Staff Psychologist (PCT)

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist (PCT) works primarily in an outpatient PTSD clinic, providing psychological services as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, licensed mental health professionals, nurses, psychology technicians, and other disciplines. Services include psychodiagnostic assessment, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and other psychological care. The psychologist may also provide coverage to assigned medical center units and programs, consistent with clinical privileges.

The position includes consulting with medical center staff and trainees about patients’ psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations, and participating in Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. The psychologist may represent psychology on assigned decision-making committees.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying non-licensed applicants may receive a temporary graduate psychologist appointment for up to two years and must practice under a licensed psychologist’s supervision.
• A qualifying doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited program, or an eligible doctoral degree and qualifying respecialization, or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the listed exceptions and grandfathering provisions.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities in psychological treatments and assessment, treatment strategy design, clinical procedures, and research activities or tasks as applicable.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the specified knowledge and ability to apply treatments across patient populations, provide professional consultation, and understand clinical research literature.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements. Applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• May be required to serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychodiagnostic assessments and a full range of psychological and psychotherapy services using appropriate techniques.
• Perform psychological evaluations for patients on assigned units.
• Provide therapeutic interventions to assigned medical center units and programs, including individual psychotherapy or counseling, vocational counseling, group therapy, family therapy or counseling, and crisis intervention.
• Administer and interpret objective and projective psychometric tests.
• Conduct program evaluation and psychological research, where applicable to assigned duties.
• Consult with medical center staff and trainees on patients’ psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations.
• Serve on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces.
• Represent psychology on assigned Medical Center or Healthcare System decision-making committees.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential award up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and approval.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days annual leave, 13 days 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 child care subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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