Psychology Program Manager

Veterans Health Administration • Orange, CT

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Program Manager serves as the Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) Vet Center Director and is responsible for professional and administrative supervision and oversight of readjustment counseling, outreach, referrals, and follow-up care coordination for eligible individuals in the designated Vet Center Service Area. The position supervises professional and nonprofessional staff, including multidisciplinary mental health professionals working at Vet Centers, Vet Center Outstations, Community Access Points, and in distant communities through planned outreach, sometimes with a Mobile Vet Center.

The Director manages administrative and outreach staff functions and the Vet Center’s resources and finances, including monitoring control points, developing and operating within the annual budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. The role leads coordination and briefings with Congressional representatives and their staff, and plans, establishes, implements, and evaluates Vet Center policies, procedures, staff goals, and work operations.

The position also provides direct readjustment counseling in person and virtually, within and outside the Vet Center, according to client preference and applicable VHA directives, state licensure standards, and VA OIG expectations. It includes professional assessment and specialized service planning for complex client problems, incorporating multiple causes into differential diagnosis and treatment planning. This multidisciplinary vacancy may be filled as a Psychologist, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor at the Program Manager/Coordinator level. The role is not virtual; telework is ad hoc. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some nights and weekends potentially required and schedule changes based on Vet Center needs.

Requirements

• For appointment as a psychologist: qualifying doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program, or another specified qualifying doctoral/re-specialization pathway.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the listed exceptions and alternatives.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, including at least one year equivalent to GS-13.
• 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 their use.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
• 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 effective solutions.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and, if selected for a testing-designated position, pre-appointment drug screening.
• Must meet the stated background/security, onboarding, identification, Selective Service (where applicable), and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification conditions.
• A transcript must be submitted with the application; foreign education used to qualify requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and oversee professional and administrative delivery of readjustment counseling, outreach, referrals, and follow-up care coordination for eligible individuals in the designated Vet Center Service Area.
• Supervise professional and nonprofessional personnel, including multidisciplinary staff at multiple Vet Center locations and in distant communities.
• Manage administrative and outreach staff service functions.
• Manage Vet Center resources and fiscal operations, including monitoring control points, developing and operating within the annual budget, and accounting for appropriated funds.
• Lead coordination and briefings during meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff.
• Plan, establish, and implement Vet Center policies and procedures; develop staff goals and objectives; and monitor, coordinate, and evaluate staff work.
• Provide direct in-person and virtual readjustment counseling within and outside the Vet Center in accordance with client preference and applicable requirements.
• Conduct professional assessments and develop specialized service plans for clients with complex readjustment problems, incorporating multiple causes into differential diagnosis and treatment perspectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including annual leave, 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees, up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and subject to income and monthly limits.
• 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 programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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