Psychology Program Manager

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) is a unique organization within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that provides readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active military Service members whose service was in support of combat operations, who suffered a military sexual trauma, provided direct emergent medical care or mortuary services to casualties of war, or who served as a member of an unmanned aerial crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat zone or are of hostility, and their families. Readjustment counseling consists of direct counseling services, community outreach (face-to-face connection), and referral services to community providers, VA and non-VA. This position is multidisciplinary and may be filled as a Psychologist, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, at the Program Manager/Coordinator level. Serves as a Psychology Program Manager, RCS Vet Center Director (VCD) and is responsible for the professional and administrative supervision and oversight of all readjustment counseling, outreach, referrals and follow-up care coordination services provided to eligible individuals within the designated Vet Center Service Area (VSA). The VCD supervises both professional and nonprofessional staff including a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals of various performance levels who work in multiple locations (Vet Centers, Vet Center Outstations and Community Access Points) and in communities distant from the Vet Center through planned outreach, often in conjunction with a Mobile Vet Center. Responsible for Administrative and outreach staff service functions. Responsible for the Vet Center's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points, developing the annual budget, operating within that budget and accounting for appropriated funds. Leads the coordination and briefing during meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff. Lead in planning, establishing and implementing Vet Center policies and procedures, developing staff goals and objectives, and monitoring, coordinating and evaluating the work of all Vet Center staff, including social workers, other Hybrid Title 38 Mental Health Professionals recognized as licensed independent practitioners, Title 5 Readjustment Counselors, outreach workers and program support assistants. Provides direct readjustment counseling services within and outside of the Vet Center to include in-person and virtual services based on client preference, within the parameters of all current VHA directives, state licensure standards and VA OIG expectations. Responsible for professional assessment and specialized service planning to address the most complex readjustment problems presented by eligible clients within the Vet Center setting Service provision to such cases requires the incumbent to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment perspectives into the development of the service plan. Performs other duties as assigned. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Mon-Fri; 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Recruitment incentive may be authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases when setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 34121A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education:(1) 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, and 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 (2) 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, 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). (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 certif