet Center on matters of the readjustment needs of Veterans.
  • Creating, implementing, and measuring market penetration of Vet Center services through a comprehensive outreach plan for the primary service area.
  • Ensuring fiscal / budget management, in compliance with applicable RCS and VHA policies and procedures, as an approving official for Time & Attendance reports, leases / contracts management, local staff travel, Government Purchase Card (GPC) purchases, etc.
  • Screening and assessing of Veteran clients, treatment planning and goal setting, referral to service providers, development of a resource file, Veteran advocacy, crisis intervention, education / health promotion, coordination of non-institutional and institutional services, and individual / group counseling.
Work Schedule: Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, TBD by Supervisor;
candidate may be subject to working evenings, weekends, and holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Title / Functional Statement #: Psychology Program Manager (Vet Center Director)/ 34121A
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Learn more
Relocation / Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
EDRP: Authorized (Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive)
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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
  • 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
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination
  • 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/03/2025.

Basic Requirements
  • Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
    • Note: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
  • Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services
  • English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR)

Degree: major or equivalent in Psychology for all specializations except Clinical Psychology and Counseling psychology. These two specializations have additional educational requirements, as stated below:

  • Clinical Psychology: For positions at grades GS-11 and above, satisfactory completion of all the requirements for the Doctoral Degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required.
  • Counseling Psychology: For positions at grades GS-9 and above, satisfactory completion of 2 full academic years of graduate study directly related to professional work in Counseling Psychology, or satisfactory completion in an accredited educational institution of all the requirements for a Master's Degree directly related to Counseling Psychology is required.

GS-14 Education Requirements: See 'Education' section below.

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.

Specialized Experience

GS-14 Specialized Experience: For this position, you must have at least three (3) years of postdoctoral work experience (VA or Non-VA) as a professional Psychologist or through participation in a supervised postdoctoral psychology training program (i.e. fellowship or residency), with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Note: Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. Specialized experience is:
  1. Knowledge and understanding of the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  2. Knowledge of methods, principles and theories sufficient to intervene and stabilize combat Veterans suffering from multiple diagnoses
  3. Ability to conduct psycho-social assessments and implement treatment plans for combat Veterans and their families
  4. Ability to establish and maintain referral networks through community outreach to provide services to Veterans
  5. Experience in working with Veterans, especially combat Veterans
  6. Experience in working with Veterans who were sexually traumatized / harassed while in the military
  7. Experience in providing family counseling services to Veterans and their family
  8. Experience working with combat Veterans and their families who have PTSD or readjustment issues and the ability to make independent judgments and recommendations about a number of serious and complex cases
  9. Special knowledge and skill in the field of Veterans in community resource identification and development, in public speaking and basic principles of education, in staff recruitment and development, and in program design and management
  10. Knowledge of VA and community resources available to Veterans and their family
  11. Develops and manages a clinic's budget and program funds
  12. Working knowledge of electronic records
  13. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates and sets guidelines for clinical, therapeutic and treatment priorities
  14. Incumbent must have possession of supervisory and management skills

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Social Worker Qualification Standard Appendix G18, dated January 7, 2018.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

GS-14 Education Requirement (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): For this position, applicants must:

-OR-
  • Have a Doctoral Degree in any area of Psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization 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-
  • Have a Doctoral Degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

***AND***
  • Internships:
    • 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-
    • 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-
    • 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-
    • 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 (ABPP) 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-
    • 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. [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].

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

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.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal / VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including all Selective Factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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

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

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.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

Benefits

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.

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:

  • License
  • Resume
  • Transcript


The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to 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), or ICTAP / CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for eligibility):
  • Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you are a current employee. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates your current employment status.
  • Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted to determine eligibility.
  • Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
    • Within Grade Increases (WGI) at the highest grade held; or
    • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
    • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old

Veterans Preference (Waived): Although Hybrid Title 38 occupations follow Title 5 Veterans' preference rules, as required by the Merit Systems Protection Board (Graves v. A, 117 M.S.P.R. 697 (2012)), 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to Hybrid Title 38 occupations reported among the occupations with the largest staffing shortages. This announcement's occupation is reported to be among the largest staffing shortages. Veterans preference does not apply to this job announcement per the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (PL 113-146, dated August 7, 2014). Therefore, Veterans Preference will not be applied to this posting's applicant selection process.

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 01/03/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12634980.

  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.

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

To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and / or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

VHA National Recruitment Center
Address
Readjustment Counseling Service
120 SE 6th Avenue, Ste. 102
Topeka, KS 66603
US
Learn more about this agency

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 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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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