Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities An applicant for this one position will be selected from one of the following announcement: Psychologist: CBSS-12890037-26-SO Social Worker: CBSS-12890038-26-SO Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor: CBSS-12890039-26-SO Marriage & Family Therapist: CBSS-12890040-26-SO The Program Manager (PM) is responsible for overseeing the clinical and management of the Mental Health RRTP programming, which includes both bed sections: Stress Disorders Treatment Program (SDTP): A 21-bed Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) offering a ~ 5 week program for Veterans with PTSD and other stress-related disorders. Psychiatric Recovery & Wellness Program (PRWP): A 17-bed RRTP offering 2-4 weeks of recovery-based mental health care, inclusive of all mental health diagnoses. The PM provides oversight of operational functions, personnel activities, and adherence to VHA directives, accreditation requirements, and program performance outcome evaluation and improvement processes. The PM also services as the first line supervisor of select personnel assigned to the residential program. This may include psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and administrative staff. They will work with nursing and psychiatry leadership to ensure healthy team dynamics and collaboration among the various disciplines. The PM collaborates with discipline leads/chiefs to ensure adherence to professional standards.Broader managerial duties include participating in the larger leadership environment using a transformational leadership style, focusing on specific values and strategies that influence the culture supporting quality employment for staff and care for Veterans. This involves: Utilizing High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles focusing on safety and Just Culture; Advocating for improved health outcomes; Ensuring quality communication between employees, Veterans, and key stakeholders; Collaborating with various VA systems of care and community partners. The incumbent provides clinical services in support of both residential sections. Clinical services include diagnostic/psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and psychotherapy (individual/group). Mental health treatment planning ensures compliance with standards of practice towards team collaboration, shared decision-making, and measurement-based care. The incumbent also provides a range of psychotherapeutic interventions utilizing empirically supported modalities (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Motivational Interviewing). Other duties may be assigned in support of the Mental Health Service Line. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V15EDRO@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize 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 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. Candidates must meet one of the following:(1)Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE,(2)Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR,(3)Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State. English Language Proficiency. MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j. 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: Marriage and Family Therapist (Program Manager), GS-13 Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to that equivalent to the GS-12 grade level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. MFT Program Manager must have graduated from a COAMFTE approved program OR have passed the AMFTRB examination. MFT Program Manager must have five years of post- licensed clinical experience in family systems theory/therapy and must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise. MFT Program Manager must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-13 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Skill in assessing qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees to include staff performance evaluation and may include evaluations of lower level assignments and support staff. 2. Ability to facilitate professional development of other MFTs across programs/or locations (i.e. CBOC, outpatient clinics, etc.) and guide them in current practice guidelines. 3. Ability to collaborate with leaders of other disciplines within facilities, the community, VISN, and VACO. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives, reporting requirements and the ability to devise ways to adapt work operations to new and changing programs, staffing and budget requirements. This includes knowledge of VA policy and procedures as well as fair, principled and decisive leadership practices. 5. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. 6. Ability to clinically supervise in areas related to the provision of marital and family therapy services to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. 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. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. 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 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.
