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You will serve as a licensed-eligible provider with a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology in the Birmingham VA Medical Center's (BVAMC's) Mental Health Service Line (MHSL). Major duties are to provide professional services to the veteran population seeking MHSL services. Providing a full range of psycho-diagnostic assessment, therapeutic and psycho-educational interventions as well as consultative services within their scope of practice.
Learn more about this agency11/05/2024 to 09/30/2025
$85,341 - $110,941 per year
GS 11
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
No
Yes
No
CBTB-12586328-25-MAA
817752200
The incumbent is a license-eligible provider with a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology who is under the supervision of a licensed psychologist and functions as an essential member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. S/he
- performs or arranges for diagnostic and/or psychometric assessment as needed;
- conducts an initial assessment of the patient's overall life situation and documents an initial diagnosis and individualized treatment plan, revising them when necessary.
- establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients and provides specialized individual and group-based empirically supported intervention methods for mental health-related conditions;
- provides and monitors services to patients with severe stress symptoms, requiring special expertise and continual assessment and clinical documentation of the psychosocial status, treatment status, and rehabilitation progress, including follow-up treatment, crisis intervention when necessary, and serving as a patient advocate when appropriate.
- provides consultation regarding patient problems in area of specialized knowledge, including anxiety disorders and the psychological and vocational factors affecting patient care and treatment;
- provides behavioral expertise, education, and clinical guidance to MH staff in the management of patients;
- assesses and coordinates with providers within the PCT Interdisciplinary team at BVAMC whether other interventions such as psychiatric, medical or palliative care are required;
- performs outreach activities and may interface with military organizations, agencies and veterans' service organizations in the communities where veterans live.
- is responsible for accurate, timely and appropriate completion of clinical patient care documentation;
- routinely searches literature relevant to mental health, chronic pain, other stress related conditions and their treatment, reviews and translates research into practical interventions for improved patient treatment outcomes;
- may function as a principal, co-principal, or collaborative investigator, proposing investigations, coordinating their conduct, recruiting subjects, reviewing data, and submitting findings in publishable form. As a member of the professional staff of the Mental Health service line, s/he:
- participates in the policy making, goal setting, and treatment service planning processes of the MH program.
- provides psychological services, including assessment and intervention, within the scope of his/her clinical privileges and special proficiencies, and determines when consultation for specialized psychological services is required.
- maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and skills by involvement in appropriate continuing education activities.
- serves on committees and other work groups at the direction or approval of the Mental Health Service Chief. As a journeyman incumbent s/he may participate in one or more of the following activities:
- Teaches and/or supervises psychology interns and psychology practicum students as appropriate.
- Provides educational experiences including in-service education for psychology staff and trainees. and other Medical Center staff, as appropriate
- Designs, conducts, reports, or otherwise supports research activities relevant to area of expertise and the continuum of care within the division. - Designs and/or implements the evaluation of treatment efforts and programs.
- Consults with or provides psychological services to treatment programs or services outside of primary duty assignment with the approval of the program manager.
- Performs other related duties as assigned by the Supervising Incumbent/Assistant Chief for Chief, Mental Health Service.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, or 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible:Available to eligible candidates.
Telework: Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 51215F, Psychologist, GS-0180-11
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized.
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12586328.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/817752200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?
Our medical center and clinics provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being. Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for:
