Psychology Program Manager - Recovery Services

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbus, OH seeks a Division Director of Recovery Services to oversee SUD programs including Intensive Outpatient, Ambulatory Detox, and on-site Suboxone services.

The role combines clinical leadership, supervision, and administrative responsibility in Behavioral Health. Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in psychology, licensure, and APA/CPA/PCSAS credentials or equivalent re-specialization provisions, with substantial experience in SUD and

Qualifications

• Citizenship: must be a U.S. citizen.
• English proficiency: must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education: doctoral degree in psychology from APA/PCSAS/CPA-accredited program.
• Internships: APA/CPA-accredited internship; VHA internship options acceptable.
• Licensure: full, current, unrestricted psychology license.
• Grade determinations include leadership and program management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical, technical, supervisory and administrative leadership for SUD division.
• Oversee Recovery Services programs including IOP, rehab/aftercare, detox, and buprenorphine services.
• Supervise staff and direct program goals and operations.
• Ensure compliance with VA qualification standards and performance priorities.

Skills

Organization

Evidence-based practice

Interpersonal skills

People management

Operations planning

Performance management

Problem solving

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology (APA/PCSAS/CPA)

Re-specialization program in APA/CPA

Old: 1951–1978 psychology PhD with dissertation

Tools

None stated

Job description

As the Division Director of Recovery Services, the incumbent has clinical, technical, professional, supervisory, and administrative responsibility for all aspects of the SUD division in the Behavioral Health Service. Recovery Services is made up of multiple programs which include 1) Intensive Outpatient Treatment, 2) Low intensity Rehabilitation and Aftercare, 3) Ambulatory Detoxification, 4) On-site Suboxone (buprenorphine) services, 5) Dual Diagnosis Treatment (both SUD/PTSD and SUD/SMD).

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

Citizenship

Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)

English Language Proficiency

Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Education

Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR

Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions:(a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR

Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

Internships

Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR

New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern.

OR

VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement.

OR

Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR

Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.

Licensure

Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

• Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

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

Experience

At least 3 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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 representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
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.

Preferred Experience

SUD experience is preferred.

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-14.

Physical Requirements

This position is primarily sedentary with some bending, walking and stopping required. This position requires the ability to read printed material and distinguish colors, such as reading computer screens and the ability to accurately perceive depth to move around workplace safely and to make appropriate contact with patients and staff.