Psychologist (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Oswego, NY

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist is a full-time member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) within the Mental Health ICC at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The role provides outpatient mental health services to Veterans enrolled at the Syracuse VAMC and its Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), serving a thirteen-county region supported by seven CBOCs. The medical center is an affiliated tertiary care system with a broad range of specialized programs.

The psychologist provides evidence-based outpatient psychological care, including in-person and telehealth services, and may facilitate therapeutic groups as needed. Care is recovery-oriented, strength-based, and trauma-informed, and is coordinated with Veterans, their identified caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members. Services include assessment, individualized treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention and stabilization, care coordination, and timely documentation.

The position's grade may be GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13, depending on qualifications and experience. Applicants must meet the applicable education, internship, licensure, experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities requirements. A doctoral degree in psychology and a full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license are required, subject to the detailed qualification provisions in the announcement. The position is onsite; telework and virtual work are not available. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from a qualifying APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program, or an eligible doctoral degree and qualifying re-specialization or grandfathering pathway described in the announcement.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the alternative pathways and exceptions detailed in the announcement.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities. GS-11 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Postdoctoral experience is creditable when directly related to the duties; postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are creditable year for year. Part-time experience is credited in proportion to full-time work.
• Demonstrated ability to apply psychological treatments or assessment methods across patient populations, design and implement effective treatment strategies, and incorporate new clinical procedures, as applicable to the grade and duties.
• For specified research duties, ability to conduct or support clinical research, including participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition and maintenance, and collaboration.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must satisfy applicable background and security investigation, pre-employment drug screening for testing-designated positions, physical examination, seasonal influenza vaccination, onboarding, and application documentation requirements.
• Must serve the stated one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Only qualifying education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be used; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based, recovery-oriented, strength-based, and trauma-informed mental health care in collaboration with Veterans and their identified caregivers.
• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans with measurable, attainable goals, incorporating Measurement-Based Care tools.
• Apply treatment protocols and evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and maintain a general understanding of common psychotropic medications and their effects.
• Use mental health and medical terminology accurately when communicating with interdisciplinary team members.
• Complete timely, thorough clinical documentation in the electronic health record and review interdisciplinary notes to support coordinated, comprehensive care.
• Perform rapid assessments and develop crisis intervention plans, including determining the need for psychiatric hospitalization or readiness for mental health or substance use residential programs.
• Participate in collaborative clinical discussions and advocate for Veterans' psychosocial and mental health needs, particularly regarding treatment engagement and adherence.
• Routinely assess Veterans' mental health status and coordinate with the care team on transitions to the least restrictive level of care while maintaining clinical stability.
• Implement timely and effective discharge or transition plans.
• Maintain a general understanding of available Veteran benefits, services, and specialized programs.
• Assume additional responsibilities as needed to support the organization, outpatient mental health service line, and Veterans served.
• Engage in ongoing professional development through self-assessment, supervision, and participation in clinical discussions.
• Provide outpatient mental health services to Veterans at the Syracuse VAMC and its CBOCs through in-person and telehealth care; facilitate therapeutic groups as needed.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to position eligibility, VHA requirements, and timely application; former participants are ineligible.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility conditions.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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