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
• 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: ) Psychology Program Manager, GS-14 (a) Experience
• At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines
• 2
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools
• 3
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups
• 4
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• 5
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• 6
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards
• 7
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• (c) Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed 10 to deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans
• Programs include but are not limited to addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), mental health compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers, inpatient mental health, residential rehabilitation, domiciliary, palliative care, neuropsychology, and internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs
• management of an off- campus site
• psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics as a psychology executive, typically at lower complexity facilities
• 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 judgment
• The type of program managed and scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level
• Responsibilities include operation and management of key clinical, training, research, or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs
• Responsibility may include supervision of staff but is not required
• Psychologist Program Managers are responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served and planning, and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan
• They have oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploy 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, and monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance processes, and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis
• Preferred Experience: Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019