Summary Join the Fayetteville VA Medical Center's Behavioral Health Service Line as a Program Manager! You'll oversee the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, responsible for planning, administration, and fiscal management. Focused on vocational psychosocial rehabilitation, you'll lead staff to identify and remove employment barriers and advocate for veterans with disabilities. Play a key role in helping veterans achieve meaningful employment and improve their lives in this rewarding federal position! Responsibilities PRINIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES Program Development and Management: 45% The Program Manager is responsible for overseeing all clinical and support services for veterans in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, including planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating program operations to deliver effective community-based vocational services. They develop policies for creating employment opportunities, address vocational accommodations, and promote services to a diverse veteran population with various disabilities. The role involves marketing the program, building inter-agency partnerships, managing budgets and financial controls, and ensuring compliance with VA and fiscal requirements. The incumbent also supervises the administration of the Transition Work Experience component, oversees procurement, payroll, billing, and program reports, and works to improve efficiency and reduce costs while achieving positive employment outcomes for veterans. Develops and implements goals for the Therapeutic Work Program, ensuring integration with hospital services and a seamless continuum of care. Manages program resources effectively, ensuring proper acquisition, allocation, and utilization to support program activities. Adjusts organizational structure as needed to meet changing treatment needs and align with national guidelines. Considers policies, public relations, economic impacts, and other factors when making program decisions or recommendations. Coordinates program efforts with Medical Center operations and community agencies for effective service delivery. Assesses how changes in VA and non-VA programs may impact employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Communicates program goals, policies, and philosophy clearly to staff and partner organizations. Manages personnel policies, EEO guidelines, and operational practices affecting staff and management actions. . Ensures compliance with all relevant policies, manuals, and directives. Leads staff meetings, participates in community task forces, and writes grant or funding proposals. Carries a small caseload of complex veterans needing vocational rehabilitation transitional work. Program Evaluation/Accountability 30% The Program Manager evaluates and reports to top leadership program accomplishments in meeting the VA mission, the attainment of established goals, the objectives, performance measure and: Develops, tracks, analyzes, and manages data for NEPEC, prepares RCN annual report and other local, National reports as required. Ensures effective program participation in VAMC quality assurance and utilization review workload data capture and CPRS documentation by staff conduct a fiscal audit annually. Reviews monthly MRP report workload by tracking analysis performance improvement. Directs CARF accreditation process for CWT and TJC. Initiates actions essential to the elimination of program deficiencies identified during evaluative processes. Is responsible for tracking, development of action plans, and reporting on all other program related metrics such as SAIL. Staff Supervision 25% Plans work to be accomplished, setting priorities, and establishing schedules for accomplishment of work assigned. Ensures clinical documentation in CPRS and event captures by all VRS clinicians. Bases work assignments on program priorities, considering the nature of the work and the capacities of the staff. Interviews and selects candidates for Vocational Rehabilitation Program staff positions, making recommendations for promotions and awards related to performance. Performs work performance evaluations of Vocational Rehabilitation Program staff which reports to her/him. Assesses the quality and quantity of work accomplished by each staff member. Develops or, as may be appropriate in the care of some profession level team members, participates in the development of performance standards with staff. Hears and resolves staff concerns and complaints. As appropriate, refers group grievances and unresolved serious complaints to top management. Effects, as needed, disciplinary actions and recommends action in mores serious cases. Identifies developmental and training needs of staff members, ensuring appropriate access to necessary training and development opportunities. Assigns staff to VA committees, community meeting and task forces, reviewing/evaluating performance and making decisions on problems presented by staff. Demonstrates interpersonal effectiveness, develops collaborative work relationships, treats all staff fairly and respectfully, fosters positive work environment. Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc, Will be discussed during interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: (1) A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). If the applicant's degree was granted prior to July 1, 2017, the program must be accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. OR (2) A master's degree in counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). OR (3) A master's or doctoral degree in a related field of study with course content that emphasized rehabilitation, counseling, disability, therapy, health, employment, wellness, or human development from a college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body accredited by CHEA. OR (4) Foreign graduates with a degree acceptable by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). 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). Certification: Current, full and unrestricted certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) from the CRCC to practice vocational rehabilitation counseling. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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: Supervisory Rehabilitation Counselor, GS-13 (1) Experience. Completion of one year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower GS-12 grade level directly related to the position being filled. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in leading others, assessing employee strengths, opportunities for growth and qualifications to accomplish program goals, adapt work operations and guide staff. (b) Knowledge of labor/management agreements and how to follow their provisions to effectively manage issues and concerns. (c) Knowledge of applicable accreditation bodies and their standards to ensure continuous compliance and successful maintenance of program accreditations. (d) Ability to use both qualitative and quantitative methods for the development and implementation of meaningful program evaluation tools, study of program trends and program improvement. (e) Knowledge of business administration practices such as managing payroll, accounting, budget planning, marketing, workforce development and customer service to successfully operate a rehabilitation program Preferred Experience: at least 1 year of leadership experience and a background in Vocational Rehabilitation, demonstrating the ability to manage programs, lead staff, and effectively support veterans in achieving employment goals. 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, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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.
