Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Program Manager - Substance Use Disorder
- Assumes under direct supervision the responsibility for the coordination & management of outpatient substance use treatment services offered by the VA WCHCS.
- Supervises & assumes responsibility for all outpatient SUD clinical & administrative operations under the direct supervision of the SUD Program manager.
- Plans, supervises, executes, and monitors all activities carried out by the Outpatient SUD Program.
- Provides care to the region's eligible Veterans, many of whom have complex needs that include serious & persistent mental health, medical, & psychosocial problems.
- Responsible for multiple performance areas within the Outpatient SUD Program.
- Leads a multidisciplinary team, to include psychologists, social workers, nurses, & other health care professionals. Leads regularly scheduled staff meetings.
- Responsible for the oversight of the Outpatient SUD operational policies & procedures, with the approval of the SUD Program Manager.
- Conducts ongoing program evaluation & data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s).
- Organizes & leads leadership team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, & the adherence to administrative demands.
- Monitors & distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders & ensures provider adherence to workload standards.
- Plans work to be accomplished by team members, including establishing priorities, timelines for completion, & necessary adjustments therein.
- Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team, in accordance with local & national policies.
- Initiates & maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
- Monitors compliance of team members with VA performance measures & effectively shapes provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures.
- Provides clinical supervision, as appropriate, to assigned team members regarding adherence to VA WCHCS medico-legal stands & policies, documentation of CPRS procedures, & the clinical management of difficult, complex, & dangerous patients.
- Assists in the hiring of new staff members for the Outpatient SUD Program, to include constructing job announcement(s), preparing functional statements, &/or selecting final job candidates.
- Resolves conflicts among assigned staff (both leadership & line staff), adjudicates complaints & problems of employees in a timely & effective manner.
- Functions as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders & provides input on the performance evaluations for administrative staff within the section.
- Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely & effective manner.
- Initiates performance awards for outstanding employees & completes administrative paperwork with both accuracy & timeliness.
- Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave. Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision.
- Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs for effective continuity of care & coordinate services.
- Ensures optimal collaboration between Outpatient SUD Program & other VA WCHCS SUD Programs, to include effective communication, resource sharing, permeability, & transitional/stepped level of care.
- Attends & participates in administrative & informational meetings held by the Psychosocial Services Section Chief, Mental Health Chief, Chief of Staff, &/or Facility Director.
- Attends Mental Health leadership meetings as designated by the Chief of Mental Health Service.
- Attends recurring Mental Health Service meetings & trainings.
- Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts & confidentiality statutes.
- Allocates resources within the Mental Health Service, based on a data-driven decision making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization & Service Line.
- Oversees survey readiness for the Outpatient SUD Program, in collaboration with the SUD Program Manager, Mental Health Leadership, & the QM Manager.
- Oversees & collaborates with Outpatient SUD team to ensure success on facility & Mental Health performance metrics.
- Completes suspense actions related to the management area.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
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.
English Language Proficiency
Must be proficient in spoken & written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.
Education
- Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling;
- Hold a master's or doctoral degree in related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, & Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/.
LicensurePersons hired must hold a full, current, & unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.
Grade Determinations:
GS-13 Experience
In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
- Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
- Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
- Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
- Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.
Preferred Experience: Knowledge of treatment of substance use disorders, harm reduction philosophy and principles of recovery, and experience in managing a multidisciplinary team. Supervisory experience preferred.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer. Perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of others. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
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: . 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: .
Additional information
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit at .
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
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.
English Language Proficiency
Must be proficient in spoken & written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.
Education
- Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling;
- Hold a master's or doctoral degree in related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, & Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/.
LicensurePersons hired must hold a full, current, & unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.
Grade Determinations:
GS-13 Experience
In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
- Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
- Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
- Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
- Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.
Preferred Experience: Knowledge of treatment of substance use disorders, harm reduction philosophy and principles of recovery, and experience in managing a multidisciplinary team. Supervisory experience preferred.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer. Perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of others. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
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: . 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: .
Additional information
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit at .