Summary

The full-time permanent Psychologist Clinician Investigator is located in the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS) and will conduct research including program evaluation with the Clinician Investigators Team (CIT) as a psychologist researcher. Additional clinical duties will be provided in the MHSL.

Qualifications

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:

• 1
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 2
• Education: 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
• 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: 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
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND Internship: 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
• 3
• 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
• Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• 4
• 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
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
• Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• 2
• Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
• 3
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• 4
• Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• 5
• Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - and collaboration
• GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) Experience
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• 2
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• 3
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled
• References: VA handbook 5005 Part II appendix G18
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Clinician Investigator: Will make scientific contributions to research projects with potential for substantial impact
• multiple publications in peer-reviewed professional literature - consistent record of presentation of findings at national scientific meetings - attainment of an academic appointment at the affiliated medical school - responsibility for multiple funded research projects The following accomplishments may include: Significant time devoted to research/program evaluation activities
• History and current activities demonstrate role as a principal investigator on research projects
• involvement in systematic program evaluation
• with regard to competitive intramural and/or extramural research awards demonstrate effectiveness in obtaining support
• History and current service demonstrate involvement in peer review for research grants and scientific journals
• local research committees and/or boards
• regional or national research committees and/or boards
• research committees and/or boards at an affiliated institution
• Number and types of peer-reviewed publications demonstrate effectiveness in submitting manuscripts leading to publication
• presentations at regional or national scientific meetings demonstrate effectiveness in dissemination of research findings to professional audiences
• Initially acquires Academic rank of Assistant Professor or equivalent at affiliated medical school or university and may request Associate Professor consideration as research career progresses
• Demonstrates responsibility for multi-project research programs
• Clinical Responsibilities: Within the scope of privileges granted - provides a full range of psychological services utilizing appropriate assessment instruments and structured interviews - generates psychological reports based on assessments - serves as a source of information in the use and interpretation of tests to make differential diagnoses - and provides consultation to other disciplines or units as requested
• patient care interventions - including individual - family - and group therapy - as well as specialized interventions
• When appropriate uses newly proven or evidence- based techniques
• Presents informed reports or educates multi-disciplinary teams
• Maintains currency with assessment and therapy techniques by reviewing and/or participating in research
• and by promoting - initiating - assisting or engaging in program evaluation and/or other basic and applied research activities
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation as required
• Academic/Teaching/Training: May hold faculty appointment at affiliated university Involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee
• Provides leadership guidance and consultation May be involved in the training of psychology practicum students - interns - and postdoctoral fellows Consultant to other medical center staff and trainees Other Significant Responsibilities: May serve on Medical Center - VISN - and national committees or task forces as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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: Telework - if approved - will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized