Summary The Social Worker will serve as the Field Implementation Program Manager located in the National Care Implementation Department of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), Veterans Affair (VA). The VCL is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year service aimed at connecting callers worldwide to a caring, qualified Veterans Administration employee. The VCL's mission is to provide 24/7, world-class suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to Veterans, Service Members and their family members. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Plan and implement program short and long-term goals. Oversight of data driven quality assurance processes. Evaluates the quality of care across the suicide prevention national call centers and the VHA medical facilities. Consults around clinical suicide prevention program guidelines. Prepares reports and recommends communication strategies based on needs and goals of suicide and crisis intervention. Coordinates studies and make recommendations based on clinical data from a variety of sources that are implemented via national suicide and crisis intervention programs. National level Subject Matter Expert (SME) and consultant to VHA, OSP, and VCL on clinical intervention and outcomes related to crisis intervention and suicide prevention. SME in evidence base practices and implementation of suicide and crisis intervention literature throughout VHA. Designs evidence-based programs to reduce suicide risk among veterans. Develops education messaging tools and campaigns in support of suicide prevention, mental health, and crisis intervention, including increasing public awareness of suicide and crisis prevention/intervention resources beyond the hotline. Coordinates with stakeholders, VHA medical facilities, and communities to raise awareness of crisis centers and gain public support. Coordinates national level clinical and research meetings for suicide prevention and crisis intervention and collaborates with others in the field. Critically involved in success and failures of suicide and crisis intervention programs designed to reduce suicide and crisis risk VHA nationwide. Collaborates with South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), MIRECC Centers of Excellence (CoE), and others, to ensure optimal project implementation, integration of project data with data from other healthcare sources, and integration of projects with other related clinical programs and research findings. Implements and oversees clinical projects and data collection for project evaluation, and project integration with clinical programs and VCL organizational goals and measuring outcomes. Provides leadership and day-to-day implementation oversight for VCL, national field projects and programs implemented through the VCL National Care Coordination Program that are designed to reduce the risk of suicide among VCL callers. Develops and modifies national trainings for VHA and VCL healthcare providers that are responsible for the collection and analysis of data sets related to suicide and crisis, the identification of trends in Veteran mental health, the creation of tactical plans to counteract adverse trends, and serves as the guide for the national program office and the field. Develop and manage national clinical projects and programs which includes the implementation of plans, collection and analysis of complex healthcare data, quality improvement for evaluation of these projects and programs, administrative and program support activities, analysis and planning of clinical VCL activities, and decision making in collaboration with the VCL National Care Coordination Division Directors. https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025-Total-Rewards-Allied-Health-Professions-VA-Career.pdf Work Schedule: Tour of Duty is typically Administrative Hours. Tour is subject to change based on program needs. Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not Authorized. Remote: This is remote position. Selectees will work 100% of the time in a non-VA-owned space outside of the local commuting area of a parent station. The employee's workspace must be suitable for conducting business and as such, remote employees are expected to provide a secure, distraction-free home-based worksite with reliable high speed internet connectivity. The employee will be required to travel to the closest VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic for issuance of equipment, and as needed for technical support. Selectees will be required to self-certify that their remote workplace meets all safety, privacy, and internet speed requirements. Functional Statement #: Social Worker (Program Coordinator)/PD077270 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not required Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This is not a bargaining unit position 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. 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). 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/16/2026 .**NOTE: This position is multi-disciplinary and can be filled by: Psychologist (CBZY-12861790-26-TP) or Social Worker (CBZY-12861791-26-TP). Each discipline is announced separately, and applicants must apply to the announcement for which they are qualified. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of social worker in VHA must meet the following: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education: Must have a Master's Degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of Social Work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the Master's Degree in Social Work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE website to verify if that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Grandfathering Provision: 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). Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Experience/Education Requirement: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Demonstrate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:. Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. 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. 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. Physical Requirements: The work is performed in an office setting. The position requires some standing, bending, and carrying items such as training material. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts: A transcript must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must depict the name of the college to determine accreditation, and your name must also be displayed on the transcripts. If qualifying based on a degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show the date the degree was conferred. If selected, you must provide official transcripts. Transcripts should state degree conferred, and have a date. Copies of Official Transcripts are accepted and are the best way to ensure your education is interpreted correctly in accordance with OPM qualification standards, but unofficial transcripts are accepted if they contain all the required information. 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/. Foreign education and certificates of foreign equivalency are not accepted for this position. Additional Information Order of Referral: This job announcement will remain open until 01/16/2026. Applications received up to 11:59pm EST on the date in which 50 applications is reached will received first consideration (initial cutoff). Applications received after 11:59pm EST on the date in which 50 applications are received may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. Additional applications will be reviewed in one-day increments at management request. 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.
