Social Worker (Deputy District Director)

This Social Worker (Deputy District Director) position is with Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Phoenix, AZ. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Key duties: • Selected employee must be located within 50 miles of a VA facility within the District 5 catchment area and have space available for assignment. Specifically New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California. The Deputy District Director is expected to exercise considerable independent judgment in placing into operation all VA, VHA and RCS policies and guidance. Because the Deputy District Director has major management and developmental responsibilities for a highly innovative program, the individual must exercise considerable independent judgment to determine the most effective means of completing assignments and responding to management needs as they arise. Service Chiefs have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, program criteria, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements. The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Formulates and implements major operating policies and plans for effective governance of an organized and interdependent but decentralized readjustment counseling service delivery system. Understands and effectively solves extremely complicated and multifaceted issues that arise from providing quality readjustment counseling services across an area with differing local Veteran population needs. Develops annual business plans supporting long- and short-range strategies, including planning for appropriate staffing and funding requirements for Vet Centers and any required creation of new facilities or relocation of existing facilities to better serve eligible Veterans, Service members, and their families. Allocates and adjusts resources, to include personnel, equipment, and funding, within the area of responsibility insuring adequate support for all operating initiatives. Develops and executes budgets which are based on effective controls and realistic projections. Identifies and communicates a clear strategy and vision to their respective Vet Centers consistent with their RCS District Director strategic plan and VA, VHA, RCS Policy and Guidance. Achieves objectives in quality of readjustment counseling services and programs for their respective Vet Centers, as evaluated by internal indicators (both standardized measures and those created by the incumbent), oversight protocols, and client satisfaction feedback. Develops an effective management team and with their respective Vet Center Team Leaders by advising, counseling, and evaluating performance. Ensures that their readjustment counseling and support service goals are attained through effective organizational structures, human resource policies, staffing and funding levels, partnership relationships and outcome measurement. Encourages employee training and development opportunities, including mentoring and succession planning, consistent with diversity goals. Fosters a smooth functioning, efficient organization through proactive management; timely resolution of problems; and personal competence, flexibility, and willingness to manage corporate change. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm. Evenings and weekends may be required Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@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: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 88975A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Qualifications: BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). b. Education. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. c. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).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). Preferred Experience: Experience leading geographically dispersed, multi-site healthcare or behavioral health operations, supervising managers and interdisciplinary teams; managing workforce qualify and operational performance; implementing improvement and strategic initiatives in complex healthcare organization; use data to drive organizational performance. Experience in serving veterans or working within VA is preferred Grade Determinations: Social Worker, Supervisory (Program Manager) GS-14 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Oversee the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty treatment program located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility; responsible for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing, work assignments, budget, treatment services provided, and admission criteria for the program; have full responsibility for all phases of service delivery for a major specialty program; responsible for the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Licensure/Certification: The chief social worker must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development. Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Preferred Experience: Experience leading geographically dispersed, multi-site healthcare or behavioral health operations, supervising managers and interdisciplinary teams; managing workforce qualify and operational performance; implementing improvement and strategic initiatives in complex healthcare organization; use data to drive organizational performance. Experience in serving veterans or working within VA is preferred 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-14. Physical Requirements: Due to the widespread geographical area of responsibility, the position requires a commitment of at least fifty percent travel. The position requires that the incumbent must possess a valid driver's license. Completing of his/her supervisory and oversight functions involves driving long distances between Vet Centers and other VA or community partner facilities. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.