Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager)

The incumbent is responsible for the full scope of PCMHI operations including clinical programming policy and procedure development staff supervision quality improvement resource allocation and coordination with Primary Care and Mental Health leadership. The position requires independent decision-making expert clinical judgment and the ability to implement both short- and long-term program goals aligned with facility VISN and national Mental Health priorities.

Duties include however not limited to:

• Overseeing daily operations ensuring all Office of Mental Health and facility performance metrics access expectations and national PCMHI directives are met.
• Conducting needs assessments identifying gaps in service delivery and initiating program improvements.
• Developing updating and implementing PCMHI policies procedures workflows and clinical pathways.
• Allocating and monitoring resources to ensure optimal staffing productivity and workload balance.
• Facilitating collaboration between PCMHI PACT Outpatient Mental Health and other interdisciplinary stakeholders.
• Participating in organizational strategic planning providing expert guidance on PCMH integration Suicide Prevention initiatives Whole Health alignment and mental health access expansion.
• Monitoring quality outcomes through data-driven evaluation and ensuring timely completion of reports audits NEPEC submissions and other required documentation.
• Serving as the PCMHI liaison to Primary Care leaders attending interdisciplinary leadership meetings contributing to PACT strategic planning and resolving operational challenges collaboratively.
• Participating in required facility committees including but no limited to Mental Health ICC and Primary Care ICC

• 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.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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: The basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(11). To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must:

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II Chapter 3 Section A paragraph 3.g.).

English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3.j

Education. Hold a masters or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and 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 and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.

Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full current and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor which includes diagnosis and treatment.

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: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager) GS-13

Experience Education and Licensure. 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.

Assignments. LPMHCs manage the daily operations of multiple programs develop and implement program policies and procedures or serve as chief or principal counselor to a number of LPHMCs. They are responsible for oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes. They prepare reports and statistics for facility VISN and national leadership. Decisions may affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. They may be responsible for the programs budget. They may also supervise employees assigned to the program.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
1. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
2. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
3. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
4. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical training or administrative programs.

Preferred Experience: Experience in violence risk assessment and workplace violence prevention is preferred. Experience in program coordination preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.