Deputy Director (Mental Health), National Center for Warrior Independence - Social Work Program Mgr

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Director, Mental Health (Social Work Program Manager) for the National Center for Warrior Independence oversees mental health and clinical services provided by NCWI staff to Veterans experiencing homelessness with qualifying diagnoses at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The role has broad program-management responsibility for the administrative and programmatic resources of NCWI mental health services, including organizing, directing, administering, and managing the service. It also oversees staffing, personnel matters, education, performance, access-to-care and productivity data, and resources across the mental health disciplines assigned to the service.

The incumbent collaborates with VISN, national, local, and community partners to support compliance with VA directives and advance program goals and patient-centered care. The position requires advanced knowledge of diagnoses and interventions to advise and consult with professionals across disciplines. The incumbent may provide direct clinical care, applying advanced diagnostic methods and evidence-based interventions, and must comply with documentation and patient check-out procedures.

This is a GS-14 position with various tours based on service needs and clinic hours, which may include evenings or weekends. Compressed or flexible schedules may be available based on service needs. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. Frequent travel into the community is required. A permanent change of station may be authorized for highly qualified applicants; recruitment or relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Master's degree in social work from a program fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Advanced-practice-level licensure or certification and ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level, demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively greater professional competency.
• Ability to coordinate and administer large-scale programs across multiple sites, including consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Ability to translate management objectives into coordinated work operations and to analyze operational problems and implement solutions.
• Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to advance program goals and patient-centered care.
• Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, including work assignment, performance evaluation, staff selection and training, and recommendations concerning awards, advancement, and discipline.
• Ability to oversee fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer an allocated budget.
• Skill in developing program policies, procedures, or practice guidelines and participating in national program development.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and required background/security investigation.
• Must meet application documentation requirements, including submission of transcripts and copies of applicable licensure or certification.
• Must complete the required online onboarding process and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Permanent change of station may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Responsibilities

• Organize, direct, administer, and manage the administrative and programmatic resources and service operations of NCWI mental health services.
• Manage staffing and personnel matters, including staff concerns, education, performance, and monitoring access-to-care and productivity data.
• Manage resources across assigned mental health disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, mental health nursing, mental health social work, marriage and family therapists, professional mental health counselors, and paraprofessional mental health staff.
• Collaborate with VISN, national, and local Mental Health leads to ensure programs adhere to VA directives.
• Provide advice and consultation to professionals across disciplines regarding Veteran care, using advanced knowledge of diagnoses and interventions.
• May provide direct patient care to Veterans within the assigned clinical section or program.
• Apply advanced professional diagnostic methods and evidence-based intervention strategies to patient problems.
• Comply with documentation procedures, timeliness standards, and proper patient check-out procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Coordinate and administer programs across multiple sites, including consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Translate management goals and objectives into coordinated and controlled work operations.
• Analyze organizational and operational problems and develop and implement solutions.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient-centered care.
• Perform supervisory duties, including work assignments, performance evaluations, staff selection and training, and recommendations regarding awards, advancement, and discipline.
• Oversee fiscal matters, including fund controls, contracts, equipment expenditures, resource forecasts, and the allocated budget.
• Develop program policies, procedures, or practice guidelines and participate in national program development.
• Travel frequently into the community.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Selected applicants may qualify for additional annual leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager