Social Worker (Program Manager)

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Chief for Behavioral Health works closely with the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Behavioral Health to support the service’s strategic, clinical, and operational functions. The role plans and monitors improvement initiatives, analyzes service data and resource needs, provides clinical and administrative oversight, supports workforce development, and coordinates with facility and community partners. The incumbent may provide direct administrative supervision of interdisciplinary Behavioral Health personnel and serves as Acting Service Chief during absences, sharing delegated managerial responsibilities with the ACOS.

The position is responsible for program planning, analytics, resource management, staffing and budget oversight, policy and procedure maintenance, compliance, reporting, and coordination of behavioral health responses during critical incidents. It is a permanent, non-virtual position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be available at the supervisor’s discretion.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and approval. The potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. The role requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification for independent practice at the master's level. At the GS-14 level, candidates must also meet the specified experience, advanced licensure, supervision, and competency requirements.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level; social worker program managers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and able to provide supervision for licensure.
• For GS-14 grade determination, one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level, demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively greater professional competency.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to coordinate and administer large-scale programs across multiple sites, including consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into coordinated and controlled work operations.
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and develop and implement solutions.
• Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to advance program goals and patient-centered care.
• Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, including work assignment, performance evaluations, staff selection and training, and recommendations concerning awards, advancement, and discipline.
• Ability to oversee fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer allocated budgets.
• Skill in developing program policies, procedures, and practice guidelines and participating in national program development.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements, complete onboarding, pass a pre-employment physical evaluation, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must meet the announcement’s application and identification requirements; males born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Previous leadership experience within Behavioral Health.
• Certification or other post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university with a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and track action plans and analytics-based improvement initiatives on behalf of the ACOS for Behavioral Health.
• Monitor and respond to Mental Health Same Day Service data, alerting PCMHI leadership to workflow delays.
• Monitor bookability, utilization, productivity, and new-patient wait times; identify resource needs and prepare data-driven FTE requests.
• Monitor performance improvement metrics and prepare or oversee corrective action plans for review by the Behavioral Health Oversight Council.
• Review labor mapping bi-weekly for accuracy and alignment with operational requirements.
• Provide clinical and administrative oversight of Behavioral Health service activities, including staffing, budget, equipment, and supplies.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation, regulatory requirements, and performance standards; monitor staff performance and develop programs based on Veteran needs and current research as appropriate.
• Oversee chart audits for non-OPPE staff and the bi-annual scope-of-practice process for non-privileged staff, coordinating with discipline leads.
• Maintain knowledge of Behavioral Health and RRTP MCPs and SOPs; update policies and provide staff training.
• Guide staff and potentially serve as direct administrative supervisor for interdisciplinary Behavioral Health personnel.
• Participate in candidate selection and recommend appointments, advancements, or disciplinary actions as appropriate.
• Develop position descriptions and functional statements, assign personnel, mentor employees, and support employee development.
• Resolve staff conflicts affecting service delivery and support service recovery by responding to PATS-R inquiries.
• Identify staff training and continuing education needs.
• Serve as Acting Service Chief during absences and share delegated managerial responsibilities with the ACOS.
• Develop responses to controlled correspondence at facility, VISN, and VACO levels, including elected representative inquiries and OIG Hotline submissions.
• Assist with the annual Management Briefing and ensure Behavioral Health sections provide required information.
• Consult with other service lines and facility leadership on behavioral health service development and programmatic needs.
• Maintain interdepartmental relationships and collaborate with community partners to support medical center goals.
• Assist the ACOS and RRTP Chief in coordinating behavioral health responses during critical incidents, violence events, disasters, or mass-casualty situations.
• Coordinate psychological first aid training for VA SORC.
• Oversee fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer allocated budgets.
• Develop program policies, procedures, and practice guidelines, and participate in national program development.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with a potential award up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including 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 birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other conditions.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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