Social Worker - Program Coordinator - Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Puget Sound Health Care System – American Lake Division in Tacoma, WA, is seeking a Social Worker Program Coordinator (GS-13) to provide direct services to Veterans, their families and caregivers.

This position requires CSWE-accredited MSW, state licensure to independently practice, U.S. citizenship, and English proficiency. The incumbent will coordinate and oversee program operations and collaborate with internal and external partners.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from CSWE-accredited program.
• State license or certification to independently practice social work at MSW level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct social work services to Veterans, their families and caregivers.

Skills

Coordinating programs across facility

Policy development for program

Organizing work and deadlines

Collaboration with internal/external

Supervisory duties

Budget forecasting and management

Knowledge of organizational structure

Education

MSW CSWE-accredited

Job description

This Social Worker Program Coordinator is assigned to the Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC) at VA Puget Sound Health Care System, American Lake Division in Tacoma WA, with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans, their families and caregivers. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
• Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• 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

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13

• Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.
  • Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility.
  • Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.
  • Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  • Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
  • Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action.
  • Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
  • Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations.

Preferred Experience

a year of experience within mental health

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

There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated on 4/17/2026.