Psychology (Program Manager)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Psychologist Program Manager serves as the Assistant Director of Outpatient Mental Health within the Mental Health Service at VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS), a highly complex Level 1A facility. This position is located at the Jamacia Plain campus. The Outpatient MH division encompasses clinics located across three major medical center campuses and four community-based outpatient clinics that serve Veterans with a wide range of mental and behavioral health problems. The Psychologist Program Manager serves as a member of the MH Leadership team, working closely with the Outpatient Mental Health Director and MH Service Line Director to set priorities, develop standard operating procedures, and make decisions about resource allocations within the Outpatient MH division. The psychologist exercises wide latitude and independent judgment in making decisions that impact policies and procedures, strategic planning, staff and other resources. The Psychologist Program Manager serves as the supervisor for designated clinical team leaders, with responsibility for such duties as establishing workload expectations, completing performance appraisals, and approving/disapproving leave. The psychologist also provides direct clinical care, including assessment and/or psychotherapy, in one of the Outpatient MH clinics. The Psychologist Program Manager may be responsible for additional managerial/administrative or clinical duties as assigned by MH Leadership and may provide coverage for the Outpatient MH Director. VABHS is a vibrant academic medical center, known for its behavioral health research portfolio and large training programs. The psychologist may contribute to clinical research, as well as data-driven program development/evaluation and quality improvement projects. The psychologist will also have the opportunity to participate in didactic training and clinical supervision of trainees from multiple disciplines (e.g., Psychology, Psychiatry). The psychologist may be eligible for a faculty appointment at Boston University or Harvard Medical School. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm with occasional need for flexible hours to accommodate programming and provide coverage Compressed: May be available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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: Ad-Hoc, as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F08724 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: -This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. -This position is covered by a special rate. -The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. -Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. -Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. 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. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Qualifications 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.

The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. Education. (1) 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR (2) 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, the applicant is to be employed. (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-special