Psychology Program Manager - BHIP

The Psychology Program Manager oversees a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) at a specific Montana VA Healthcare System site(s), managing clinical and specialty programs and supervising a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include program development, resource allocation, policy implementation, outcome monitoring, staff supervision, and providing expert guidance on behavioral health.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Administrative Responsibilities Oversee multiple clinical programs for Veterans, including the development, implementation, evaluation, and management of operational policies and procedures.

Lead multidisciplinary teams (psychologists, physicians, social workers, nurses, etc.) in delivering comprehensive clinical care. Conduct ongoing program evaluations and quality improvement projects; monitor and ensure effectiveness of clinical operations.

Organize and lead team meetings; facilitate case management and adherence to administrative requirements. Monitor provider workload, productivity, and access standards; distribute reports and adjust priorities as needed. Maintain liaisons with VA health care programs and external partners for optimal service coordination.

Supervise staff recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and performance, including addressing conflicts and disciplinary actions. Ensure appropriate patient care coverage and approve leave requests for supervised staff. Recommend performance awards and complete administrative paperwork promptly and accurately.

Allocate resources and oversee program development and survey readiness; ensure compliance with accreditation standards (TJC, CARF). Protect sensitive data in accordance with federal privacy and confidentiality statutes. Interpret and use data to guide decision-making and ensure achievement of performance metrics.

Lead staff meetings and Behavioral Health leadership sessions; serve as a contact for unresolved conflicts and problem solving. Collaborate with section administrative partners to meet HR, space, budget, and support needs. Directly supervise Outpatient Mental Health programs and provide clinical consultation to interdisciplinary teams.

Attend required administrative meetings, trainings, and committees. Clinical Responsibilities Independently perform psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for Veterans. Educate patients and families about mental health; consult with care providers for coordinated treatment.

Develop, implement, and document individualized treatment plans for assigned caseloads. Complete required documentation and meet clinical workload expectations. Adhere to clinical, ethical, and documentation standards; assume full responsibility as a licensed MTVAHCS Medical Staff member.

Education and Training Provide clinical supervision, consultation, and instruction to psychology trainees and other healthcare trainees. May serve as faculty at local universities and participate in professional organization leadership roles. Other Responsibilities Serve on various committees, workgroups, and task forces as needed.

Maintain a current, unrestricted state driver's license. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: May be available at supervisory discretion.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Rita.Owens@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be available at supervisory discretion.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55257-A

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: Education Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed.

The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills.

Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science.

CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment.

Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology).

OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re- specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re- specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship.

OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND Internships Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96- 151 (pre- 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

(NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally- accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program.

If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.

Licensure Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Board Certification Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education. Loss of Credential Once board certified, psychologist must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment.

A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists.

Grade Determinations: Psychology Program Manager, GS-14 Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.

Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.

Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This vacancy is being announced above the full performance level at a GS-14. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary.

Some work may require movement between offices, hospital, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

The incumbent must possess a current Driver's License and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.