Supervisory Occupational Therapist Job in Tacoma, WA

Vacancy No. CBSV-12754332-25-MLY Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $118,833.00 to $154,485.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/25/2025 Close Date 7/16/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Tacoma, WA


Summary

The incumbent is responsible for the supervision and administrative management of the Occupational Therapy (OT) department within Rehabilitation Care Services (RCS) at the American Lake (ALVA) Division.




This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent Facility employees of VA Puget Sound 2. Current permanent Veteran Health Administration employees

Duties

The incumbent assists in planning and directing the wide variety of special programs and services provided by the OT department at ALVA and supervises staff that includes GS-12/13 Clinical Specialists. Duties include:

Clinical:

  1. Assesses needs, coordinates, reviews and evaluates the delivery of occupational therapy care in outpatient services and the CLC.
  2. Assigns therapists, assistants and volunteers to specific areas of patient care with in RCS as patient care needs warrant.
  3. Participates in the RCS Quality Improvement Projects. Monitors and evaluates therapists' evaluation, treatment and medical record documentation skills and PT costs and outcomes and ensures compliance with the Joint Commission and CARF guidelines.
  4. Monitors RCS OT staff compliance with BSI standards and safety regulations.
  5. Resolves problems that interfere with the delivery of occupational therapy to beneficiaries.
  6. Participates in the planning and coordination or RCS OT staff clinical research projects.
  7. Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff is on leave.
  8. Provides direct patient care on a regularly scheduled basis throughout the work week.
Education:
  1. Identifies continuing education needs of the RCS OT staff.
  2. Oversees the clinical education program provided to full-time OT and OTA staff. Works with the Student Coordinator in planning the education program and accepting students.
  3. Administers the OT continuing education funds in a systematic manner, which takes organizational, professional and individual needs into account.
  4. Facilitates OT continuing education courses offered at our facility by outside speakers.
  5. Educates stakeholders and referring providers about OT services.
Administration:
  1. Develops and implements policies and procedures to address focused clinical needs and other overall services delivered and provided within the OT Department.
  2. Demonstrates knowledge of human resources administration by interviewing OT staff position candidates, selects qualified candidates, monitors and evaluates performance, and maintains effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility.
  3. Sets priorities, delegates tasks, and solves problems in order to meet multiple deadlines and identify /address organizational problems.
  4. Manages RCS section equipment's needs by ordering supplies, maintain the Section Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL), initiating request to obtain new equipment.
  5. Completes projects, assignments and the collection of statistical data as required.
  6. Communicate to RCS Leadership information about OT outcomes, changes and staffing issues.
  7. Maintains a close working relationship with OT sections in RCS and SCI, and with professional, technical and management units throughout the medical center.
  8. Participates in regular service meetings and OT committees or other meetings as appropriate.
  9. Completes a Scope of Practice on each OT within the section and keeps records current.
  10. Completes a competency program for each RCS OT in section.
  11. Assists other care lines in the development of OT competency programs.
  12. Serves as the Occupational Therapy content expert for the division; offering guidance and assistance to Human Resources Service as requested.
  13. Implements an effective Body Substance Isolation (BSI) program, trains employees in protective practice and establishes effective controls to prevent or minimize employee exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.
Staff Supervision:
  1. Provides supervision of key clinical and training programs, including the overall technical oversight of the occupational therapists whom he/she administratively supervises.
  2. Conducts regular RCS OT staff meetings and ensures that regular educational in-services occur
  3. Meets regularly with, and may delegate responsibilities to RCS OT staff leaders designated in the varied areas in which RCS OTs provide patient care.
  4. Develops performance standards and conducts performance appraisals for RCS OT staff across the patient care continuum at ALVA.
  5. Performs supervisory responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, assigning work to employees, monitoring workload and clinical volume, reviewing work of employees to assure accuracy and validity of submissions, assuring adequate clinic staffing, imposing disciplinary measures and monitoring clinical privileges.
  6. Provides overall clinical supervision that assures the proper coordination and delivery of care with the department and the facility at large
  7. Resolves problems and complaints from the RCS OT staff, referring any unresolved problems to the RCS Clinical Manager or Service Line Leader.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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.
  • You may be required to serve a trial 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.
  • 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).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
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 Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
  • Education [and/or Experience.] Copy of transcripts with confer date required. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
    • (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
    • (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
    • (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
      • Individuals must be a graduate of] a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.
    • Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.
  • Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. Copy of certification required.
  • State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. Copy of current licensure required.
    • Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.
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:
Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-13:

Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
  2. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service.
  3. Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution.
  4. Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.

Preferred Experience:
4 years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist with significant exposure to a variety of populations and settings, with demonstrated leadership qualities, program development, interpersonal & communication skills, team collaboration, conflict resolution skills, and empathy and emotional intelligence.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: moderate lifting (15-44 lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking (0-2 hrs), standing (0-2 hrs), crawling (1 hr), kneeling (1 hr), repeated bending (1 hr), near and far vision correctable, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, mental and emotional stability, exposure to outside and inside environment, working closely with others, and working alone.

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/.

Additional information

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.

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.

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:

  • License
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


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
  • Other (1)
  • Other (2)
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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 07/16/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12754332.

  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.

Agency contact information

Michelle Yahne
Address
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
1660 South Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108
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.


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


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