Psychologist - Program Manager - Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC)

About the role

The psychologist serves as Team Lead, Program Manager, and Supervisory Psychologist for the Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC) at the American Lake Division of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) in Tacoma, WA. PACC/Same Day Access provides urgent and walk‑in mental health services to Veterans experiencing acute psychiatric conditions interfering with daily functioning. The clinic triages, evaluates, and manages Veterans with conditions including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, PTSD, anxiety disorders, dementia with behavioral disturbances, delirium, dual diagnoses, and imminent risk of harm to self or others. PACC also provides follow‑up medication management via an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Veterans in crisis who do not require inpatient admission, and serves as the entry point for new Veterans seeking mental health treatment.

Responsibilities

• Provide broad program management of a clinical care team, including leadership in development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of a complex program responsible for comprehensive clinical care of Veterans.
• Conduct ongoing program evaluation and data‑driven quality improvement projects monitoring the effectiveness of clinical operations.
• Plan work for team members, establishing priorities, timelines, and necessary adjustments.
• Provide clinical supervision to assigned team members regarding adherence to VAPSHCS medico‑legal standards and policies, CPRS documentation procedures, and clinical management of difficult, complex, and dangerous patients.
• Function as first‑line supervising authority (rater) for 11 employees, providing both administrative and clinical supervision/consultation.
• Provide psychological assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology in the clinic setting.
• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for an assigned caseload of patients.

Qualifications

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• Education: Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA‑accredited, PCSAS‑accredited, or CPA‑accredited program at the time of completion. Specialty area must be consistent with the assignment (clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or combinations; school psychology is not eligible). Alternatively, a doctoral degree in any area of psychology plus successful completion of a re‑specialization program (including an APA/CPA‑accredited internship) in a specialty consistent with the assignment. Or a doctoral degree awarded 1951–1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internship: Successful completion of an APA‑ or CPA‑accredited professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment. New VHA internship programs in the process of APA accreditation (sanctioned by VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time of internship) are acceptable. VHA facilities offering full‑time, one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979) are acceptable. Applicants with non‑accredited internships may be eligible only if currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty consistent with the assignment (board certification must be maintained). Applicants with 1951–1978 degrees may fulfill the requirement with the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience acceptable to their doctoral program (verified by transcript or program statement).
• Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Grandfathering provision applies only to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria.

Grade Determinations – Psychology Program Manager (GS‑14)

• Experience: At least three years as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑13 grade level.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): The candidate must demonstrate all of the following:
  • Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
  • Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence‑based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately, and ability to guide staff in using these tools.
  • Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups.
  • Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.
  • Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well‑coordinated and controlled work operations.
  • Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.
  • Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and develop and implement solutions that result in sound program operation.
• Preferred Experience: One year of experience within mental health.

Full qualification standard reference: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑14. There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019 (updated 4/17/2026).

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Student loan payment reimbursement up to $200,000 over 1–5 years; eligibility and award amount determined by VHA Education Loan Repayment Services after application review. Application must be submitted within four months of appointment. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov for questions.
• Pay: Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays).
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full‑time employees with total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66 per child.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% employer contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care insurance (many programs can be carried into retirement).
• Telework: Ad‑hoc telework may be available. This is not a virtual position.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

Recruitment/relocation incentives (sign‑on bonus) and Permanent Change of Station (relocation assistance) are not authorized. Functional Statement #: 0000000.