Social Worker - Associate Chief of Staff, Behavioral Health

Veterans Health Administration • Butler, PA

16h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Chief of Staff, Behavioral Health leads multidisciplinary staff delivering behavioral health care to veterans and is responsible for supervising and managing Behavioral Health Services at the Butler VA Medical Center. This includes outpatient mental health services at the main facility and satellite clinics, residential MHRRTP programs, and services and staff within Social Work Services and Psychology Services.

The incumbent provides executive-level leadership to establish and maintain high standards of care. The role oversees teaching, education, and research programs; supports program development; monitors performance measures; ensures timely program evaluations and required documentation; and works to meet accreditation and monitoring requirements. The position also provides research guidance and represents Behavioral Health Services in organizational and professional settings.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available on an ad hoc basis; the position is not virtual. Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. The full performance level is GS-14.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
• Demonstrated supervisory and management skills and advanced practice skills in administration, with progressively increasing professional competency and judgment.
• Advanced-practice-level social work license or certification and ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Skill in providing supervisory duties across multiple service divisions or sections, including work assignment, performance evaluation, staff selection, and recommendations concerning awards, advancement, and discipline.
• Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice.
• Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services across multiple divisions or sections.
• Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
• Skill in advising facility leadership, managers, and staff on social work qualifications, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing-education requirements.
• Skill in administrative oversight of compliance with social work licensure requirements.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to drug testing and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must complete the required application and online onboarding processes and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Post-master's certification or other training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Experience in leadership and management of complex health care operations, mentoring and developing staff, strategic planning, and demonstrated excellence in teaching and clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• Assign work to subordinates based on priorities, assignment requirements, and employee capabilities.
• Develop performance standards and evaluate subordinate employees' work performance.
• Advise, counsel, and instruct employees on work and administrative matters.
• Interview candidates and recommend appointments, promotions, or reassignments.
• Hear and resolve employee complaints and group grievances, including serious unresolved complaints.
• Apply disciplinary measures when appropriate.
• Identify employee development and training needs and provide or arrange training.
• Improve productivity and the quality of work, including reducing bottlenecks and barriers, promoting team building, and improving business practices.
• Recommend position-management changes, subject to approval by higher-level officials.
• Lead teaching, education, and research programs for Behavioral Health Services.
• Serve on Medical Center, VISN, and national VA committees or task forces as assigned by the Chief of Staff.
• Represent Behavioral Health Service on Medical Center decision-making committees.
• Participate in leadership roles in local, state, and national professional organizations.
• Represent the Medical Center at professional and community group events and committees.
• Provide leadership in developing new programs or treatment approaches, including programs with community partners or other VA facilities.
• Understand, monitor, and educate staff about Behavioral Health Division performance-measure benchmarks and work toward achieving them with appropriate resources.
• Complete program evaluations and required documentation on time and ensure compliance with applicable accrediting and monitoring bodies.
• Consult with others to provide research guidance and stimulate new research directions.
• Supervise and manage Behavioral Health Services across the main facility, satellite clinics, residential MHRRTP programs, Social Work Services, and Psychology Services.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a child-care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, eligible-child, and maximum-benefit limits.
• 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.
• Prior federal or military service may be credited toward annual-leave accrual, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager