Job opening: Audiologist

Salary: $100 990 - 131 285 per year

City: Albany

Published at: Aug 23 2023

Company: Veterans Health Administration

Employment Type: Full-time

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Program at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York. The incumbent at this grade level must demonstrate advanced evidenced-based professional knowledge of, and skill in applying and mentoring, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies related to the practice of Audiology to a wide range of populations.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: The Audiologist at this level conducts, plans, and coordinates all advanced practice clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary audiology practice and serves as the subject matter expert in the standard and specialty areas related to Audiology. Clinical duties and responsibilities include: direct patient care involving a full range of audiology and balance evaluation and treatment services, including the selection and fitting of hearing aids and other amplification systems and devices, aural (auditory) rehabilitation, and counseling of hearing-impaired veterans and their family, as well as leadership in advanced evidence-based knowledge and practice related to specialty areas of Audiology. Duties also include mentorship and education of clinical and non-clinical staff and oversight of protocols and procedures in advance practices and specialty areas in the field of Audiology . The incumbent identifies and evaluates individuals with hearing disorders in the reception and perception of speech, language and other acoustic signals to a full range of patient complexity. Administers the full range of tests including the testing of vestibular nerve function; evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics. In addition, the incumbent develops, oversees, and provides advanced and specialty services in the field of Audiology, as well as the administration of patient-centered advanced practices. The incumbent is responsible for planning, delivering, and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered general and advanced treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions, as well as monitoring the competency of other staff Audiologists practices and procedures. The incumbent plans, conducts, and coordinates general and advanced practice auditory (aural) rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients; designs patient-centered treatment plans to assist patient and caregivers to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible of physical and social functioningand designs, monitors, and conducts a comprehensive hearing conservation program for employees at risk for noise exposure. The incumbent serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders. The incumbent will be responsible for evaluating, documenting, mentoring, and precepting staff Audiologists and Audiology Techs in general and advanced practice audiology. The incumbent may also provide instruction to residents and interns who seek information in relation to audiology. The incumbent will remain current with new developments and advanced theory and practices in audiology and will maintain professional competency by reading professional journals and engaging in continuing education activities and professional learning experiences, and by communicating with other professionals in the profession and related professions. In addition, the incumbent will train staff Audiologists and Audiology Techs as needed in new developments and advanced practices. Communication is required in this position and the incumbent will be expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meeting as appropriate, as well as actively participate in local VA and national VA meetings related to the field of Audiology. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing current policies and procedures in the field of Audiology, and ensuring staff education and adherence. The incumbent must also attend and provide in-service training when applicable. The incumbent will be responsible for the proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation. The incumbent must have a considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of both the clinical instruments as well as the calibration instruments. The incumbent will participate in research activities pertinent to clinical audiology. Although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting, the use of carefully executed audiologic procedures may be a part of a research design. The incumbent may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data. The incumbent may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of the work is not substantial. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/ registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required 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). Grade Determination: Audiologist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty program. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Audiologists (clinical specialists) provide leadership and direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the specialty program. They serve as coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and are responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. These individuals serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted. References: VA Handbook 5005/152, PART II APPENDIX, G29 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13

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.