Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Allied Health Professionals Total Rewards

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Incumbent will have broad program manager responsibility for one of the major programs in the Gulf Coast Behavioral Health Service SUD & Pain Management Program. The service delivers specialized, complex, highly professional care that are important program components of the organization and significantly impact the healthcare of Veterans.
• Decisions made by the program manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgement. The program manager will have direct reports including psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, neuropsychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional mental health counselors, addiction therapists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and peer support specialists. The incumbent will monitor work performance to ensure that requirements are satisfied; and interpret and process a wide variety of data related to program planning in the specialized needs of the Veterans.
• Preparation of special reports and responses, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs, and decision papers for Medical Center leadership, which may be highly sensitive, confidential, and complex; is a requirement of the position.
• The Program Manager has oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploys those resources in support of the program needs. They develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, VHA policy and external accreditation requirements. They monitor outcomes using data driven quality assurance processes and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis. Additional responsibilities include assisting in maintaining inter-departmental relations with other services to meet organization goals.
• The incumbent will develop policies and procedures and may also develop performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements. They will monitor the clinical performance of staff, conduct performance appraisals, and perform other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the Medical Center has been satisfied. They may set training objectives for staff and delegate responsibilities to subordinate sections.
• Effectively manages general personnel policies and established practices regarding program operations, as they relate to key employees and management actions.
• Monitors and reports to Office of the ACOS regarding status of Mental Health Performance Measures for the Medical Center, with preparation and implementation oversight for any corrective actions necessary.
• Serve as high level liais0n with: local, state and national officials; community based special interest groups; community based agencies and other health care providers; and representatives of affiliate institutions of higher learning (e.g., professional schools of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, etc.).
  

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri

Telework: Available, Ad Hoc Only

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): AuthorizedLearn more.

EDRP Authorized: Contact Brandilyn Wasson, the EDRP Coordinator, at brandilyn.wasson@va.gov for questions/assistance., the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 520-00592-F

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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.
• 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

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:

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  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: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.
• Education: Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to, Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program.
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  Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.

Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13

• Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Examples of experience include but are not limited to: Administratively responsible for a clinical program and provide treatment to patients in a major specialty. Manage the daily operations of the program, develop policies and procedures, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. May supervise unlicensed graduate LPMHCs and may administratively manage any employees assigned to their program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
• Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
• Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
• Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
• Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with SUD or Pain management populations preferred.
• Management experience preferred.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106 PART II APPENDIX G43

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.



Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands: Light lifting/carrying (under 15lbs); Use of fingers; Both hands/legs required; Walking (2 hours); Standing/Repeated bending (1 hour); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in other.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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Biloxi VA Medical Center

400 Veterans Avenue

Biloxi, MS 39531

US