Psychology Program Manager (Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program)

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Program Manager leads the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) at Tennessee Valley, a 34-bed domiciliary focused on substance use disorder (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program provides comprehensive, evidence-based, patient-centered residential care using developmental, biological, psychological, and sociological approaches in a safe environment. Its aim is to help residents achieve and maintain independent community and service integration, improve functional status, sustain rehabilitation gains, promote recovery, and reduce recidivism.

The manager directs and administers all aspects of the program, including planning and implementing programs, policies, and procedures; assessing program needs; overseeing service type, quality, and quantity; setting priorities; and establishing short- and long-range goals and direction. The position coordinates programming and service agreements with other program managers and the Mental Health Care Line, and collaborates with discipline and clerical supervisors on staffing-related matters.

The manager provides clinical consultation on evidence-based therapeutic practices and clinical practice guidelines, supports and directs staff, and fosters a work environment that respects differing interests, viewpoints, and professional perspectives. Responsibilities also include triaging and assigning referrals, making treatment recommendations, monitoring compliance with VA standards, and conducting data-driven program evaluation and quality assurance. The manager establishes staff clinic scheduling profiles, certifies timecards, and meets regularly with staff and as needed for urgent or emergent situations.

The program manager leads an interdisciplinary team that includes social workers, a vocational rehabilitation specialist, an addiction therapist, a psychologist, a peer specialist, a clinical pharmacy practitioner, nurse practitioners, and nurses. The role is a GS-14 position. The work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; alternate tours may be considered. The position is not virtual, though ad hoc telework is indicated.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• A qualifying doctoral degree in psychology: an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program consistent with the assignment; or an eligible doctoral degree with a qualifying APA- or CPA-accredited re-specialization program; or an eligible 1951–1978 doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment, subject to the stated VA-recognized alternatives.
• 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 appropriately 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.
• Must satisfy applicable pre-employment screening, onboarding, physical examination, security investigation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements; applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced setting.
• Experience treating substance use disorder and/or post-traumatic stress disorder in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Responsibilities

• Direct, administer, and manage all aspects of the residential rehabilitation treatment program.
• Plan, develop, and implement programs, policies, and procedures; determine program needs; oversee the type, quality, and quantity of services; set priorities; and establish short- and long-range goals and direction.
• Coordinate programming with other program managers and the Mental Health Care Line, including negotiating service agreements and other forms of collaboration.
• Collaborate with discipline supervisors, including psychiatry, psychology, social work, primary care, and nursing, on hiring, performance reviews, incentives, and discipline.
• Collaborate with clerical supervisors on related staffing matters.
• Provide clinical consultation to staff on evidence-based therapeutic practices and clinical practice guidelines.
• Create a work environment that acknowledges and respects differing interests, viewpoints, and discipline perspectives, and provide staff support, encouragement, and direction.
• Triage and assign referrals systematically and make treatment recommendations.
• Monitor services to ensure they meet VA guidelines and standards.
• Conduct ongoing program evaluation and outcome projects using data-driven quality assurance processes, including setting and monitoring team production and performance standards, implementing patient treatment outcome and satisfaction projects, and overseeing evaluation reports.
• Establish and modify clinic scheduling profiles for staff.
• Approve and certify staff timecards.
• Meet regularly with staff and as needed for urgent and emergent situations.
• Lead the interdisciplinary program team.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program 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 for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, 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 for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, covering up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to eligible-child and monthly-maximum 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 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