Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Coatesville, PA

12d

About The Position

This staff psychologist position is part of the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program and provides comprehensive, evidence-based treatment to veterans with complex mental health conditions, including substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders. The position may be filled at GS-11 through GS-13; GS-13 is the full-performance level. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework is available, but this is not a virtual position.

The role requires a doctoral degree in psychology meeting VA accreditation or grandfathering criteria, a qualifying professional psychology internship, and a full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license. Certain otherwise eligible non-licensed applicants may receive a temporary graduate psychologist appointment and must practice under licensed supervision while obtaining licensure. Grade placement depends on relevant professional experience and demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The position may support program evaluation or research and may support the psychology internship through seminars or direct supervision. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and approval; the potential award is up to $200,000. Recruitment or relocation incentives might be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Permanent Change of Station relocation assistance is not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; or an eligible doctoral degree with an approved re-specialization; or a qualifying doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment, subject to the stated VA alternatives and exceptions.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, unless eligible for the stated temporary graduate psychologist appointment.
• 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.
• For GS-12, at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities; no experience beyond basic requirements is required for GS-11.
• For GS-13, at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Complete required background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, drug screening when applicable, online onboarding, and other application and pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience and training in evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives might be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose mental disorders.
• Conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments.
• Treat mental disorders using a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders.
• Provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy, and interventions such as biofeedback, psychological hypnosis, and environmental interventions.
• Consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient-care issues.
• Participate in program evaluation and/or research activities, as applicable.
• Support the psychology internship through participation in seminars or direct supervision of interns, as applicable.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or special VA needs.
• 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.
• 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 after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• 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.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives might be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

What This Job Offers

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