Summary This position is located in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service within the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System in Bakersfield, CA. The speech-language pathologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic assessments and evaluations and therapeutic and rehabilitative services for speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive, and swallowing disorders Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Plans, conducts, and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary medical speech-language pathology practice. Responsible for independent diagnostic assessment of cases without limitation as to difficulty or complexity. Responsible for the adequacy of assessment and for the reporting of the findings to other professional workers with whom he/she or other members of the speech-language pathology service may cooperate in formulating diagnostic and clinical judgments; assesses patient condition from close observation and consultation with other members of the inter-disciplinary health care team; and utilizing all diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary medical speech-language pathology practice. Uses instrumentation (e.g. videofluoroscopy, nasoendoscopy, stroboscopy, surface electromyography, computer technology, etc.) to observe, collect data, and measure parameters of communication and swallowing in accordance with the principles of evidence-based practice. Provides rehabilitation to individuals with voice disorders including alaryngeal and tracheostomized or ventilator-dependent patients. Develops and implement treatment plans designed to improve cognitive-communication processes or to compensate for cognitive-communication disability using adaptive strategies. Responsible for planning, conducting, coordinating and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitation services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning. Completes all documentation in accordance with facility policy. Provides routine counseling and guidance to each individual Veteran concerning his/her impairment. Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive and swallowing disorders. Responsible for supervising and mentoring graduate students and other trainees in speech pathology, covering methods of testing and evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning and techniques and preparation of reports. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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. 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: A master's degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. "Accredited" means a college or university recognized by a regional accreditation organization and a speech-language pathology academic program [recognized] by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. 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: GS-12: Education and Experience: Completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology. For positions engaged in research S-LP assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a related field is fully qualifying. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies 2. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures sufficient to perform clinical services independently 3. Ability to conduct assessments, provide treatment interventions, and provide consultation to other health care professionals 4. Knowledge of instrumentation used in speech-language pathology 5. Knowledge of principles and techniques used in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia, and cognitive-communication disorders 6. Knowledge of principles and techniques used in voice disorders including alaryngeal and trach/ventilator-dependent patients 7. Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice. Reference: See VA Handbook 5005/39, Part II, Appendix G30. Speech-Language Pathologist. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: This position is mostly sedentary, some walking to/from patient wards and different buildings on campus, some patient positioning and equipment pushing and manipulation is involved. 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 Receiving Service Credit or 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.
