Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist (Service Chief)

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees only. NOTE: The two-page resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This is an internal announcement open to current, permanent Federal employees only. All other applicants must apply under the external announcement CBTC-13063091-26-YAS to receive consideration.

The Miami VA Healthcare System's Surgical Care Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist (Service Chief). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

The incumbent will develop policies and program standards for the service, and interpret national mandates, guidelines, standards, and regulations to ensure departmental compliance, and will develop and provide guidance for administering service operations to include: the service's educational programs, they will provide overall direction and oversight for all activities related to the Respiratory Service and its programs and functions and staff by utilizing excellent time management, communication, organizational and clinical laboratory skills.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supervising the RRT staff (GS-11), Respiratory Lead Therapist (GS-12), Supervisors (GS-13 and Assistant Chief Therapist (GS-13)
• Administering complex respiratory therapy procedures and treatments to critically ill patients, primarily in the ICU
• Assigning and ensuring work requirements are explained relative to blood gas for new and/or changed, as well as ensuring existing programs are following national guidelines and VA standards
• Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings including senior facility leadership meetings, as well as overseeing daily work rounds, grand rounds with consultants, participating as leader in the Surgical Service monthly meetings, and other team functions and activities
• Setting up, monitoring, and adjusting a variety of complex respiratory equipment for critical care patients; including volume and/or pressure cycled ventilators, and other advanced ventilatory modalities
• Conducting and continually assessing cardiopulmonary conditions of patients using physical examinations and respiratory diagnostic equipment
• Adjusting ventilator settings based on blood gas data
• Performing quality improvement initiatives to enhance respiratory care practices and patient outcomes
• Applying a range of ventilator techniques and advanced modalities while developing weaning plans and closely monitoring patients to avoid incidents
• Making continual assessments of patients' cardiopulmonary conditions using physical examinations and diagnostic equipment to manage airway and tube care, collaborating with physicians during emergencies, and managing the airway during patient transport
• Other assigned duties

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• 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.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one or two-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: All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications.

• United States Citizenship:Must be a US Citizen
• English Language Proficiency:Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor
• 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
• 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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, all candidates must:

• Have one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; examples of work include, but not limited to the following: managing programs, which may include, but are not limited to home oxygen, home ventilators, ALS clinic, Sleep/PAP clinic, pulmonary procedure clinic, respiratory care in the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and operating and managing key clinical, training, research or administrative programs, including the day-to-day activities, resource management and fiscal management of those programs.

• Hold an active license and RRT credential
• Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field

In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data
• Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care
• Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies
• Ability to supervise employees
• Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters

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

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.

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.

NOTE:

Incomplete packets will not be considered. Failure to submit the required documentation will make you ineligible for this position.

The following documents are required from all applicants:

• Résumé/CV: For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end date and if full-time or part-time, include the number of hours worked each week
• SF-50: All VA/Federal employees must submit a copy of their most recent SF-50 (NOT an award SF-50) that shows they are a current, permanent VA/Federal employee. VA employees may get their SF-50 directly from:https://eopf.opm.gov/va/. Other Federal employees must contact their current HR Office for assistance accessing their eOPF/personnel folder
• Responses to the questionnaire
• Licensure: Must provide a copy of your RRT license
• Credential: Must provide a copy of your RRT credentials/certification(s) as listed above for this position

The following additional supporting documents may be submitted, if applicable:

• Transcript(s): Must provide a copy of your college transcript(s)- Unofficial transcript will suffice

Next steps