Summary

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.

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: (1) Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) - the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) - or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed
• The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• For the purpose of meeting this requirement - the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills
• Currently - APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology - counseling psychology - school psychology - or combinations of two or more of those areas
• PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science
• CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology - counseling psychology - clinical neuropsychology - and school psychology
• There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist
• therefore - an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment
• Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA - there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology)
• OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and - in addition - successfully complete a re- specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re- specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and - (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards
• OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship: (a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• OR (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement - provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern
• OR (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time - one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96- 151 (pre- 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement
• OR (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• (NOTE: Once board certified - the employee is required to maintain board certification.) Licensure: Hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia 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 Determinations: Psychology Program Manager GS-14 Grade Requirements: (a) Experience
• At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1
• Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet multiple deadlines
• 2
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools
• 3
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups
• 4
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• 5
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• 6
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards
• 7
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• 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: Light lifting (under 15 lbs) - light carrying (under 15 lbs) - use of fingers - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other - hearing (aid permitted) - emotional stability - mental stability - working closely with others - and working alone.

Duties

• ** A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for a well qualified applicant** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 26 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 29 - 2026
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals until positions are filled
• Note: Closing date of announcement has been extended from 2/20/2026 to 6/26/2026
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The VA Central California Health Care System is recruiting for a Psychologist General Mental Health Program Manager - now known as the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Manager
• The FRE-BHIP Program Manager is responsible for organizing - directing - supervising - and administering all aspects of the Fresno BHIP Programming
• The incumbent exercises very wide latitude and independent judgment in decisions in establishing program direction and goals for this program
• The work of this position is highly complex - involving program management skills - supervisory - skills - and intensive clinical services - all of which require the exercise of skillful - independent judgment and flexible use of a wide range of professional abilities
• The incumbent is responsible for assessing and identifying programming and processes that can aid in\\ improving SAIL metrics that are directly applicable to the Fresno BHIP
• The incumbent directly or indirectly supervises all Fresno BHIP providers in the system and serves as Psychology Executive of the psychologists for their discipline requirements (e.g. - FPPE/OPPE) within the FRE-BHIP Program
• The incumbent serves as a member of the MH Program Manager Committee aimed at improving MH processes and MH collaborative care - including improvement of all SAIL metrics
• The incumbent advises the Deputy Chief of Mental Health - Chief of Mental Health Services - facility leadership - program managers - and staff concerning FRE-BHIP services at the individual patient level and for the facility and the Veteran community
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@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: May be authorized by supervisor on a limited ad hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 07530F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized