Psychology Program Manager

Summary

The Psychology Program Manager is assigned to the Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS). The Program Manager/Consultant serves the VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program (VA PRT) that currently oversees the national VA roll-out the VA Social Skills (VA SST) Training Program. The position will be based at the Baltimore Division of the VAMHCS, but may require work at other VAMHCS or VISN sites.

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Duties

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Duties:

• Responsible for coordinating, implementing, maintaining, evaluating, and managing programmatic aspects of the large-scale, national
  competency-based training programs.
• Responsibilities include oversight of teaching/training, program evaluation, and administrative activities for the VA Social Skills Training Training Program which includes multiple national VA-SST Regional Trainers across all VISNs as well as a small staff of national SST training and administrative staff.
• Oversees the initial and ongoing training and development of the VA national and regional SST training staff.
• Oversees the development and management of VA-SST program budgets and related resource utilization.
• Identifies program problems and the negotiation of corrective action concerning programmatic issues and basic financial management of the program as well as the application of clinical and administrative knowledge in identification, analysis, and resolution of issues pertaining to the quality of mental health care.
• Develops and maintains a system of ongoing measurement of program accomplishments (program goals and objectives) and program
  outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process of a program that delivers specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components.
• Develops training modules, resources, and materials to support operation of the VA-SST training program.
• Works individually and in collaboration with others, responsible for the preparation of issue briefs on key aspects of the VASST program and is responsible for direct communication regarding program accomplishments with leadership at the local and national VA levels.
• Maintains communication with mental health professionals working in the field for VHA with regard to VA-SST technical assistance initiatives and programs and ensuring that technical requirements.
• Responsible for delivery of expert assistance in support of the VA-SST program to wide variety of professional audiences and serves as point of contact for dissemination of information to a broad group of stakeholders.
• Promotes the highest possible quality of care for VA patients seeking treatment and services throughout their VA medical systems through planning, development, and implementation of the SST program to meet the needs of Veterans by facilitating the improvement of quality and availability of treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation services in order to reduce illness, death, and cost.
• Works with appropriate staff in the Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD) and VISNs and with staff in OMH and others in Patient Care Services to identify VA-SST training needs, develop appropriate training modules, and accomplish educational requirements for staff.
• Participates in local and national workgroups to further the progress of evidence-based clinician training initiatives.
• Responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high-quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served and
  planning, developing, and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the section's strategic plan.
• Performs other duties as requested or assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule : 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday

Compressed/Flexible :Not Available

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

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 : Available; Ad-hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 260439F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.
• 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

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:
     
     
     • The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and ,
     • The specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR;
  3. Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internships:
  1. Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR;
  2. New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR;
  3. VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96- 151 (pre- 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR;
  4. Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR;
  5. Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally- accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one- year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program
• Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Grade Determinations :

Psychology Program Manager, GS-14

Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups.
3. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
4. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
5. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.
6. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience overseeing the national rollout of VA Social Skills Training (VA SST).
• Experience coordinating implementing, maintaining, evaluating and managing programmatic aspects of the large-scale national VA Social Skills Training (VA SST).
• Experience in delivering VA Social Skills Training (VA SST) to Veterans with serious mental illness and providing training and ongoing consultation in VA Social Skills Training (VA SST) to VA National and regional SST training staff.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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

Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.

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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