Summary This position is located in the Rehabilitation Service / Audiology Section at the San Francisco VA Health Care System, California. Responsibilities Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:30am-17:00 pm. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 09496F. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized This position is in the Audiology Section of the Rehabilitation Service at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. 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. Audiologists (clinical specialists) provide leadership and direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the specialty program. They serve as coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and are responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. These individuals serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: a. Advanced knowledge of the cochlear implant program of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of the program. b. Skill to evaluate the cochlear implant program to ensure all 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 cochlear implant program to adjust workload and processes. e. Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the cochlear implant program. In carrying out the special clinical responsibilities of this position, the incumbent: a. Serves as the SME and provides education relating to the cochlear implant program. Provides counseling and management options to cochlear implant patients. Provides education/presentations for the Audiology Department as well as other departments such as Otolaryngology, Primary care, and Prosthetics. Educates Audiology trainees on the various levels of cochlear implant patient management. b. Follows local, VISN, and national guidelines for cochlear implant evaluations and treatment. c. Provides referral options and criteria for the San Francisco VAHCS and VISN 21. d. Organizes an inter-disciplinary team communicating goals, objectives, and initiatives. e. Evaluates the work of the inter-disciplinary team adjusting practices to accomplish goals. f. Provides advanced individual cochlear implant management options for patients. Clinical Responsibilities (75% of the incumbent's time) In carrying out the clinical duties and responsibilities of this position, the incumbent: a. Diagnoses audiologic disorders, conducts audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments, treats auditory disorders through a various modality and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders. b. Consults with medical center staff on various patient care issues. c. Participates in program evaluation, teaching, training and research activities. d. Provides individual, family and/or group audiologic rehabilitation. Education a. Provides orientation/training of medical staff. b. Participate in research activities. c. Assists in orientation and training of new staff. d. Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals. e. Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs. f. Provides individual, family, and group audiologic rehabilitation. g. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights. Administrative a. Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs. b. Participates in program evaluation and peer reviews. c. Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center. d. Maintains, supplies, equipment, and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency. e. May be requested to service on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network, or national committees. f. May perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial. g. Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights. 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. 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). 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 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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology. 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. 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). 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified. Audiologist (Cochlear Implant Program Manager), GS-13 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). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program. Preferred Experience: At least 1 year of comparable experience working with cochlear implants. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in the area of cochlear implant evaluations and programming. Exhibit skills to evaluate the program and ensure deadlines and goals are met. Display ability to work as a member of a disciplinary team, monitor and report progress of the program, and serve as a subject matter expert for cochlear implants. 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: 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: 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.
