Social Worker (Program Manager) - Outpatient Mental Health Section

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Child Care Subsidy

Federal Pension & Health Insurance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Tacoma, WA seeks a Social Worker (Program Manager) to lead the Outpatient Mental Health Section within the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. This role directs administrative and clinical operations for the American Lake Division in the Mental Health Service Line.

The incumbent oversees program planning, staff supervision, and interdepartmental collaboration to deliver comprehensive veterans care across multiple sites and services.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified to independently practice social work.
• English proficiency for federal appointment.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages Outpatient Mental Health priorities and objectives.
• Supervises staff and evaluates performance within the service line.
• Coordinates care across acute, inpatient, and outpatient services.
• Manages budgets, contracts, and resource planning.
• Collaborates with internal and external partners to advance patient-centered care.

Skills

Program coordination

Administration

Supervision

Budget management

Collaboration

Education

MSW (CSWE-accredited)

Licensed/ certified social worker

Job description

Summary

This Social Worker is assigned to Outpatient Mental Health Section at VA Puget Sound Health Care System located in Tacoma - Washington with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans - their families and caregivers. The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) serves as the Director - Outpatient Mental Health - American Lake Division in the Mental Health Service Line. In this capacity - the incumbent manages the administrative and clinical aspects of the section.

Summary

This Social Worker is assigned to Outpatient Mental Health Section at VA Puget Sound Health Care System located in Tacoma - Washington with responsibility to provide direct services for Veterans - their families and caregivers. The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) serves as the Director - Outpatient Mental Health - American Lake Division in the Mental Health Service Line. In this capacity - the incumbent manages the administrative and clinical aspects of the section.

Qualifications

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 Manager) GS-14 Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Individual 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 manager 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 the following KSAs: Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites - which includes consultation - negotiation - and monitoring
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• 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 which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed
• performance evaluations
• 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
• Skill in developing policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development
• Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners - locally and on a national level - as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care
• 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: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019 - updated on 4/17/2026.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Outpatient Mental Health Service at the American Lake Division is comprised of six distinct clinical programs providing comprehensive - integrated mental health treatment and services to Veterans with a broad spectrum of mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders
• The Director must also coordinate care and services between acute and inpatient mental health services - residential care services - primary care mental health integration services - and outpatient mental health services to ensure that Veterans have access to the highest quality care as they move through different sections of the Mental Health Service to receive care
• Clinical skills include but are not limited to: Comprehensive mental health and psychosocial assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of mental health issues including those with complex psychopathology and psychosocial needs requiring advanced diagnostic and intervention skills
• Evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions as indicated and appropriate for the specific job setting and duties of the social worker - which may include individual - family - and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation
• Provides consultation to health care providers about assessment findings and treatment plan for patients to ensure that care is coordinated - collaborative - and integrated within the Medical Center
• Develops - implements - and documents the mental health treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients - as indicated and appropriate for the specific job setting and duties of the social worker
• Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from - other VA programs - other government programs - and community agencies
• Social Worker (Program Manager) duties to include but not limited to: Responsible for developing - planning - clarifying - administering and managing Outpatient Mental Health Section and Mental Health Service Line priorities and objectives and ensuring the supervision and evaluation of all subordinate staff
• Coordinate strategic planning for Outpatient Mental Health services - including establishment of long and short-range goals - development of policies and procedures to ensure goal attainment - management of administrative and programmatic resources - and outcomes monitoring using data-driven quality assurance processes
• Conducts ongoing reviews and appraisals to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies
• Develop - enhance - and track new initiatives - monitor staff effectiveness - and modify as needed to meet the program needs
• Performs the administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised including the development of improvement plans - as needed
• Assigns work - establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff - and communicates with them through the formal employee performance management system
• Resolves informal complaints and grievances and develop process and procedures for handling complaints in all areas of Puget Sound
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: ADHOC may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized