Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Staff Psychologist in the National Center for Warrior Independence at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The role provides a full range of outpatient psychological services for Veterans residing in NCWI housing, with a focus on addiction and treatment. The psychologist applies knowledge and experience in substance use disorders, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, and telemental health delivery. Direct psychological services account for approximately 80% of the position’s time. The full performance level is GS-13, and selection may be at GS-11 through GS-13. The position is not virtual, and telework is not authorized. Tours of duty vary according to service needs; compressed or flexible scheduling may be available based on those needs.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility requirements and program approval. Applications must be submitted within four months of the start date. The program office determines the award (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years). Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified applicants; relocation assistance is not authorized.

Requirements

• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. A temporary graduate psychologist appointment may be available to qualifying non-licensed applicants for up to two years, with care provided only under licensed psychologist supervision and licensure required during that period.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, qualifying doctoral degree with an approved accredited re-specialization program, or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of an internship meeting the specified APA or CPA accreditation, VHA program, pre-1979 VHA, board certification, or qualifying historical-degree criteria.
• For GS-12: at least one year of creditable professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, in addition to the basic requirements.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, in addition to the basic requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge and ability to apply professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to varied patient populations and design and implement effective treatment strategies, as applicable to grade.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation; applicants selected for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Must meet the seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for VA health care personnel.
• Must meet application and documentation requirements, including submitting transcripts when relying on education for qualification.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants; this is an employment incentive rather than a qualification.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose mental disorders and conduct psychological assessments.
• Treat mental disorders using a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders.
• Provide psycho-diagnostic services and select appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques for patients with conditions including adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, thought disorders, problems related to traumatic brain injury or other medical conditions, and personality or characterological disorders.
• Provide psychological services both within the clinic and in field-based settings.
• Consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
• Coordinate, develop, and promote programs emphasizing group and individual treatment and other psychological modalities for alcohol and substance abuse.
• Comply with documentation procedures, timeliness standards, and patient check-out procedures.
• Participate as applicable in program coordination or evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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 child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other program 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.
• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, with potential reimbursement up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and program approval.

What This Job Offers

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