The Personnel Psychologist is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Office of Mission Support (OMS). The Personnel Psychologist is responsible for administrative and clinical aspects of the Workplace Violence Prevention Program within VBA to include Behavior Threat Assessment Team(s), Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior Training, Disruptive Behavior Reporting and Recording, and the Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment.

Duties

The incumbent is responsible for creating, coordinating, and leading diverse, inter and multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team(s). Serves as the Chair of the BTAT(s), and thus is responsible for maintaining proficiency in evidence-based behavioral threat assessments and management practices. The incumbent oversees the functions of BTAT, including obtaining incident reports and delegating cases to team members; assembles all available information regarding any alleged disruptive or threatening Employee, Visitors, and Volunteer behavior; determines whether the reported disruptive behavior poses a safety threat to individuals and the workplace. Make risk mitigation recommendations to the Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Manager and the Director of Operations, Safety, Security, and Preparedness to manage the safety threat posed by the reported behaviors. The BTAT represents a strategy for assessing and proactively addressing Employee, Visitors, and Volunteer ­ generated violence. The incumbent conducts and delegates behavioral threat assessments to inform recommendations for individualized risk mitigation strategies. Consults with the threat assessment team members and other appropriate experts, informing and providing risk-relevant clinical interventions in cases of disruptive or violent behavior history. Provides timely and accurate responses to action items and recommendations made by the threat assessment team(s); and ensures ongoing training of team members in evidence-based threat assessment and threat management practice. Provides updates and submits WVP-related work products to Leadership when requested. The incumbent serves as a Facility Administrator for Disruptive Behavior Reporting and Recording. Is responsible for collecting, quickly communicating, and managing disruptive incident information at VBA facilities and out-based offices. Is responsible for responding to FOIA and Congressional requests and inquiries directed to the BTAT. The incumbent will also submit an annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment (WBRA) which provides data for each fiscal year to Leadership. The incumbent will independently develop, provide, and oversee staff training as well as standard operation procedures (SOPs) to VBA personnel on various OSH programs and/or PMDB Training, and/or WVP. The Psychologist Program Specialist is responsible for aligning local program implementation with national best practice guidelines. The incumbent seeks national guidance regarding disruptive individuals in the workplace, behavior risk and threat management recommendations, and strategies to promote a culture of safety in VBA. Also maintains a close working relationship with community partners in public safety and organizational safety. The incumbent maintains a primary responsibility for the development and implementation of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) for Workplace Violence Prevention. Works effectively with several different services and programs (i.e., Safety Office, Central Office Leadership, Regional Office Leadership, and others) to develop specific procedures designed to promote the safety of VBA. Has oversight and administrative authority over all programming and participates in program development, implementation, and evaluation. Works closely with leadership to develop strategic plans for the growth and development of WVP and ensures that VBA is in full compliance with all VA directives and regulations. The Psychologist Program Specialist is responsible for reporting required data to VBA and other monitoring entities as well as submitting internal and external surveys and reviews. Promotion Potential: GS-13 is the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: At discretion of agency. Telework: Yes; At discretion of agency. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Personnel Psychologist; #39699-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 03/22/2024. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees, former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, or a current federal employee applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment must meet time in grade requirements. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. NOTE: This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, or applicants applying for consideration under Non-Competitive Authority (i.e.... "30% or more Disability", VRA, and/or Schedule A). To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization to include all: as described below: Basic Requirements Degree: major or equivalent in psychology for all specializations except clinical psychology and counseling psychology. These two specializations have additional educational requirements, as stated below: Clinical psychology: For positions at grades GS-11 and above, satisfactory completion of all the requirements for the doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required. Counseling psychology: For positions at grades GS-9 and above, satisfactory completion of 2 full academic years of graduate study directly related to professional work in counseling psychology, or satisfactory completion in an accredited educational institution of all the requirements for a master's degree directly related to counseling psychology is required. AND; GS-13 Grade Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization to include all: Experience in the visualization of complex processes and procedures to facilitate communication of concepts, programs, projects, and systems to the senior leadership paired with expert presentation, persuasion, and team-building skills. Experience in developing and coordinating long- and short-range strategic goals for organizational and departmental efficiency and effectiveness. Experience in the application of knowledge and skill sufficient to formulate new concepts, principles, and methods, and advise top agency management officials on the development and implementation of policy and procedures related to organizational, departmental, or public-sector's mission and goals. Experience managing program evaluations, development of reports on program status and management of data systems for the program, and the provision of information and advice to senior leadership. Experience in coordinating and responding appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others; adjusts approaches to suit different people and situations. Supports a professional working environment that is professionally courteous, and effective in team building and promoting organizational stewardship and cohesiveness. Demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of Industrial and Organizational psychology. Experience in an in-depth knowledge of measurement theory, psychometric methodology, and statistics to conduct scientific analyses that address areas of critical importance to major agency programs or issues in the professional field of Industrial and Organizational psychology. Knowledge and skill in the use of statistical software packages and other graphics software sufficient to conduct the above analyses. Examples may include: Being recognized as a technical authority, interpreting laws, rules, regulations, and/or guidelines; developing research plans and hypotheses, and implementing and carrying them through to completion; designing potential solutions and developing action plans in accordance with generally accepted psychological theories, methods, techniques, and practices; conducting research projects and development projects that require the application of the latest findings and methodologies in the field of personnel psychology; and/or leading or managing projects with service-wide impact, and/or on a nationwide basis. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: Work may require walking, lifting, and standing. You may be required travel to attend meetings, conferences, and away from the work site. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.

Contacts

• Address VBA Human Resources Center - Central Office 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: Yvonda Price
• Phone: 4102304400
• Email: [email protected]