Clarification from the agency

Federal employees - Competitive service; Federal employees - Excepted service; Internal to an agency - appears on USAJOBS; The public NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties include but are not limited to:

A. GENERAL
Incumbent is a full-time staff speech-language pathologist and performs functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Incumbent functions at the full performance level.

B. CLINICAL
1. Incumbent provides a full range of speech, language, voice, and dysphagia evaluation, assessment, and treatment services to a diverse population of veterans. Works independently, exercises clinical judgment in dealing with complex clinical decisions and daily problems, and coordinates with other disciplines concerning total patient care using professional knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles, and methodology.
2. Uses a wide range of knowledge and skill in applying a wide range theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of speech-language pathology to a diverse range of populations;
3. Develops coherent treatment strategies;
4. Incorporates new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently;
5. Conducts assessments, provides treatment interventions, and provides consultation to other health care professionals;
6. Has knowledge of speech-language pathology instrumentation;
7. Has knowledge of principles and techniques used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia including both bedside assessment and experience with modified barium swallow Studies (MBS) as well as cognitive-communication disorders such as traumatic brain injury (TBI).
8. Has knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology scope of practice; Knowledge of TEP placement and maintenance.
9. Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations.
10. Consults and refers with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
11. Documents in the medical record: evaluates, diagnosis, and utilizes clinical opinion, creates treatment plans and outcomes of treatment, adapts to changes in functional status, and provides patient/family education.
12. Attends interdisciplinary team meetings to participate with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient and advise on diagnosis and treatment.

C. EDUCATION
1. Provides orientation/training of medical staff.
2. Assists in orientation and training of new staff.
3. Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals.
4. Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs.
5. Provides patient and family education including informed consent.

D. ADMINISTRATIVE
1. Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs.
2. Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center.
3. Maintains, supplies, equipment, and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency.
4. May be requested to participate on service-level committees or task forces or to represent service/section on medical center, network, or national committees.
5. May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial;
6. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy, and protecting patient rights.

E. SUPERVISION
The incumbent may provide professional supervision to students, interns, or trainees from accredited academic affiliates while they are in a training environment at VA Northport. This may include practicum and Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) externs. This will require ASHA certification

Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Telework: Ad-hoc
Functional Statement #: 23824-A

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, series and grades for all federal positions held, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.

(Failure to provide an SF-50 that demonstrates one-year time-in-grade will result in disqualification from being considered)

You will not be contacted for additional information.

Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

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 and Experience.
  (1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.).
  OR
  (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
• English Language Proficiency. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-12.

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower
level and possessing a full, current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following
evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations.
(b) Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.
(c) Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions.
(3) Assignment. This is the full performance level. At this level, SLPs independently provide evidence-based assessment and treatment
interventions to individuals with a wide range of speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders. Staff SLPs select,
administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized assessment measures. They integrate assessment findings into a patient-centered
treatment plan of care and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by collecting and documenting treatment outcomes. SLPs may be assigned to
work in a specific clinical area such as traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, movement disorders or spinal cord injury. They may provide clinical
training experiences for trainees and students and participate in research activities.

Preferred Experience: Evaluation of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders/ Completing Modified Barium Swallows, Experience in healthcare settings, particularly with adult populations and complex medical conditions.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent is required to assist in transferring of patient in order for the patient to participate in studies. Other duties such as moving equipment and assisting patients are required.

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:

• License
• Resume
• Transcript

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
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Resume
• 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.

Next steps