Psychology Program Manager - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Program Manager serves as the Program Manager for the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), part of the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic within the Mental Health Service at the Seattle Division of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. BHIP provides comprehensive, integrated, recovery-oriented, evidence-based outpatient mental health care for Veterans. Teams address a broad range of diagnostic and co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions when possible, and coordinate closely with specialty services such as PTSD, Substance Use Disorder, and Serious Mental Illness programs.

The psychologist provides broad program management leadership for a clinical care team, including developing, implementing, evaluating, and overseeing a complex program responsible for comprehensive clinical care of Veterans. The role leads a multidisciplinary team that may include psychologists, physicians, social workers, nurses, other health care professionals, and trainees. The incumbent develops and oversees operational policies and procedures with approval from the affiliated Program Director and/or Service Line Leader, evaluates program operations and quality improvement, and monitors workload and performance standards.

The position is the first-line supervising authority for up to 11 employees, providing administrative and clinical supervision or consultation as appropriate. The incumbent also provides administrative oversight and clinical consultation to interdisciplinary team members for whom they are not the designated first-line rating authority. Clinical work includes psychological assessment and diagnosis, evidence-based psychotherapy and psychoeducation, consultation with health care providers, and development and documentation of treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available. Telework is ad hoc only; this is not a virtual position. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program in an eligible specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, one of the specified qualifying re-specialization or legacy doctoral-degree pathways.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated APA/CPA accreditation, VHA program, legacy, or board-certification conditions.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, or eligibility under the stated VHA grandfathering provision.
• 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 to 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 for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, medical evaluation, influenza vaccination, identification, and onboarding requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Three years of managerial experience within mental health.
• Five years of mental health experience in general.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and oversee operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, with approval from the affiliated Program Director and/or Service Line Leader.
• Conduct ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations.
• Monitor and distribute workload reports to team members and ensure provider adherence to workload standards.
• Serve as first-line supervising authority for up to 11 employees, providing administrative and clinical supervision or consultation as appropriate.
• Provide administrative oversight and clinical consultation to interdisciplinary team members for whom the incumbent is not the designated first-line rating authority.
• Lead a multidisciplinary clinical care team and oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of a complex program providing comprehensive care to Veterans.
• Provide psychological assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology in the clinic setting.
• Provide evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation.
• Consult with health care providers about assessment findings and treatment plans to support coordinated, collaborative, and integrated care.
• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for an assigned caseload of patients.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period of one to five years, subject to eligibility, application, and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families meeting the stated income and eligibility conditions.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree