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

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Director, Mental Health (Psychology Program Manager) for the National Center for Warrior Independence (NCWI) 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 manages the administrative and programmatic resources of NCWI mental health services and directs service operations and staffing across multiple mental health disciplines. The incumbent collaborates with local, VISN, and national mental health leaders to ensure compliance with VA directives. The position may also provide direct patient care, applying advanced psychological diagnostic methods and evidence-based interventions, and must follow documentation and patient checkout procedures. The full-performance level is GS-14. Work tours and hours depend on service and clinic needs; operations may include evenings or weekends. Telework and virtual work are not available. Compressed or flexible schedules may be available based on service needs.

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.
• A doctoral degree in psychology from a qualifying APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; or an eligible doctoral degree with a qualifying respecialization program; or a qualifying doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of an eligible professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment, or an allowed alternative specified in the announcement.
• A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• At least 3 years of experience as a professional psychologist, including at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-13 level.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Knowledge of and ability to use evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines, and to guide staff in using them.
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups.
• Skill in managing and directing others' work to accomplish program goals and objectives.
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into 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 for sound program operations.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and required background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to drug testing and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must complete required application and onboarding steps and serve a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• May qualify under the VA Grandfathering Provision, applicable only to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria.
• May be eligible for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience, subject to approval.
• Permanent Change of Station may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the administrative and programmatic resources of NCWI mental health services and organize, direct, administer, and manage all aspects of the service.
• Manage staffing and personnel matters, education, and performance, including monitoring access-to-care and productivity data for NCWI mental health staff.
• Manage resources across assigned mental health disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, mental health nursing, mental health social work, marriage and family therapy, professional mental health counseling, and paraprofessional mental health staff.
• Collaborate with VISN, national, and local mental health leaders to ensure programs adhere to VA directives.
• Provide advice and consultation to professionals across disciplines regarding Veteran care, based on advanced knowledge of diagnoses and interventions.
• May provide direct patient care to Veterans within the assigned clinical section or program.
• Apply advanced psychological diagnostic methods and evidence-based intervention strategies to a full range of patient problems in the work setting.
• Comply with documentation procedures and timeliness standards, including proper patient checkout procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may receive a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with 5-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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree