Staff Psychologist (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration • Portland, OR

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist works within the Mental Health Division’s Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program as a Clinical Psychologist, serving Veterans receiving care within VAPORHCS. Duties vary by grade. The full-performance level is GS-13; selections may be made at GS-11 through GS-13. At the full-performance level, the psychologist provides clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and care coordination, and may also contribute to teaching, training, research, program evaluation, and organizational activities.

The role is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The position is permanent; relocation assistance and sign-on incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, qualifying doctoral education and re-specialization or other specified legacy education and internship pathways described in the announcement.
• A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except that eligible non-licensed applicants may be temporarily appointed as graduate psychologists under the stated supervision and time limits.
• GS-11: Meets the basic requirements; no additional experience beyond them is required.
• GS-12: At least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge and abilities in psychological assessment and treatment, treatment planning, clinical procedures, and applicable research activities.
• GS-13: At least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the stated knowledge and abilities in psychological treatment, professional consultation, and clinical research literature.
• Meet applicable grade-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities requirements.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• Complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including background/security investigation, drug testing if selected for a testing-designated position, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as required.
• Complete the EDRP application within four months of appointment to be considered for that program; eligibility and award are subject to VHA review and approval.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional assessments and diagnostic services for Veterans with a range of psychopathology.
• Use contemporary interview and psychometric assessment methods for mental disorders and behavioral health conditions.
• Educate patients and family members about mental disorders and evidence-based treatment approaches.
• Provide appropriate evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, which may include individual, family, and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation.
• Consult with Medical Center health care providers about assessment findings and treatment plans to support coordinated, collaborative, integrated care.
• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for patients presenting in primary care, as appropriate to the role and setting.
• Follow facility and service-line policies for clinical care, including risk assessment and reduction, timeliness and access standards, professional conduct, and CPRS documentation.
• Meet the Service Line’s minimum clinical workload expectations.
• Supervise trainees providing direct clinical care.
• At applicable grades, take independent professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient-care decisions, and documentation.
• Provide clinical supervision and instruction to psychology interns and/or postdoctoral fellows.
• Serve on a Psychology Service committee overseeing the training program.
• Hold a clinical or clinician-teacher faculty appointment at Oregon Health & Science University or another affiliated university, with accomplishments in supervision, training, and education.
• Provide supervision or training for medical residents, medical students, social work interns, or other trainees outside psychology training programs.
• Provide leadership guidance and consultation to assigned unit staff.
• Participate in other teaching, training, or educational responsibilities.
• Participate in research as a principal investigator, co-investigator, or collaborator, and perform other research or program-evaluation responsibilities.
• Serve on Medical Center, VISN, or national VA committees, workgroups, or task forces.
• Participate in leadership roles in local, state, or national professional organizations.
• Represent the Medical Center at professional or program-related community groups, events, or committees.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, subject to individual eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step within the grade may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and 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.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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