Summary

**This announcement has been amended to change the closing date from 2/16/2026 to 2/17/2026** The North Florida South Georgia VA Healthcare System's Mental Health Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Psychology Program Manager- Substance Use Disorder. Our ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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.] AND (4) Internships (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 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.] c
• 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 and Loss of Credential (1) 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
• 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:(a) Experience
• At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.(b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:1
• Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet multiple deadlines.2
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools
• 3
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups.4
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• 5
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.6
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.7
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.(c) Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed to deliver specialized - complex - highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is 13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the 14
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply
• The Psychologist Program Coordinator (PPC) has responsibility for the day-to-day operations of SUD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs serving Veterans with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and those dually diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) - Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - and traditional outpatient services
• These programs provide specialized clinical care to Veterans with a wide range of SUDs - many with other co-occurring mental health and/or medical conditions
• Provision of substance use services is complex - with Veterans moving between varied levels of care as clinically appropriate
• Duties include but are not limited to: Ensures Veterans receive individual - case management - and group interventions from multidisciplinary team members
• Implement and facilitate educational and therapeutic group interventions each week for the purpose of providing comprehensive - recovery focused clinical interventions for the purpose of treating Veterans
• Works with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure the transition of Veterans moving across varied levels of care from inpatient - incarcerated - and outpatient settings
• Develop local policies - procedures - and protocols to enhance treatment programs and professional staff performance
• systems redesign to improve access - effective and efficient Veteran-centered care
• monitoring program outcomes for efficiency and productivity
• and space planning for maximal program accommodation
• The PPC has clinical and administrative responsibility of the daily operations of the Psychosocial Residential Recovery Treatment Program - PRRTP - and Substance Abuse Treatment Team (SATT) outpatient programs
• Outpatient and residential programs both utilize the services of a multi­ disciplinary staff to provide coordinated - integrated - rehabilitative - and recovery-oriented medical and mental health care to Veterans whose care needs are complex in nature - across multiple locations - some requiring supervision twenty-four (24) hours per day - seven days per week
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-430pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
• Functional Statement #:50769F Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized
• Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP
• Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more.