Psychology Program Manager-Whole Health Coordinator

Clarification from the agency

This is ONLY open to current permanent federal employee at the Salt Lake City VAHS, VA nationwide employees, and all other federal employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

• The Whole Health Coordinator has full and direct responsibility for program management of day-to-day programming and functioning of the Whole Health Program. Decisions made by the incumbent affect staff & other resources associated with the program and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.
• Ensures the provision of high-quality services to meet the needs of Veterans served.
• Plans, develops, & implements short- & long-term goals & objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan.
• Oversees program resources & deploys resources in support of program needs. Provides consultation, education, & advocacy. Shares evidence-based, best, & promising practices on Whole Health across the VA medical facility (e.g., participating in Whole Health Community of Practice forums & serving on Whole Health Integration Workgroups).
• Assists with identification of and need for Whole Health education opportunities for stakeholders (i.e., medical facility staff and Veterans) & collaborate/support education initiatives with VASLCHCS Whole Health Education Coordinator and Veteran's Health Education Coordinator.
• Utilizes a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities in treatment or with specialized Veteran populations, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy, and advanced-level psychosocial and/or case management. The incumbent will:
• Provides a full range of psychological assessment and treatment services to Veterans with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses.
• Engages in direct Complementary and Integrative Health clinical services for which the incumbent is properly trained and when the duties are within the provider's approved clinical privileges and scope of practice. These may include empirically validated and evidence-based mind-body interventions such as Biofeedback, Clinical Hypnosis, Guided Imagery, Mindfulness Meditation, and Breathwork. Treatment modalities may include individual, group, and marital/family therapy.
• The psychologist in this position functions as a part of the treatment team.
• Utilizes knowledge of program coordination and administration, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Participates in the VA medical facility Whole Health governance body (i.e., Whole Health Leadership meetings, Whole Health and Healthy Living Steering Committee meetings, and Whole Health and Healthy Living Leadership meetings).
• Collaborates with the VASLCHCS Whole Health Clinical Director and Employee Whole Health Coordinator on related activities in alignment with the Designation Framework and further defined in the Whole Health System Implementation Guide (e.g., attend VISN Whole Health Steering Committee meeting).
• Oversees recruitment, training, and time management of Whole Health Integration Champions. d. Notify the Executive Director, OPCC&CT, of changes in Whole Health staffing at VASLCHCS, including but not limited to core Whole Health Leadership and education coordinators, and update the VA medical facility Whole Health POC list(s) as necessary.
• Writes policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
• Develops and oversee Whole Health System implementation plans and coordinate related activities in alignment with the Designation Framework and further defined in the Whole Health System Implementation Guide.
• Manages and direct the work of other Whole Health staff collaborating on such initiatives (e.g., Whole Health Clinical Director, Employee Whole Health Coordinator, Whole Health Network-Wide Education Coordinator) to accomplish program goals and objectives consistent with the Designation Framework and further defined in the Whole Health System Implementation Guide.
• Engages in program management and program evaluation to include:
• Tracks & analyzes data from the Whole Health Dashboard, as needed, to identify priority areas and opportunities for improvement for Whole Health at VASLCHCS.
• Completes Whole Health System Self-Assessments with Employee Whole Health Coordinator and Whole Health Clinical Director to report on implementation progress & allow for monitoring by OPCC&CT, at minimum quarterly, using the Whole Health System Self-Assessment Tool.
• Oversees Whole Health special purpose funding budget. Coordinates special-purpose funding requests with the Whole Health Clinical Director and Employee Whole Health Coordinator for Whole Health Programs, tracks spending, & communicates with the assigned fiscal representative.
• Coordinates triage of Whole Health Service referrals to Whole Health providers as needed.

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 615990
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact joshua.titensor@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• Education.

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, & 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. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology)

-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 DVA 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 &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 & 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 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 & 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 DVA 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.

Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education.

Driver's License Requirement: A current, Valid State issued Driver's License is required for this position.

Grade Determinations:

Psychology Program Manager WHC, GS-14 Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Examples of GS-13 experience include, but are not limited to: consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, & the VHA National Center for Organization Development.

Psychology Program Manager WHC, GS-14 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.
3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups.
4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.
7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

Preferred Experience: Training in or experience delivering an integrative health approach to care including but not limited to the following modalities: Biofeedback, Clinical Hypnosis, Guided Imagery, Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindful Self-Compassion, or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

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

Physical Requirements: Describe the actual daily physical requirements of the position. Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies.

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:

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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 (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• 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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