The incumbent serves as the Associate Chief of Staff of the Mental Health (ACOS MH) for the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). This position reports directly to the Chief of Staff (COS). They will be responsible for setting overall goals for the Mental Health Care Line that comply and support Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and VASDHS strategic goals & objectives. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Licensure. Applicants must 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. Basic Education. (1) 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, (2) 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. [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, (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship. (a) 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, (b) 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, (c) 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, (d) 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, (e) 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. 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: GS-15: Experience: At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-14 level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to supervise and manage a large group of professional staff effectively. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with supervisors from other units. Ability to accurately apply the qualification standards, assesses the potential of current and prospective employees, and promotes their professional development. Ability to develop appropriate productivity standards for professional staff, often across multiple program lines. Knowledge of the goals and objectives of the medical center and VISN and ability to communicate these to subordinates. Preferred Experience: Three years supervisory experience in a Mental Health or healthcare setting. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-15. Physical Requirements: Most work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts and the work is generally sedentary. The position will require some physical effort such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, typing, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, books, or reports that do not require special physical demands. ["The incumbent is ultimately responsible for overall MHCL clinical and administrative operations currently structured around a hybrid Care Line Model that is veteran-centric and recovery-oriented. The MHCL is an interdisciplinary service and its hybrid organizational structure aligns with distinct roles and responsibilities for the ACOS MHCL, Deputy ACOSs for the MHCL, service chiefs and discipline leads (psychiatry and psychology chiefs, associate nurse executive for mental health, and mental health social work program coordinator), and section chiefs overseeing 8 functionally distinct sections across the continuum of care from inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health care to primary care mental health integration and other mental health services embedded in non-mental health settings. Responsibilities include system operations of inpatient acute care, emergency/crisis care, residential care, outpatient clinics, community-based programs, patient/customer satisfaction, staff satisfaction, and successful attainment of VASDHS, VISN and VHA performance measures, and efficient and effective service delivery and resource management. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Direct all activities of the Mental Health Care Line to include budget and fiscal management, human resource management, strategic planning, clinical end administrative program development, management and evaluation of services and programs, and ensuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimal mental health care to veteran in the context of appropriate utilization of resources. Establish MHS objectives congruent with and reflective of the philosophy and objectives of VA, VHA, VISN, and VASDHS. Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate complex integrated mental health programs. Provide oversight of the comprehensive inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health care for Veteran's diagnosed with acute and chronic mental health and/or substance use disorders. Provide direct and indirect oversight to the educational and research missions of the MHCL. Collaborate with senior management officials and service chiefs to negotiate, persuade, decide on, and coordinate work related changes affecting the operations of the MHCL. Represent VASDHS on issues within his/her purview at meetings, conferences, community events, etc. Plan and direct the administrative and technical aspects of personnel management, coordinating such functions through subordinate managers. Utilize sound management practices, using knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, supporting the partnership process with employee unions by actively seeking opportunities to develop productive labor relations, and is guided by ethical standards of his or her profession. Accountable for all applicable VA performance measures and responsible for quality improvement activities within mental health, using data tools for collection and analysis. Collaborate with senior management officials including the Chief of Organizational Improvement and Quality Management to ensure compliance with applicable performance measures and practice standards. Shares responsibility with the Chief of Staff for monitoring Patient Safety and Risk Management issues in Mental Health. Responsible for a multi-million dollar budget, including staffing of about 600 FTEE, equipment, leases, non-VA care services, contract funds, etc. Identify need for and recommend major equipment acquisition and replacement with consideration being given to timeliness of acquisition and cost effectiveness of new equipment. Work with Human Resource Management Service in the employment of Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38 staff. Provide direct services to patients and their families utilizing a comprehensive range of techniques, skills, and resources. Work with subordinates to ensure optimal utilization of training resources, if appropriate, and high quality training is provided within the outpatient MHCL units. Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, PST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to a highly qualified candidate Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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