The position of Cochlear Implant Program Manager is located in the Audiology Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R) in the VA Southern Nevada California Health Care System (VASNHCS). The work location will primarily be the Medical Center of VASNHCS but may require travel to Primary Care Clinics and Community Based Outreach Clinics which are part of VASNHCS.

Duties

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. PST; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 02799F Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not require: Not Required The functions of the Cochlear Implant Program Manager are comprised of administrative, educational, and clinical duties. The incumbent must demonstrate an advanced knowledge of contemporary audiology practice, especially regarding assessment and management of patients presenting with complex disorders arising from significant hearing loss and requiring a cochlear implant. The incumbent is responsible for directing the program of clinical service for patients who require cochlear implants. This process involves multiple management activities, collaboration with clinical staff in other services, complex clinical decision-making, and analysis of patient assessment data and program data. A relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in audiology amplification assessment and management for patients who receive cochlear implants and their families. Uses advanced knowledge in the focused area of cochlear implants in contemporary audiology practice to make clinical decisions and patient management recommendations. Provides quarterly reports to staff on the status and outcomes of the cochlear implant program ensuring that program objectives are achieved and that the status of the program is monitored. Ensures that best practices in cochlear implant assessment, treatment and clinical problem-solving are implemented, including educating other staff members in appropriate referral criteria and guidelines, current technology, cochlear implant mapping skills, rehabilitation and outcome assessment. Adjusts assessment techniques and treatments to accommodate program goals based on current information and new concepts and research pertaining to the nature and treatment of patients with cochlear implants, and advanced device technology. Oversees coordination of care between the cochlear implant mapping-only sites and the host cochlear implant site, making adjustments as needed for the continued success of the program. Directs the Audiology Section Cochlear Implant Program Secures and maintains the work area and equipment to provide a clean, safe and therapeutic environment and to prevent loss and misuse of equipment and supplies. Facilitates meetings of the cochlear implant team in the Audiology Section, Speech-Language Pathology Section and other clinical services to provide interdisciplinary treatment. Assists audiology colleagues who manage or coordinate treatment for patients who have cochlear implants. Assesses the degree and nature of hearing loss requiring cochlear implants: identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals. Plans, coordinates and implements a full range of patient focused treatment services designed to optimize function of implanted devices and assure proper follow up care. Evaluates functional status of cochlear implants and implantable devices before and after intervention using electrical analysis and functional measurements. Coordinates care for veterans requiring cochlear implants and provides comprehensive clinical services to manage the care of veterans with cochlear implants or other implantable hearing devices: evaluation assessments, device selection, fitting orientation, training and follow up services. Provides continuing education and training, assessment and treatment advice, and assists colleagues as needed in coordinating care for patients who have complex cochlear implant requirements. Confers with clinical peers in all VA SNHCS audiology and speech-language pathology clinics to coordinate cochlear implant services and device selection and use for patients. Leads or participates in interdisciplinary collaboration with other medical services, primarily ENT, regarding assessment and treatment for veterans requiring cochlear implants. Develops and expands telehealth assessment and treatment for patients with cochlear implants. Expands remote hearing aid programming capability for veterans wearing hearing aids and with implantable devices. Maintains active participation in VISN and national cochlear implant clinical teams. Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

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: Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. "Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science. Licensure: For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above). Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Audiologist must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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). All audiologists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following additional criteria must be met: GS-13 - Audiologist Program Manager: Licensure: Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Education and Experience: Completion of 1 year of professional experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) directly related to the position being filled and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for the assignment and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs as indicated by an asterisk (*). Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as advice on work methods, practices and procedures; Ability to apply appropriate problem solving methods and techniques; * Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate program quality to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met; and make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities; and Ability to serve as facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating initiatives and consensus building activities among clinical team members with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Audiologist program managers are responsible for providing comprehensive clinical services as well as ensuring that the work assignments of the other members of the clinical team are carried out by performing a range of duties such as distributing and balancing workload among employees in accordance with established work flow or job specialization; assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned workload; assessing the status, quality, and progress of work, making day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities; obtaining assistance from supervisors or managers on problems that may arise. In the absence of a supervisory audiologist, audiologist program managers oversee the professional practice of peers. References: VA Handbook 5005/38, Part II, Appendix G29, Audiologist Qualification Standard, GS-0665, Veterans Health Administration, dated August 24, 2010 Preferred Experience: Cochlear Implant Certification by VHA Cochlear Implant Advisory Board Minimum of 3 years of independent Cochlear Implant experience with the VHA Minimum of 1 year program management experience The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Las Vegas VA Medical Center 6900 North Pecos Road North Las Vegas, NV 89086 US
• Name: Allison Hoffman
• Phone: 304-350-2062
• Email: [email protected]