Staff Psychologist

About the role

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

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic interviews, assessments, and psychotherapy – including telemental health – for adult patients.
• Diagnose mental disorders (particularly PTSD and Substance Abuse) and conduct psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological screenings.
• Treat mental disorders through various modalities, especially for PTSD and Substance Abuse, and provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders.
• Perform evaluations for psychodiagnosis, treatment planning, and functional assessments related to PTSD and Substance Abuse.
• Deliver a full range of therapeutic interventions: individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, consultation, rehabilitation, and psychoeducation.
• Consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
• Participate in program evaluation and/or research activities.
• Provide training and clinical supervision to psychology trainees, technicians, and unlicensed psychologists.
• Engage in the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee.
• Offer leadership guidance and consultation to staff of assigned units.
• Serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees, assisting in formulation of psychological characteristics and treatment expectations.
• Hold possible faculty appointments at an affiliated university.
• Create, monitor, and analyze program outcomes using data‑driven quality assurance processes.
• Ensure timely completion of all required clinical charting and documentation.
• Plan and oversee personal research programs that inform program planning and treatment approaches.
• Present outcome data and research results at VA, regional, or national scientific or professional meetings.
• Assist in preparation of RFPs and grant proposals as assigned.

Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen (non‑citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy).
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English per VA Handbook 5005.
• Licensure: Hold a full, current, unrestricted doctoral‑level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Education: Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA‑, PCSAS‑, or CPA‑accredited program, with specialty consistent with the assignment; OR a doctoral degree in any psychology area plus completion of an APA‑ or CPA‑accredited re‑specialization program (including an approved internship) whose specialty matches the assignment; OR a doctoral degree awarded 1951‑1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Internships: Successful completion of an APA‑ or CPA‑accredited professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment; OR participation in a new VHA internship program seeking APA accreditation (sanctioned by VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and VHA Office of Academic Affiliations); OR completion of a pre‑1979 VHA full‑time one‑year pre‑doctoral internship; OR, if internship was not APA/CPA accredited, current board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty consistent with the assignment (maintenance required); OR, for degrees 1951‑1978, equivalent one‑year supervised internship experience verified by the doctoral program.
• Grandfathering Provision: Current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria may qualify under the VA Qualification Standard grandfathering provision.

Qualifications

• Grade Determinations – GS‑13: Minimum two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑12 level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
  • Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
  • Knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary with occasional travel; involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and carrying light items (papers, books, supplies). Use of computer and standard office equipment. Emotional demands can be stressful when working with Veteran/Patient populations and families/caregivers; self‑awareness is essential.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 37‑50 days annually (13‑26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays). Credit toward annual leave accrual may be granted based on prior work or military service.
• 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 receive a subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, capped at $416.66 per month.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% matching contributions by VA.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care coverage (many programs portable into retirement).
• Telework: Ad‑hoc virtual work permitted; this is not a fully virtual position.
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Authorized for eligible applicants (see About the role).

Pay

Competitive salary with regular step increases. A higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be awarded based on higher or unique qualifications or special VA needs (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Schedule

7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday.