Clarification from the agency

Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

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The incumbent serves as Assistant Chief, Psychology Service, VA Connecticut Health Care System - Newington Campus (VACHS - Newington) and as Director, Greater Hartford Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium (Consortium), which includes VACHS - Newington and The University of Connecticut School of Medicine through June 2026. Thereafter, the incumbent will transition to the Deputy Director, VA Connecticut Internship Program, a consolidation of the Consortium and the larger West Haven Internship Program that will be executed beginning July 2026. As Deputy Director, the incumbent will work with the Director, VA Connecticut Internship Program to ensure the unified program will continue to support high quality doctoral internship training across sites while being consistent with Commission on Accreditation of The American Psychological Association (CoA), Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and internship Centers (APPIC), and VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) policy expectations. Responsibilities are complex in scope, involving management of psychological services programming at VACHS - Newington and management of psychology training involving the two Consortium agencies through June 2026 and the VA Connecticut Internship Program thereafter. The psychological services provided are evidenced-based and customer-service oriented, meeting a variety of emotional, psychological, behavioral, interpersonal, and social needs of veteran patients and their families. The services and training contribute significantly to the level of health care provided by VACHS. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.

Program Management Responsibilities (40%)

The incumbent has very broad responsibility for the psychological services provided by the Psychology Service staff at VACHS - Newington. These services include highly specialized professional mental health services that significantly impact the health care provided to veterans. The components that are managed are of considerable scope, size, and complexity, and include doctoral-level professional psychologists and the Mental Health Firm Director - Newington and the Program Coordinator, Substance Use Disorders Program. Program management responsibilities include the development of short- and long-range goals and plans, development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure goal attainment, management of administrative and programmatic resources, and outcomes monitoring using data driven quality assurance processes. The incumbent holds monthly Newington psychology staff meetings. Very wide latitude and independent judgment are exercised in making decisions affecting staff and other resources.

The incumbent also serves as Director of the Consortium through June 2026 and Deputy Director of the VA Connecticut Internship Program thereafter. The incumbent has very broad responsibility to ensure that the internship meets the training standards promulgated by the APA for professional doctoral-level psychologists, as well as specific needs of individual interns- The pre-doctoral internships are accredited for internship training bythe CoA. The Consortium represents the collaborative effort of theVACHS -- Newington andThe University of Connecticut Health Center's School of Medicine (UCONN) to provide training to five professional psychology interns and share resources and faculty for the purpose of providing a diversified educational program. The VA Connecticut Internship Program will provide training to up to 13 professional psychology interns and similarly provide a diversified educational program among staff psychologists throughout VA Connecticut Healthcare System. The professional psychology interns represent among the most outstanding doctoral-level professional psychology graduate programs in the country. The Consortium and VA Connecticut Internship faculty consist of doctoral-level professional psychologists who represent a variety of doctoral programs and encompasses a breadth of clinical, research, professional, and programmatic interests. All share a commitment to quality patient care, learning and research, and excellence in teaching. The incumbent exercises very wide latitude and independent judgment in the overall administration of the Consortium, including formulation of training and policy objectives, and monitoring ongoing programs and activities. This same level of judgement will be utilized in the unified internship program, in collaboration with the unified program's Director of Training.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
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
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD000000

Conditions of employment

VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf

Clinical Responsibilities (50%)

1. Provides a full range of psychological evaluations/assessments, therapeutic interventions and consultations within VACHS, which includes providing highly specialized assessments within the Assistant Chief's area of psychological expertise.
2. Works as a member of one of the clinical teams to create, promote and maintain a therapeutic atmosphere among the staff.

1. Holds a faculty appointment with either Yale University School of Medicine or The University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
2. Provides clinical supervision to Psychology Interns and Postdoctoral Fellows.
3. Develops and coordinates the year-long Consortium Seminar Series for psychology interns.
4. Teaches in seminars for Consortium interns.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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:

• 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 Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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,
  • (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed

• • OR,
• (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.]
  • AND,
• (4) Internships (a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
  • OR,
• (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern;
  • OR,
• (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96- 151 (pre- 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement;
  • OR,
• (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.)
  • OR,
• (e) Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally- accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a oneyear supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.

• Licensure. Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care 4 only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• Loss of Credential. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists.

1. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.
2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
3. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meets multiple deadlines.
4. Ability to supervise and manage subordinate employees effectively.
5. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution.
6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards

How you will be evaluated

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.