Staff Psychologist - Primary Care-Mental Health Integration

Veterans Health Administration•Youngstown, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Psychology Service is recruiting a Staff Psychologist to join its Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) team. The position provides behavioral and mental health services to Veterans served by Primary Care, emphasizing clinical health psychology evaluation and time-limited interventions. The role includes assessment, testing, interpretation, treatment planning, care coordination, referrals, and education for Veterans and families. The psychologist also supports shared decision-making, health interventions, and effective provider-patient working relationships. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with flexible four-day, 10-hour tours: 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. or 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Some evening hours are required, with timing and day negotiable. The position is not virtual; ad hoc telework may be available under agency policy. The full performance level is GS-13, with selection at GS-11 through GS-13.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; an eligible respecialization degree; or a qualifying doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978.
Successful completion of an internship meeting the applicable APA/CPA accreditation or other stated VHA, pre-1979, or board-certification criteria.
A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; eligible non-licensed applicants may be temporarily appointed as graduate psychologists at GS-11 or GS-12 under the stated supervision and time-limit conditions.
For GS-12: at least one full year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, with the specified treatment, assessment, treatment-strategy, clinical-procedure, and applicable research competencies.
For GS-13: at least two additional years of qualifying experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, with the specified professional practice, consultation, behavioral health, and clinical research literature competencies.
Meet the position’s pre-employment requirements, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, onboarding, and influenza vaccination requirements.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

Experience in primary care mental health.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive behavioral and mental health services to Veterans in Primary Care, emphasizing clinical health psychology evaluation and time-limited interventions.
Interview patients and determine appropriate assessment batteries.
Conduct psychological testing, interpret results, and prepare reports with conclusions and/or recommendations.
Develop and implement detailed intervention plans across a full range of psychological services.
Serve as a primary provider in assigned clinical settings, managing and coordinating treatment or care according to clinical needs.
Make referrals during treatment when clinically indicated.
Facilitate Veteran and family education appropriate to the Primary Care setting.
Support Primary Care shared decision-making, health interventions, and provider-patient working relationships.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, subject to individual eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years.
Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
37–50 days of annual paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid 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.
Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
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 can be carried into retirement.
Ad hoc telework may be available as determined by agency policy.