Psychology Program Manager - Workplace Violence Prevention Program

Veterans Health Administration • Little Rock, AR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Program Manager serves as the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) Manager for CAVHS, coordinating and implementing the program and overseeing related initiatives, including the Disruptive Behavior Committee (DBC), Employee Threat Assessment Team (ETAT), Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS), Behavioral Health Code Team (BHCT) if implemented locally, and Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment (WBRA). The manager oversees multidisciplinary teams and program activities, maintains expertise in evidence-based, data-driven behavioral threat assessment and management, and provides program and fiscal oversight.

The role includes planning and prioritizing subordinate work, evaluating employee performance, assessing program services and outcomes, developing or implementing relevant policies and procedures, and coordinating workplace safety efforts across the facility. The position is based in an office/clinic environment and requires managing multiple responsibilities, sometimes in stressful situations. The listed schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., subject to change based on service needs. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program; or an eligible doctoral degree with qualifying accredited respecialization; or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of an eligible professional psychology internship, subject to the listed exceptions and alternatives.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
• Demonstrated skill managing and directing large, complex organizational units and applying effective management practices.
• Demonstrated skill in persuasion, negotiation, and motivation to negotiate multiple program policies.
• Demonstrated advanced consultation and problem-solving skills in interpersonal dealings with employees and managers.
• Skill applying and analyzing measurement tools for systems issues.
• Ability to work autonomously in a complex environment, balance responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to assess needs for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic contexts.
• Ability to coordinate multiple program elements across a complex system.
• Ability to independently operate a government vehicle and provide a clean driving record report during pre-employment.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, physical evaluation, and background/security investigation; complete onboarding and required application documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and meet applicable identification and employment conditions.
• If hired based on an internship that was not accredited at the time of completion, maintain current board certification in an assignment-consistent specialty area, as required.

Nice To Haves

• Three or more years coordinating and implementing the DBC and ETAT and conducting annual WBRA within VHA.
• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Proficiency in current evidence-based behavioral threat assessment and management practices.
• Experience working as a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary care team.
• Psychological testing experience.
• Experience educating others.
• Experience building coalitions.
• Experience presenting to varied audiences, including leadership, managers, stakeholders, police, patient safety officers, clinical staff, Veterans, and civilian family members.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement the Workplace Violence Prevention Program at CAVHS, including the DBC, ETAT, DBRS, BHCT if implemented, and WBRA.
• Supervise the Chair of the Disruptive Behavior Committee, who leads a facility-based multidisciplinary committee.
• Supervise the Chair of the Employee Threat Assessment Team, which includes representatives from relevant facility functions and stakeholders.
• Lead the annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment, a data-driven evaluation of factors affecting workplace safety.
• Oversee the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior program and ensure it meets identified training needs.
• If implemented locally, oversee and develop the Behavioral Health Code Team program.
• Maintain expertise in evidence-based, data-driven behavioral threat assessment and management practices.
• Organize facility safety briefings, collaborating with high-risk areas identified through the annual WBRA.
• Submit After Action Reports to executive leadership and monitor progress on actions and goals.
• Provide annual implementation progress reports to VISN and National WVPP committees as requested.
• Formulate, interpret, and implement policies and procedures related to quality and workplace violence prevention across hospital settings.
• Systematically evaluate program services, including collecting, tabulating, and presenting statistics, trends, and outcome measures to adjust staffing or work procedures.
• Provide independent program and fiscal oversight.
• Plan subordinate work, set and adjust short-term priorities, and prepare schedules for work completion.
• Evaluate the work performance of subordinates.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and application requirements, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years as determined by the program office.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior 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