Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • Cleveland, OH

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator) is responsible for leading, coordinating, facilitating and providing ongoing support to the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in the design and implementation of their respective innovation initiatives in support of the VHA Innovation Ecosystem.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist ( NOTE : The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy); OR Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field ( NOTE : The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy); OR Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy; OR Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
• Must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT.
• Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice occupational therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
• Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and balance responsibilities.
• Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as provide direction on work methods, practices and procedures in administration and/or education methodologies.
• Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate the program to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met, and ensure adjustments to the work process are in accordance with priorities.
• Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic or brain injury.
• Ability to effectively motivate and manage a clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with VHA Innovations programs, including the VHA Innovation programs.
• Experience coordinating innovation initiatives; applying Human Centered Design and design-thinking methodologies
• Facilitating innovation training and workshops
• Evaluating program outcomes
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary stakeholders at the local, regional, and/or national level.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating, implementing or providing substantive program support or healthcare innovation initiative, including experience with innovation program goals, work processes, and clinical and/or administrative operations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting, coordinating, or leading a VHA Innovators Network program or comparable healthcare innovation program, including implementation of innovation initiative, applicantion of Human- Centered Design/design thinking methodologies, program evaluation, facilitation of innovation training, and collaboration with mulidisciplinary stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates experience with and knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and clinical/administrative operations related to innovation within the medical center.
• Demonstrates experience with and knowledge of the laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to VHA around design, intellectual property, innovation.
• Develops details plans, goals and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration on Innovators Network and medical center goals.
• Develops and executes a facility-wide communication plan in coordination with local Public Affairs to promote a culture of innovation i.e. presenting at employee town hall meetings, leadership briefings, or service line briefings.
• Conducts program evaluation, including monitoring and assessing awardee performance, and establishes performance measures of assessment of innovation impact and value to the organization.
• Execute the operating budget, prepares budget requests with justifications, and aligns resources to deliver sustained value to Veterans.
• Evaluates, plans and direct the program to ensure proper coordination of care within the local facility inclusive of regional/national stakeholders such as The Joint Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Universities, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and VHA.
• Assists with special administrative projects such as strategic planning, performance improvement, and coordination and training of interdisciplinary team members.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

What This Job Offers

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