Summary This position is in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service (ASPS) at Tennessee Valley Healthcare Services (TVHS) in Murfreesboro Tennessee. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the Audiology service at TVHS. This position serves as an Audiologist (Clinical Specialist -Tinnitus Management) has special clinical program responsibilities in a unified audiology and speech-language pathology service (ASPS). Responsibilities For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The Audiologist (Clinical Specialists) provides leadership and directs oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the specialty program. Serves as a coach or facilitator for an interdisciplinary team and is responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. This individual serves as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program of Tinnitus Management. Duties include, but not limited to: Evaluates patients to determine nature, @type, and severity of hearing and balance disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners. Provides hearing aid evaluations, assessments, selection, fitting, orientation, training, and follow-up services. Conducts verification measurements to determine function of hearing. Performs compensation and pension examinations, medical opinions, tinnitus evaluations, special auditory and vestibular tests. Demonstrates advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. Evaluates the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. Coordinates initiatives and builds consensus among interdisciplinary team members. Attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participates with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient, advises on diagnosis and treatment. Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Monitors and reports on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. Serves as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program. Applies advanced theories and techniques to special patient populations, provide professional advice and counseling, and provide consultation in specialized areas of audiology. Functions as an independent practitioner and is fully responsible for all clinical decisions under general direction of the ASPS assistant service chief, or person of equivalent organization rank. Supervises a full range of audiology evaluations, assessments, and treatment services to young adult (18-40 years), middle adult (41-64 years), and older adult (65+ years) Veterans. Works independently, exercises clinical judgment in dealing with complex clinical decisions and daily problems, and coordinates with other disciplines concerning total patient care using professional knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles, and methodology. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30- 4:00 pm (compressed tour may be authorized) Telework: Ad-hoc Functional Statement #: 71098-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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). 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) Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment. English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates 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). Grade Determinations: Experience At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (a) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. (b) Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. (c) Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. (d) Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. (e) Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program. Preferred Experience: Experience with tinnitus management program. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers and both hands required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Mental and Emotional Stability; works outside and inside; works closely with others; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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.
