Psychology - Program Manager

Veterans Health Administration • Eugene, OR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Program Manager provides administrative oversight for daily Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) and Neuropsychology operations, ensuring clinical services are organized, efficient, and consistent with VA standards. The position provides direction to interdisciplinary BHIP teams, develops program goals, establishes and refines workflows, and ensures services meet clinical expectations, accreditation requirements, and national initiatives. The manager works with considerable independence and serves as a primary advisor to Mental Health leadership on program operations, compliance, and future planning.

The role evaluates workflow and workload patterns, identifies operational issues, implements adjustments, guides staff through processes, and helps resolve operational barriers. It reviews program data, coordinates improvements, keeps procedures current as staffing, demand, and policy change, and represents BHIP and Neuropsychology in operational planning. The position collaborates with other service areas on shared processes, resource needs, and system-wide initiatives, and exercises independent judgment in decisions affecting service delivery and program performance.

Approximately half of the position's time is devoted to clinical duties. The manager provides direct assessment, treatment, and care coordination for Veterans; delivers evidence-based interventions within scope of practice; conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments; and develops individualized treatment plans with interdisciplinary team members. Clinical work includes maintaining a caseload appropriate for a GS-14 advanced psychologist, providing individual and group interventions, supporting continuity of care for Veterans with complex mental health needs, participating in case consultations, providing clinical guidance as appropriate, and maintaining timely and accurate documentation. The manager responds to urgent clinical situations, supports coverage needs when staffing changes occur, and participates in team-based care to sustain consistent, high-quality services and meet program access needs.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with occasional holiday work as needed. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and application requirements; an award may be up to $200,000, with the amount and eligibility period determined by the VHA program office. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an eligible APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program in a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, specified qualifying doctoral education and re-specialization pathways may meet the requirement.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment; specified VHA internship pathways or current relevant ABPP board certification may also satisfy the requirement.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• At least three years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• 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 ability to guide staff in using them.
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals and 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.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with Veterans in an inpatient psychiatric setting.
• Leadership or supervisory experience (identified as required in the preferred-experience statement).
• Familiarity with psychiatric emergency services.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction to interdisciplinary BHIP teams comprising social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and other mental health professionals.
• Develop program goals, establish and refine workflows, and ensure services meet clinical expectations, accreditation requirements, and national initiatives.
• Provide administrative oversight of daily BHIP and Neuropsychology operations.
• Evaluate workflow and workload patterns, identify operational issues, and implement adjustments to support effective team functioning.
• Guide staff on processes and help resolve operational barriers; maintain communication across interdisciplinary team members.
• Review program data, coordinate improvements, and keep procedures current with changes in staffing, demand, or policy.
• Represent BHIP and Neuropsychology in operational planning and collaborate with other service areas on shared processes, resource needs, and system-wide initiatives.
• Advise Mental Health leadership on program operations, compliance, and future planning.
• Provide direct assessment, treatment, and care coordination services to Veterans for approximately half of the position's time.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions within scope of practice, conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, and develop individualized treatment plans collaboratively.
• Manage an appropriate caseload and provide individual and group interventions for Veterans with complex mental health needs.
• Participate in case consultations, provide clinical guidance as appropriate, and maintain accurate and timely documentation.
• Respond to urgent clinical situations, support coverage needs when staffing changes occur, and participate in team-based care activities.
• Support program access needs and ensure clinical care aligns with BHIP practice models and VA standards.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with a potential award up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and program review.
• 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, including annual leave, sick leave, and paid Federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for 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 care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility conditions.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• 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: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree