Psychologist - Program Manager - Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC)

Veterans Health Administration • Tacoma, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychologist serves as the Team Lead, Program Manager, and Supervisory Psychologist for the Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC) at the American Lake Division of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Tacoma, Washington. The position manages PACC for the Mental Health Service Line. PACC and Same Day Access provide urgent and walk-in mental health services to Veterans experiencing acute psychiatric conditions that interfere with daily functioning. Services include triage, evaluation, and management of a broad range of psychiatric conditions, including depressive and bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, PTSD, anxiety disorders, dementia with behavioral disturbances, delirium, dual diagnoses, and imminent risk of harm to self or others. PACC also provides follow-up medication management in a less restrictive setting through its Intensive Outpatient Program for Veterans in crisis who do not require high-intensity inpatient psychiatry. It serves as an entry point for Veterans establishing mental health treatment and provides assessment and care coordination for new mental health patients.

The role provides broad program-management leadership for a clinical care team, including development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of a complex program delivering comprehensive clinical care to Veterans. The psychologist conducts program evaluation and data-driven quality-improvement projects, plans and assigns team work, establishes priorities and timelines, and adjusts work as needed. The position provides clinical and administrative supervision or consultation to assigned staff, and is the first-line supervisor and rater for 11 employees. The psychologist also provides psychological assessment and diagnostic services and develops, implements, and documents treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is not virtual; ad hoc telework may be available. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent-change-of-station relocation assistance are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval; the program may provide up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an eligible APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program in a specialty consistent with the assignment; specified alternative doctoral-degree and respecialization pathways may also qualify.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, or an applicable alternative pathway described in the qualification requirements.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a grandfathering provision may apply to eligible current VHA employees.
• At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade 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 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 that support sound program operations.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements, pre-employment medical evaluation, and drug-testing requirements for testing-designated positions; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete required application and onboarding requirements and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience within mental health.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center for the Mental Health Service Line.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and oversee a complex clinical-care program for Veterans.
• Conduct ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality-improvement projects to monitor clinical operations.
• Plan and assign team work, establish priorities and completion timelines, and adjust plans as necessary.
• Provide administrative and clinical supervision or consultation to assigned team members, including serving as first-line supervisor and rater for 11 employees.
• Guide staff on adherence to VA Puget Sound medico-legal standards and policies, CPRS documentation procedures, and management of difficult, complex, and dangerous patients.
• Provide psychological assessment and diagnostic services to Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology.
• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload.
• Support triage, evaluation, management, follow-up care, and care coordination for Veterans receiving PACC services.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, of up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 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 the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000; up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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