Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Oklahoma City, OK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Mental Health Service, is recruiting a Staff Psychologist to provide care to Veterans at the Broadway Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The role is multidisciplinary; selections may also be made for Senior Social Worker or Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. Psychologists conduct assessments, diagnose and treat mental disorders through individual, family, and group psychotherapy and other behavioral health and community interventions. They also provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders and behavioral health consultation to providers on patient care issues.

The position includes psychological testing and interpretation, evidence-based care, clinical documentation, supervision and education, risk assessment, team participation, and quality improvement. The full performance level is GS-13; selection may be at GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13. The position is at the Broadway Community Based Outpatient Clinic and is not virtual. Telework may be available on a situational, ad hoc basis under agency policy. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; compressed or flexible scheduling is unavailable.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. Approved awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. The application must be submitted within four months of appointment. Recruitment incentives and relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to stated exceptions for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from a qualifying APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program; alternatively, a qualifying doctoral degree and completed accredited re-specialization program, or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated accreditation and assignment-consistency requirements, subject to listed alternatives and exceptions.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise qualify may be considered for a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment at GS-11 or GS-12 for up to two years.
• For GS-12 developmental level: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities in psychological treatments and assessment, treatment strategy design, clinical procedures, and research activities or research tasks as applicable.
• For GS-13 full performance level: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the stated advanced clinical, consultation, research, scientific reporting, and research mentoring knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-11 entry level, no experience beyond the basic requirements is required.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment urinalysis.
• Meet background and security investigation requirements and complete online onboarding and application documentation requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; effective May 7, 2025, identification must meet the stated REAL ID requirements.
• Meet education requirements using degrees from institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Nice To Haves

• BHIP experience is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments and formulate diagnostic impressions using standardized and clinically appropriate methods.
• Deliver evidence-based and evidence-informed psychotherapy for mental health, substance use, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns within granted clinical privileges.
• Complete clinical documentation and charting according to healthcare system timelines, quality standards, and accreditation requirements.
• Provide clinical supervision to unlicensed staff and trainees, and guidance and education to assigned staff in psychological service delivery.
• Consult with other professional personnel regarding psychological services and treatment planning.
• Educate patients, their family members, professional staff, and trainees about mental health conditions and treatment approaches.
• Perform risk assessments for self-harm or harm to others and implement suicide prevention and crisis management procedures.
• Contribute as a member of multidisciplinary medical and mental health teams in inpatient, outpatient, or specialty care settings.
• Participate in performance improvement and quality assurance activities related to psychological services and assigned clinical programs.
• Abide by ethical principles addressed by psychology licensing boards.
• Support and/or participate in scientific activity.
• May serve on internal and external committees.
• May perform administrative responsibilities of limited scope and complexity.
• Conduct psychological assessments, diagnose mental disorders, and treat them through psychotherapy and other interventions, including behavioral health and community interventions.
• Provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders and behavioral health consultation to providers on medical, mental health, and other patient care issues.
• Administer and interpret psychological tests, including tests of ability, aptitude, achievement, interests, personality, cognitive functioning, and mental health.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with approved awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to individual eligibility and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility 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.

What This Job Offers

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