Supervisory Speech-Language Pathologist

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Richmond VA Medical Center seeks a Supervisory Speech-Language Pathologist to lead Audiology services, ensuring safe, evidence-based, Veteran-centered care.

The role provides administrative oversight, develops policies, and ensures compliance with VHA directives and federal regulations; licensure and English proficiency are required, with education and experience per standards.

Qualifications

• Must hold full, current license in a U.S. state or territory.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing is required.
• Education and experience per VA/GS standards for SLP licensure.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and administrative oversight of Audiology staff.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures; ensure compliance with VA directives and federal regulations.
• Monitor program performance and engage in quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Program management

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Staff supervision

Quality improvement

Education

Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology

Doctoral degree in Speech-Language Pathology

Job description

The Supervisory Speech-Language Pathologist is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, timely, high-quality, evidence-based, Veteran-Centered Audiological care. Provides Clinical Leadership/Administrative oversight of Audiology staff; establishes/maintains standards of practice; monitors program performance; develops & implements policies and procedures; ensures compliance with (VHA) directives, applicable professional standards, accreditation requirements, and federal regulations. 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: SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and Experience: (1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.).

or

• (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.

1. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)

2. Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. (2) The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities.

3. An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

Failure to Obtain Licensure.

In all cases, graduate SLP must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. The Human Resource office staff will provide the unlicensed SLP written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date may result in termination of employment.

Loss of Credential:

Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required certification, both current and in good standing, which may result in separation from employment. An SLP who has, or has ever had, their SLP license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

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

Completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level at the GS-12 Level.

Preferred Experience:

• Demonstrates clinical expertise in comprehensive audiological evaluation and management, including diagnostics, hearing rehabilitation, tinnitus care, vestibular assessment, and cochlear implant related services.
• Leadership experience in a complex healthcare environment, including supervision, program management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience with quality management, patient safety, and High Reliability Organization (HRO) practices, including performance improvement and risk mitigation.
• Familiarity with VHA policies, accreditation requirements, regulatory standards, and federal healthcare operations.
• Experience analyzing clinical and operational data to drive program development and efficiency.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Skill in applying effective management practices to direct the work of organizational units within a service.
• Skill in communicating established performance benchmarks to a service or equivalent organizational department.
• Skill in implementing continual performance improvement activities to meet performance benchmarks.
• Skill in conflict resolution in dealing with employees.
• Ability to analyze data to manage workload, quality, performance and productivity within the service.

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

Physical Requirements. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.