Audiologist (Clinical Specialist)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ralph H Johnson VAMC in Charleston seeks a licensed audiologist to provide high-quality diagnostic and rehabilitative services for Veterans with hearing and balance disorders, within a multidisciplinary team.

The role emphasizes leadership, program oversight, and educational duties in addition to clinical care, with required licensure and Doctor of Audiology credentials.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from ACAE/CAA or ASHA-equivalent, or an accredited related doctorate.
• United States Citizenship and English proficiency required.
• Current, unrestricted licensure to practice audiology in a U.S. state or D.C.

Responsibilities

• Provide audiology services for Veterans with hearing and balance disorders.
• Lead and oversee a specialty program within the department.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team and mentor staff.
• Serve as SME and contribute education related to the specialty program.

Skills

Audiology

Interdisciplinary coordination

Leadership

Education

Doctor of Audiology (AUD)

Job description

This position is for Ralph H Johnson VAMC. This position provides audiology services to deliver consistent and high-quality care to Veterans with hearing and balance disorders.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education. Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• 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). Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure, where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment specific requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
3. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
4. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional licensure that meets all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations

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 GS-12, 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.

GS-12 Level KSAs

• Skill in determining nature, type, and severity of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders.
• Skill in counseling patients and family members regarding management of hearing/communication/vestibular disorders.
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional audiology to other health care professionals.
• Ability to independently apply professional contemporary audiologic treatments to the full range of patient populations.

Assignment

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.

Preferred Experience

3+ years as Cochlear Implant Audiologist, strong commitment to evidence based practice, strong organizational and critical thinking skills.

Reference

FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G29.

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

The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of sitting, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching and lifting moderately heavy items. Must be able to push a patient in a wheelchair and assist in transferring from wheelchair to exam chair.