Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Shawnee, OK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System’s Mental Health Service is recruiting a Staff Psychologist to care for Veterans at the Shawnee Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The role provides independent psychological services across levels of complexity, with consultation from peers and supervisors as appropriate. The position may be filled at GS-11 through GS-13; GS-13 is the full-performance level. It is a full-time, Monday–Friday position, with a schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Situational telework may be available under agency policy; this is not a virtual position.

The psychologist diagnoses and treats mental disorders, performs psychological assessments and biopsychosocial intakes, develops treatment plans, and uses measurement-based care. Treatment may include individual, family, and group psychotherapy, triage and crisis management, behavioral health interventions, and community interventions. The role includes coordinating and consulting with VA clinicians and staff, evaluating and referring patients to VA or community treatment programs, and supporting Veterans with complex vocational concerns.

The position also includes training, clinical supervision, consultation, and leadership guidance for staff and trainees across disciplines. The psychologist participates in psychology training programs and committees, and may contribute to program evaluation, research, quality assurance, and outcome measurement. The role requires compliance with VA and Joint Commission procedures, coding and scheduling guidance, and requirements for protecting and retaining psychological assessment materials and patient information.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and approval. The program may provide up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement over an approved period of one to five years. Applicants must submit an application within four months of appointment. Former EDRP participants are ineligible for the incentive.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program accredited by APA, PCSAS, or CPA at the time of completion; qualifying alternatives include an eligible doctoral degree with an approved accredited re-specialization program, or certain doctoral degrees awarded from 1951 through 1978.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated APA, CPA, or qualifying VHA requirements, unless an outlined exception applies.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying non-licensed applicants may be appointed temporarily as graduate psychologists under supervision for up to two years.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
• GS-11: No experience beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-12: At least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the specified knowledge and abilities in psychological treatments and assessment, treatment strategy design, clinical procedures, and applicable research skills.
• GS-13: At least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the specified advanced clinical, consultation, research, scientific reporting, and research mentoring knowledge and abilities.
• Meet pre-employment requirements, including applicable background/security investigation, drug testing for testing-designated positions, physical examination, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Complete application requirements detailed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose mental disorders and provide treatment using individual, family, and group psychotherapy; triage and crisis management; and behavioral health and community interventions.
• Conduct psychological assessments, initial intakes, and biopsychosocial assessments, and develop treatment plans in accordance with Joint Commission and VA requirements and service or clinic procedures.
• Use measurement-based care through the Collect, Share, Act model in accordance with applicable requirements and procedures.
• Consult with VA staff, referring providers, teams, psychologists, peers, and supervisors on patient care issues.
• Protect testing materials and personally identifiable and protected health information; securely store and properly retain or dispose of psychological assessment data under VA records requirements.
• Participate in regularly scheduled program or clinic team meetings.
• Evaluate patients and determine disposition to VA treatment programs, community programs, or vocational placement; consult on complex vocational problems and place clinical referrals as indicated.
• Provide independent psychological services across levels of complexity and ensure coding and scheduling actions comply with applicable VA guidance.
• Obtain PMDB training as required by the workplace setting and annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment.
• Provide training and clinical supervision to staff and trainees, including graduate psychologists, psychology trainees, psychology technicians, psychiatry residents, and medical students.
• Participate in psychology training programs and training committees; provide leadership guidance and consultation to assigned unit staff and trainees.
• Contribute to program evaluation and research activities, program monitoring, and outcome measurement through data-driven quality assurance processes.
• Perform other activities as assigned by OKC VA Health Care System management.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with potential reimbursement up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, 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 family 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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