Details
Posted: 31-Jul-22
Location: Bronx, New York
Salary: Open
Categories:
Psychology
Internal Number: 661961900
The James J. Peters VAMC is currently recruiting for the position of Director of the Mental Illness, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) service. This position may be filled by a Social worker, Registered Nurse, Psychologist or Physician. MIRECC is an international leader in research and treatment of Severe Mental Illness (SMI). The Center pursues a discovery-to-recovery approach to determine the causes, identify predictors, and develop treatments for individuals with SMI. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: US Citizen 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 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. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] 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. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Senior Psychologist Program Manager, GS-15 Experience. At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-14 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Skill in managing and directing the work of large, complex organizational units and in applying effective management practices. 2. Skill in persuasion, negotiation, and motivation to negotiate multiple program policies. 3. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees and other managers using advanced consultation and problem solving skills. 4. Skill in the application and analysis of measurement tools to systems issues. 5. Ability to balance responsibilities in a complex environment and to work with great autonomy; ability to set priorities and delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze complex organizational problems; and ability to develop and implement effective solutions for those problems. 6. Ability to assess need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic contexts. 7. Ability to coordinate the efforts of multiple program elements across a complex system. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 The full performance level of this occupational series is GS-13 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-15. ["The Director has full programmatic authority for all professional, management and administrative aspects of MIRECC which is a complex research, education, and clinical program having ongoing funded research studies and education/clinical projects and programs. The Director oversees and directs research projects, educational programs, and clinical demonstration programs. MIRECC consists of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, educators and clinicians whose goal is to understand and improve VA's care for those affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Director conducts scientific research and is a recognized expert with a national and international reputation in these areas, which includes a significant track record of grant funding, publications, and related professional activities. Duties performed by the Director require skill in directing and effectively managing the work of a complex organizational unit. The incumbent must balance responsibilities in a complex environment and use a high level of autonomy to organize work, set priorities and program goals, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and meet facility performance objectives. Skills are required in analyzing and finding solutions to organizational/systems problems as well as negotiate changes to multiple program policies as necessary. These skills include the ability to adapt to changing work environments with fluid program demands, staffing requirements, and emerging patient care characteristics. Given the multiple elements of neurobiological and psychosocial research, educational, and clinical programs the Director must have the ability to assess basic and complex challenges and coordinate efforts across this complex system. The Director must be highly proficient in relating to superiors, peers, and subordinates to and negotiate and implement program policies and find solutions to personnel and organizational challenges. The position requires an extensive background in mental health sciences including knowledge of new developments or of experimental theories. This position requires the mastery of planning principles, concepts, policies, techniques, and procedures to coordinate and make recommendations in the development of long- and short- range program and evaluation plans, and to coordinate the monitoring of program and resource activities against these plans. Has supervisory responsibility for subordinates and all professional, management, and administrative aspects of MIRECC. Responsibilities include development and implementation of programs, policies and procedures, oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and investigators progress or lack thereof and monitoring of program outcomes and productivity standards for multiple professional disciplines within MIRECC.\nHas wide latitude and uses independent judgment in the supervision and resource management involving major decisions and work activity that can significantly affect/improve the VA's ability to provide comprehensive patient care services to Veterans. Effectively manages and directs the work of others within a complex organization to accomplish program goals and objectives and devise ways to adapt work operations to new and changing programs, staffing, and budget requirements. Supervises operational resource management, including staffing requirements, space, equipment, projects and supplies in line with strategic goals of MIRECC. Is responsible for MIRECC operational planning, evaluating data, resolving issues/problems, budget and resource monitoring, and budget implications. Decisions affect staff and resources associated with the MIRECC program. Ensures that all research activities conducted by personnel with MIRECC support have been reviewed and approved by the relevant VA Institutional Review Boards and Research & Development Committees. Has full responsibility for oversight of the professional practice of mental health research to ensure that all investigators and staff in MIRECC meet the qualification standards for their discipline. Actively engages in and supports MIRECC scientific research programs, including responsibility (personally or assigned) for accomplishing the evaluation process. Develops policies, procedures and criteria for administration of the MIRECC Research program, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies and monitoring entities, as appropriate. Work Schedule: PT 25 hours a week, days are negotiable\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]