Summary The Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) at VA Long Beach Healthcare System provides clinical and training services. The Chief supervises these programs and has technical and administrative oversight. The Chief develops, directs, and manages BRC policies and procedures and oversees all professional areas. Responsibilities The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1. Provides clinical and training services as well as supervises these programs and has technical and administrative oversight. 2. Serves as Chief of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC), demonstrating exceptional achievement, professional competence, and leadership in promoting rehabilitation services for blinded veterans. 3. Exercises supervision, administrative management, and direction of professional areas in the BRC or equivalent programs. 4. Develops and implements policies and procedures for complex service-level departments and has overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs to ensure coordination between BRC care and overall facility health care. 5. Authoritatively represents VA expertise and points of view on blindness related activities, services, and issues while interacting with other organizations such as local and state agencies for the blind, universities, professional organizations such as the Association of Education and Rehabilitation, and consumer organizations such as the Blinded Veterans Association. 6. Prepares for the Healthcare System's Chief's signature responses to congressional inquiries and controlled correspondence pertaining to the BRC. 7. Develops and coordinates in-service training and career development programs for a highly specialized multidisciplinary staff. 8. Consults and negotiates with Health Care Group/Service Chiefs in Medicine, Surgery, Nursing, Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Human Resources, and other services/sections to identify and commit available staff and resources necessary to effectively provide appropriate training and supervision. 9. Directs activities such as budgeting, personnel management, and analysis. 10. Collaborates with the Regional Consultant to the Blind Rehabilitation Programs. 11. Plans, administers, supervises and performs work concerning the program and is responsible for the timely and acceptable accomplishment of the end results. 12. Responsible for program development, implementation, compliance, evaluation, and outcome review for all of the sections/services under their direction. 13. Effectively supervises, motivates, and manages a diverse clinical staff at a large blind rehabilitation center. 14. Assesses the qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees and manages large budgets. 15. Establishes and monitors productivity standards, production, and performance priorities, and applies administration and human resource policies effectively. 16. Submits to the Chief, Blind Rehabilitation Service, VACO, and the Chief, Prosthetic Service, VACO, statistical and narrative accounts of the research staff's findings. 17. Collaborates with the following professional support personnel to ensure integrated care for visually impaired Veterans: Clinical Psychologist, Nurse Manager, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Recreation Therapist, Social Worker, and Food and Nutrition staff. 18. Determines goals and objectives that need additional emphasis; determines the best approach or solution for resolving budget shortages; and plans for long-range staffing needs, including such matters as whether to contract out work. 19. Supervises, motivates, and manages a diverse clinical staff at a large blind rehabilitation center. 20. Exercises significant and extensive coordination and integration of several important projects or program segments of professional, scientific, technical, managerial, and administrative work. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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 probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Education. The individual must have earned: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education. OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in above that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 -18 semester hours). A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation. Certification. Required at the GS-11 grade level and above. Applicants must possess at least 1 active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. The ACVREP administers 4 certification programs: Low Vision Therapy Orientation and Mobility Assistive Technology Instruction Vision Rehabilitation Therapy They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2)) below: BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS). Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS) Loss of Credential Once certified, a BRS must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of certification will result in removal from the BRS occupation and may result in termination of employment. A BRS who has, or has ever had his/her certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, Paragraph 16 of this part. If hired based on experience as a social worker, rehabilitation counselor, or equivalent, relevant professional counseling credential in rehabilitation, the VIST Coordinator must still maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Preferred Experience Leadership experience in managing blind rehabilitation programs within a healthcare or VA setting. Extensive knowledge of blind rehabilitation techniques, assistive technology, and adaptive skills training for visually impaired Veterans. Experience in program development, strategic planning, and resource allocation. Proven ability to supervise multidisciplinary teams, including blind rehabilitation specialists, therapists, and administrative staff. Familiarity with VA policies, accreditation standards, and compliance requirements related to rehabilitation services. Advanced proficiency in implementing innovative rehabilitation strategies and integrating emerging assistive technologies for visually impaired Veterans. Demonstrated success in fostering collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness. Strong ability to analyze program data, measure outcomes, and apply evidence-based practices to improve service delivery. Exceptional communication and leadership skills to mentor staff and promote a culture of continuous improvement. Grade Determination Supervisory BRS, GS-14 (Service Chief) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of experience as a BRS equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Certification. Candidates must meet the credentialing/certification requirements in paragraph 4c(1) and (2); VIST Coordinators must meet the certification requirements in 4c(4) (VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-13 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill to supervise, motivate, and manage effectively a diverse clinical staff applicable to a large blind rehabilitation center or equivalent program. Ability to assess qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees. Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities and to apply administration and human resource policies effectively. Skill to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks and responsibilities and to manage and direct the work of others to accomplish program goals and missions. Ability to adapt to new and changing work conditions. Ability to advance scientific methods in the oversight and management of highly creative, innovative, and complex blind rehabilitation research and to convey scientific concepts and methodological principles to individuals with diverse levels of technical expertise. Ability to provide consultation and promote best practice procedures in blind/low vision rehabilitation nationally and serve as a national leader in the field of blind/low vision rehabilitation. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and a range of variety, as described in this standard, at the specified grade level, will be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. BRS at this grade level demonstrate exceptional achievement, professional competence, and leadership and are appointed to service chief positions that have broad and overall responsibility for larger blind rehabilitation centers or their equivalent clinical programs. They manage substantive blind rehabilitation centers that deliver specialized, complex, professional services. Responsible for general supervision of clinical and/or training programs and overall technical and administrative oversight for operations within the service. Responsible for overseeing research programs that evaluate effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery, provide evidence to inform best practice, and evaluate and recommend technology for the entire blindness program. Service chiefs make decisions with great 19 autonomy that affect section supervisors, assistant chiefs, clinical and clerical staff, and other resources associated with the department. Service chiefs exercise supervision, administrative management, and direction of professional areas in a blind rehabilitation center or equivalent clinical program References. VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G41 - Blind Rehabilitation Specialist Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements. Requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 35lbs, bending/stooping. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. 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. 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.
