Senior Psychologist Program Manager - Outpatient Mental Health Section

Veterans Health Administration • Tacoma, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Psychologist Program Manager serves as Director of the Outpatient Mental Health (OMH) program at the American Lake division of VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Tacoma, Washington. The role provides program leadership within a large, integrated Mental Health Service Line with more than 400 full-time-equivalent staff across multiple clinical and administrative disciplines.

The position combines senior program management, supervision, and clinical care. The incumbent directs a multidisciplinary treatment team; develops, implements, evaluates, and oversees operational policies and procedures; monitors workload; sets priorities and timelines; coordinates services with other VA programs; and supervises program managers and frontline staff. The incumbent also provides psychological assessment, diagnosis, evidence-based therapy, psychoeducation, consultation, and treatment planning for Veterans receiving outpatient care.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual; ad hoc telework may be available. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and application requirements. The position is permanent and full-time, and recruitment/relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-14 grade level.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an appropriately accredited program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; specified alternative doctoral-degree and respecialization pathways are also accepted.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated accreditation or alternative eligibility criteria.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, unless qualifying under the stated grandfathering provision.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Demonstrated skill in managing and directing large, complex organizational units and applying effective management practices.
• Demonstrated skill in persuasion, negotiation, and motivation to negotiate multiple program policies.
• Demonstrated advanced interpersonal, consultation, and problem-solving skills when working with employees and managers.
• Demonstrated skill in applying and analyzing measurement tools for systems issues.
• Ability to balance responsibilities in a complex environment and work autonomously; set priorities and delegate tasks; meet multiple deadlines; analyze complex organizational problems; and develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to assess needs for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic contexts.
• Ability to coordinate multiple program elements across a complex system.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, medical evaluation, influenza vaccination, onboarding, and trial-period requirements.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Outpatient Mental Health program as Senior Program Manager and Director within the Mental Health Service Line.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, nurses, other health care professionals, and trainees.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and oversee a complex program providing comprehensive clinical care to Veterans.
• Develop, implement, and oversee operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, with approval from the affiliated Program Director and/or Service Line Leader.
• Monitor and distribute provider-specific workload reports and ensure providers adhere to workload standards.
• Plan work for program managers, establish priorities and completion timelines, and make necessary adjustments.
• Establish and maintain liaisons with associated VA health care programs to coordinate services.
• Provide administrative and clinical supervision or consultation to six Program Managers and four frontline staff members.
• Provide administrative oversight and clinical consultation to more than 50 interdisciplinary team members for whom the incumbent is not the first-line rating authority.
• Take appropriate and timely disciplinary action for employees with performance problems.
• Provide psychological assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology in the clinic setting.
• Educate patients and family members about relevant mental health concerns.
• 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, integrated care.
• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program, with potential award up to $200,000, subject to eligibility, application review, and program terms.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and paid Federal holidays.
• 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 and children, subject to employment duration, family income, and program 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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