The incumbent is the Chief, responsible for overall planning, developing, implementing, directing, supervising, evaluating, and continuously updating vision and blindness rehabilitation services for the patients served by the Medical Center and patients referred from the Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN). The Chief is responsible for supervising all blind rehabilitation personnel in VISOR and the VIST Coordinator(s).

Duties

As Chief of the VISOR program, duties include management of the clinical aspects of the program: Managing all day-to-day routine operations of the VISOR program. Maintaining a screening process to manage, approve, disapprove applications to VISOR, as appropriate. Ensuring that program waiting list complies with VA requirements. Managing and coordinating patient participation in cooperation with other VAMC elements in VISN 2. Developing and implementing the individualized low vision rehabilitation experience for each veteran. Coordinating team meetings for planning and developing program goals and objectives for the program. Planning for and scheduling veterans within the program. Collaborating and consulting with Medical Center personnel regarding the veteran's care and needs for coordinated treatment, especially veterans with multiple disabilities. Planning work to be accomplished by program employees. Setting priorities and preparing schedules for completion of work. Assigning work to subordinates based upon priorities, with selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and capabilities of employees. Ensuring timely performance of a satisfactory amount and quality of work. Giving advice, counsel, or instructions to individual employees on both clinical and administrative matters. Identifying developmental and training needs of employees; providing or making provisions for identified development and training. Developing staff position descriptions and functional statements. Developing performance plans. Developing and evaluating performance standards (BRS, 601 Series and Hybrid Title 38 guidance). Managing the performance appraisal process. Managing the time and attendance process. Performing discipline and adverse action procedures. Managing issues related to complaints and grievances. Recruiting and selecting new staff. Developing and implementing Blind Rehabilitation policies and procedures in accordance with MCM policies and the evolving needs of the program, providing an organizational structure for service delivery. Staying current with all applicable laws, policies, and accreditation standards and applying these to program operations. Staying current with the latest methods and materials in the area of vision/blind rehabilitation. Employing tools for measuring program outcomes. Establishing and operating programs for continuous quality improvement. Designing new programs and refining existing programs that meet the changing needs of visually impaired veterans. Managing the program fund control point. Acting as the subject matter expert and a leader for vision/blind rehabilitation services, interacting with stakeholders on the national, state, local level including but not limiting; state/non-profit blind and visual impairment programs, ACVREP, AERBVI, and BVA (Blinded Veterans Association) as well as aging and rehabilitation agencies, civic groups, etc. Ensuring compliance with the medical center information security program and confidentiality of individual privacy. Ensuring effectiveness of VISOR medical record management. Assuming overall responsibility for service compliance with safety and infectious disease requirements and assures employees work in a safe, clean, infection-free environment. Ensuring program support for Medical Center Customer Service initiatives. Directing outreach efforts to identify eligible veterans for the program. Supporting the delivery of personalized, proactive, Veteran-centered care. Soliciting and respecting the Veteran's values, preferences, and needs. Supporting a holistic approach to whole person care. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 26728F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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: (a) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education. OR, (b) A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (a) above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: i. At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200- course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). ii. One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 -18 semester hours). iii. A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. iv. Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation. Certification: (1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Service Chief) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Ability to supervise, motivate, and manage effectively a diverse clinical staff applicable to a small Blind Rehabilitation Center or equivalent program. (b) Skill in assessing qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees. (c) Knowledge to apply administrative and human resources policies effectively. (d) Skill to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks and responsibilities, and manage and direct the work of others to accomplish program goals and missions. (e) Ability to adapt to new and changing work conditions, contingencies, and staffing. (f) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled service operations through technical direction, review, analyses and evaluation of program components including productivity, and ability to manage budgets. (g) Ability to provide consultation and promote best practice procedures in blind/vision rehabilitation nationally; and serve as a national leader in the field of blind/vision rehabilitation. Preferred Experience: Significant previous experience in Blind Rehabilitation, including leadership experience Experience supervising and motivating staff Knowledge of and ability to generate policies/procedures within guidelines of CARF, JCAHO and VACO Excellent administrative abilities References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/109, PART II, APPENDIX G41 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, and bending/stooping.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Kelli Bencic
• Phone: 716-458-6982
• Email: [email protected]