Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

In the absence of the Chief, acts as surrogate and is available as needed for patient care activities and staff supervision. Specific responsibilities assigned to the assistant include but are not limited to:

I. Supervision and Leadership
These duties highlight the role's primary supervisory nature and direct management of staff:
- Provides direct shift supervision of all subordinate employees to insure appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care is provided as ordered to all patients.
- Has primary responsibility for preparing the 24/7 staff work schedule. Maintains, implements and modifies as necessary staff work schedule to meet the needs of the department.
- Participates in and discusses employee performance reviews. Counsels and may recommend disciplinary action for individual employees.
- Participates with significant influence in the selection of new subordinate staff including the interviewing of candidates.
- Makes recommendations for promotion, special advancements, reassignments, awards, and when appropriate disciplinary action of subordinate staff therapists.
II. Program and Administrative Oversight
These duties focus on the high-level administrative, quality, and program management responsibilities commensurate with a GS-13 grade:
- Regularly monitors quality control and adherence to policies and procedures of respiratory care.
- Monitors day-to-day functioning of equipment and services, assists with purchasing supplies and equipment, and provides independent input to all major decision making and program changes.
- Has primary responsibility for the annual competency program.
- Has primary responsibility for the orientation program for new employees.
- Initiates performance improvement action plans as directed by the Chief and follows through until completion.
- Is the backup liaison for the Chief, Respiratory Care between Respiratory Care and its clinical consumers, all bed services, nursing, infection control and other support services.
- Assists in QA for home care patients and assists in resolving problems related to patients in the Home Oxygen and Home Ventilator Therapy Programs.
III. Advanced Clinical Practice and Expertise
These duties define the specialized clinical knowledge and high-complexity procedures expected of a Supervisory RRT:
- Provides respiratory care consults for requesting medical staff by performing patient care assessments, including reviewing patient information and clinical data to provide recommendations for optimal therapeutic intervention.
- Initiates, monitors, and manages complex respiratory care devices such as mechanical ventilators, metabolic monitors, Bronchoscopy systems, CPAP/BiPAP, and pulmonary exercise stress testing equipment (CPET).
- Provides emergency airway management to include endotracheal intubations, CPR, and manual ventilation.
- Performs arterial puncture (radial, brachial, or femoral artery as appropriate) to obtain specimen for arterial blood gas and sends specimen to lab in a timely manner.
- Performs routine trach changes, including upsizing and downsizing per physician order.
- Provides training to patient and/or caregiver on use of home nebulizer, portable suction machines and other devices for respiratory home care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00AM - 3:30PM
Telework: ADHOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41878F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Required to serve a 1 year probationary period

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 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).
• 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.

Basic Requirements:

• a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) for more information.
• b. Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
• c. Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
• d. Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.

Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials. An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care.

• e. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• f. English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 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).

• g. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

(1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification
or
(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
(4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA.

Grade Determinations, Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist:GS-13:

(a) Experience:
i.) Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. RRTs at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient.

ii.) Hold an active license and RRT credential.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
i. Ability to supervise employees.
ii. Ability to assist in establishing a completely integrated program.
iii. Skill in recommending improvements to operations, including new and emerging procedures based on evaluation of data.
iv. Ability to forecast resource needs and to manage fiscal matters.
v. Skill in problem solving including conflict resolution.
vi. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying levels of background.
vii. Knowledge of complex and non-standard examinations, treatments, procedures and techniques.

(c) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This assignment is designated as an RRT Assistant Chief. They serve as full assistant to a Service Chief in complexity level 1 and 2 facilities. These facilities may offer specialty care and services and may be affiliated with academic institutions. Individuals are typically assigned to this position at moderately to highly complex respiratory care services within the organization.

Preferred:
Minimum 1 year of supervisory experience in Respiratory field
Bachelor degree preferred (Bachelor of Respiratory Care or Bachelor of Science)
Submission of Performance Appraisal

References: VA Handbook 5005/141, PART II, APPENDIX G11.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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

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
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• 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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