Staff Psychologist - Neuropsychology

Veterans Health Administration • San Diego, CA

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist - Neuropsychology works in the Neuropsychology Assessment Unit at the Jennifer Moreno VA Medical Center. The position primarily conducts neuropsychological assessments in response to referrals from clinicians throughout the VA San Diego system and provides feedback and recommendations to Veterans, family members, and referring providers. The psychologist is part of a four-neuropsychologist team that provides direct services and supervision to psychology trainees across multiple training programs.

Staff psychologists may serve in a range of VHA programs and settings, including inpatient, residential, or outpatient care in medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Vet Centers, and organizational development. They diagnose mental disorders; conduct psychological and neuropsychological assessments; provide evidence-based treatment through individual, couples, family, or group psychotherapy and other interventions; and may provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders. The role may also involve consultation, teaching, training, program evaluation, and research.

The position is at the full-performance level of GS-13, with selection possible at GS-11 through GS-13. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with a flexible tour between 0700 and 1700. Telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility requirements and program approval. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• A full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; certain otherwise-qualified non-licensed applicants may be considered for a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment of up to two years.
• A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; qualifying alternatives include an approved respecialization program or certain doctoral degrees awarded between 1951 and 1978.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the specified APA, CPA, or VHA criteria, subject to stated exceptions.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the specified clinical assessment, treatment-planning, clinical-procedure, and research-related knowledge and abilities.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the specified clinical treatment, consultation, and research-literature knowledge and abilities.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug screening for testing-designated positions, physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Complete required application and onboarding documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Eligibility for board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology / American Board of Professional Psychology is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct neuropsychological assessments in response to referrals from clinicians throughout the VA San Diego system.
• Provide assessment feedback and recommendations to Veterans, family members, and referring providers.
• Provide supervision to psychology trainees across multiple training programs.
• Conduct psychodiagnostic and risk assessments, crisis intervention, and psychological or neuropsychological assessments.
• Provide evidence-based psychological interventions consistent with professional competencies and patient needs, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
• Develop, implement, and document psychotherapeutic treatment plans, and complete clinical reminders and required documentation promptly.
• Follow operational policies and procedures established by the VASDHS, Mental Health Care Line, and Psychology Service.
• Collaborate with unit and service leadership to identify operational questions and develop plans to address them through qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Comply with CPRS documentation procedures and timeliness standards, including patient checkout, diagnostic and procedure codes, and return-to-clinic orders.
• Attend and participate in administrative and informational meetings.
• Provide consultation on empirically validated assessments and treatments.
• Consult with psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, psychology staff, and fellows.
• Provide workshops and seminars on empirically validated psychological treatments and other areas of expertise.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program, with a possible award of up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to eligibility and limits.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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