Occupational Therapist

Summary

This Occupational Therapist (OT) position is located within the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Service of VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS).

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Duties

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

Clinical Assessment and Exercise Prescription:

Conducts standardized physical performance tests at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and annually using validated tools aligned with national protocols; documents and bills encounters using correct codes. Interprets results and explains findings to Veterans with standardized scoring and a strengths-based approach. Designs individualized exercise prescriptions based on assessments, personal goals, functional limits, and diagnosis-specific needs. Adjusts exercise progressions or regressions according to ongoing clinical monitoring. Creates home programs for Veterans unable to join in-person or virtual groups. Documents and bills group classes and 1:1 testing appropriately.

Program Delivery:

Leads in-person and virtual group classes addressing cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance. Prepares weekly lesson plans and instructor schedules, ensuring content meets national standards. Monitors participation, adapts activities for safety and engagement, and follows up on absences or health events, coordinating with SCI/D teams.

Program Coordination and Administration:

Serves as primary contact for the national coordinating center and maintains mentoring partnerships. Completes onboarding and mentoring requirements; builds and maintains clinic infrastructure, templates, health factors, and scheduling systems. Writes and updates site-specific SOPs to meet national and local policy. Processes consults, screens eligibility, contacts Veterans, schedules assessments, completes intake notes, and closes consults promptly.

Staff Training and Supervision:

Trains Exercise Specialists and PSAs in program policies, group and virtual instruction, and physical performance assessment. Provides daily workflow direction, coverage coordination, and clinical oversight. Supports a positive, consistent team environment to strengthen staff continuity, group cohesion, and Veteran engagement.

Advanced Clinical Assessment:

Performs comprehensive upper-limb evaluations for SCI/D Veterans, including strength, tone, sensation, ROM, grasp/pinch, dexterity, and ADL/iADL performance. Integrates findings with neurological status and goals to create individualized rehabilitation plans. Tracks outcomes with standardized measures and uses data to guide decisions and refine programming.

Physical Agent Modalities and Neuromodulation:

Applies PAMs-including therapeutic electrical stimulation, FES, and iFES-to improve voluntary movement, reduce spasticity, and enhance occupational performance. Holds CPAM and iFES certifications. Develops and delivers TES protocols targeting cervical segments and peripheral motor points, adjusting placement, parameters, and scheduling based on response. Collaborates with neurosurgical and neurophysiology teams on EES protocols, contributing to stimulation-training strategies and outcome monitoring. Stays current on evidence to maintain state-of-the-art care.

Robotic and Technology-Assisted Rehabilitation:

Implements robotic-assisted upper-limb training using exoskeletons, end-effectors, assistive systems, and VR platforms. Integrates technology-based training with conventional OT interventions-therapeutic exercise, functional tasks, ADL re-training, and orthotic management-to deliver comprehensive individualized plans. Uses robotic data (kinematics, force, performance) as supplemental outcome measures.

Upper Extremity Management and Orthotic Fabrication:

Evaluates upper-limb function and orthotic needs; fabricates, fits, and adjusts custom orthoses to optimize positioning, prevent contracture, and support performance. Provides adaptive equipment evaluation, prescription, and training for ADL/iADL tasks. Educates Veterans, caregivers, and families on orthoses, adaptive equipment use, care, and maintenance.

Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate on an occasional basis where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of duty time).

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-4:00PM

Compressed/Flexible :Not Available

Telework : NotEligible

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 00000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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 ( 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.
• 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

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. The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14).

a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)).

b. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

c. Education and/or Experience.

(1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below (Note: 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.):

(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.

TRANSCRIPT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION

d. Certification.

Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION

e. 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.

Occupational Therapist, GS-12 Grade Determinations :

(1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

(2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the [experience above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.

b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.

c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients.

d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment.

e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

Preferred Experience: The following are not required but will be evaluated during the rating process and may distinguish highly qualified applicants:

-Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) from an accredited program

- Experience delivering OT services specifically to patients with SCI/D in an inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, or outpatient specialty setting

- Current certification in physical agent modalities, including electrical stimulation, from a recognized credentialing body (such as the California Board of Occupational Therapy Certified Advanced Practice in Physical Agent Modalities)

- Experience with functional electrical stimulation, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or integrated functional electrical stimulation systems in a clinical treatment context

- Experience developing, administering, or coordinating evidence-based group exercise or health promotion programming for patients with physical disabilities or chronic conditions

Experience with robotic-assisted rehabilitation platforms, virtual reality rehabilitation systems, or other technology-assisted upper extremity rehabilitation modalities

- Experience as a primary interventionalist or treating clinician in a clinical research or research-adjacent setting, including experience administering standardized outcome measures and maintaining protocol fidelity

- Experience with clinical program development, including development of standard operating procedures, clinical pathways, or staff training programs

- Experience coordinating or supervising OT students, clinical trainees, or support staff

- Demonstrated scholarly or professional contributions through peer-reviewed publication, national conference presentation, or clinical education

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in clinical areas, gymnasium and exercise spaces, various hospital wards, and virtual and telehealth environments. Physical demands include moderate work: prolonged standing, walking, demonstration of exercise activities, and occasional handling of exercise and rehabilitation equipment. Occasional lifting of objects up to 50 pounds may be required. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Category II.

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: 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:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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