Psychology Program Manager

Veterans Health Administration • Alpena, MI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Program Manager is a GS-14 supervisory psychologist with management duties and supervisory oversight of multidisciplinary staff in one or more Mental Health Service programs. The incumbent makes clinical and administrative decisions for assigned staff and programs, provides clinical care, and supervises interns and practicum students as needed. The role ensures compliance with accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements, monitors staff performance, and develops and implements programming informed by Veterans’ needs and current research.

Administrative responsibilities account for approximately 25–30% of the position. The incumbent supervises interdisciplinary staff and oversees assigned programs and program activities across staff with varied work schedules. The incumbent trains incoming staff in best practices and VA documentation standards and ensures appropriate training for trainees from multiple disciplines.

Clinical responsibilities account for approximately 70–75% of the position. The incumbent provides comprehensive psychosocial assessment and treatment for Veterans with mental health issues, reviews subjective and objective information, evaluates high-risk factors, and develops treatment plans based on acuity, needs, and recommended services or psychotherapy. Treatment includes individual, couple/family, and group psychotherapy, psychoeducational groups, and case management.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the schedule may change based on agency needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation assistance is not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and application requirements; approval, award amount, and eligibility period are determined by the program office.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an eligible APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program in a specialty consistent with the assignment, or an applicable alternative qualification pathway described in the announcement.
• Successful completion of an eligible professional psychology internship, or an applicable alternative pathway described in the announcement.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a limited temporary graduate psychologist appointment exception is described.
• 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 or groups from widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
• Skill in managing and directing others’ work to achieve 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.
• Must meet pre-employment screening, security investigation, physical evaluation, onboarding, and other stated VA employment conditions.
• Must maintain required licensure; failure to do so may result in removal from the occupation and possible termination.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated certification requirement for continued employment.
• Must submit the required application documentation, including transcripts when relying on education to qualify.

Responsibilities

• Supervise interdisciplinary staff and oversee assigned programs and the programmatic activities of professional and multidisciplinary staff.
• Make clinical and administrative decisions for assigned staff and programs.
• Provide clinical care to Veterans and supervise interns and practicum students as needed.
• Train incoming staff in best practices and VA documentation standards, and ensure appropriate training for trainees across disciplines.
• Ensure compliance with accrediting agencies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor staff performance and develop and implement programming based on Veterans’ needs and current research.
• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and treatment for Veterans with mental health issues.
• Review subjective and objective data, assess high-risk factors, and develop treatment plans based on acuity and service needs.
• Provide individual, couple/family, and group psychotherapy, psychoeducational groups, and case management.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, potentially up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, subject to the stated conditions.
• Child care subsidy for eligible full-time employees, subject to income, service, and other eligibility requirements.
• 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.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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