Psychology Program Manager (MHRRTP)

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval (award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period of one to five years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the application.

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.

Education

• Doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program 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.
• Acceptable specialty areas: clinical psychology, neuropsychology. (School psychology is not eligible for VHA appointments.)
• Alternative pathways:
  • Doctoral degree in any area of psychology plus successful completion of a re‑specialization program (including an APA or CPA accredited internship) that matches the assignment.
  • Doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

Internship Requirements

• Successfully completed a professional psychology internship accredited by APA or CPA at the time of completion and consistent with the assignment.
• New VHA psychology internship programs in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable if sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time of the internship.
• Full‑time, one‑year pre‑doctoral internships offered by VHA facilities prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979) are acceptable.
• Applicants with an internship not accredited at the time of completion may be eligible if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty consistent with the assignment (board certification must be maintained).
• Applicants with a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 may satisfy the internship requirement with the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience at a site acceptable to the doctoral program, documented by a statement from the program.
• Grandfathering provision applies to current VHA employees who meet the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Grade Determination

GS‑14

Preferred Experience

Managing a residential mental health and substance‑abuse treatment program.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary in climate‑controlled clinical and administrative settings. Use of fingers to operate computers is required. Occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) may be needed for moving boxed materials, equipment, and room set‑up, as well as for occasional physical inspections of facilities.

Duties

• Broad program management to ensure effective and efficient operation of a key SW/MHSL clinical program delivering specialized, evidence‑based, highly complex professional services.
• Establish program priorities and goals; develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures.
• Provide oversight of administrative and programmatic resources; manage resources to facilitate safe, effective, and efficient patient care.
• Monitor effectiveness of program service delivery, operations, and outcomes using a data‑driven quality‑assurance process.
• Ensure all MHRRTP staff are appropriately trained and that treatments are readily accessible.
• Maintain full accreditation status for each MHRRTP program area with bodies such as The Joint Commission and CARF.
• Make administrative and supervisory decisions exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.
• Independently provide psychological services at all levels of complexity, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
• Conduct diagnostic evaluations using clinical interview, personality testing, intellectual assessment, organicity screening, and behavioral observation; integrate findings into comprehensive psychological evaluations.
• Participate in development of treatment programs for MHRRTP patients.
• Plan and conduct individual, marital, and group psychotherapy for the most difficult cases.
• Provide education to patients, families, and medical‑center staff.
• Deliver assessment, therapy, education, and support services to patients ranging from young adult to geriatric ages.
• Serve as consultant, adviser, and resource to lower‑grade psychologists, staff of other disciplines, operating officials, and community resources.
• Stay current with professional techniques and developments in the specialty area and apply them when suitable.
• Adhere to ethical standards for psychologists as described by the American Psychological Association.
• Oversee implementation of program monitors and outcome measurements using a data‑driven quality‑assurance process.
• Ensure timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the medical center or healthcare system.

Work Schedule

8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday‑Friday.

Pay

Competitive salary with regular salary increases. A higher step rate within 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).

Benefits

• Paid time off: 37–50 days per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays). Credit toward annual leave accrual may be granted based on prior work or military service.
• Parental leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of employment 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 receive a subsidy up to 25 % of eligible child‑care costs, capped at $416.66 per month.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care coverage (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
• Telework: Not available.
• Virtual: Not a virtual position.