Social Worker (Program Manager)

Duties of the Social Worker (Program Manager) include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a member of the MHS Executive Team collaboratively working with the MHS ACOS and other MHS DACOS Discipline Leads to make informed service-level decisions compliant with national VISN and local facility directives handbooks policies and procedures.
• Serves as a champion for all National Directives related to patient care ensuring on-going service-level compliance to National Directives (i.e. same-day access to care suicide prevention etc.)
• Provides oversight/technical assistance to Mental Health Program Leaders on performance measures across MHS (i.e. SAIL ORYX HEDIS etc.)
• Provides administrative oversight to assigned programs within MHS including a large Domiciliary CAVHS Comprehensive Homeless Center and Day Treatment Center PRRC Recreational Therapy Services and Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services. This includes advising developing educating monitoring and working collaboratively with Program Leaders to develop action plans program criteria evaluate programs improve processes and negotiate with other internal/external departments and partners. Conducts regular briefings with assigned MHS Program Leaders to stay current on the status of assigned program and provide updates to MHS Executive Team and leadership
• Serves as a second- third- and fourth-line supervisor to staff in assigned programs
• Advises service-level and executive management on clinical or administrative issues within the assigned MHS programs and serves as a mentor to subordinates and peers and as a consultant to Mental Health and CAVHS Management
• Serves as an ambassador for MHS frequently representing MHS Leadership in facility meetings functions and committees. Working with internal/external stakeholders to gain feedback problem solve processes and improve services. Disseminates information in a timely efficient manner
• Frequently organizes congressional and White House responses and assists program leaders with complaint resolution
• Monitors the Patient Advocate Tracking System (PATS) daily; facilitating resolution of patient concerns suggestions and complaints
• Serves as the fiscal backup for the MHS Business Manager as an alternate Approving Official for purchase card holders IPPS payment system for contracts and approving official for contracting services
• Demonstrates high-level administrative skill in the provision of Social Work services and frequently collaborates with Social Work Services & Care Transitions (SWS&CT)Chief facility VISN and National Program Leaders to coordinate service provision by MHS Social
  Workers
• Oversees all aspects of Social Work education within MHS including MHS involvement in the SW&CT Service Internship program. Social Work Field Instructors report directly to the Social Work Discipline Lead on all aspects of Social Work Training

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service)
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.
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 $144000 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: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #:F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

• 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 evaluation.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Have a masters degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the masters degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
• Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
  
  Social Worker (Program Manager) GS-14
  • Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Individual may have certification or other post-masters degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.
  • Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
    1. Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites which includes consultation negotiation and monitoring.
    2. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
    3. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
    4. Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
    5. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed performance evaluations selection of staff training and recommendation of awards advancements and when appropriate disciplinary action.
    6. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls contracts and equipment expenditures) forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget.
    7. Skill in developing policies procedures and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.
    8. Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners locally and on a national level as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
  Preferred Experience:
  • Background in supervising multidisciplinary teams
  • Overseeing complex mental health programs within the VA or similar systems
  • Expertise in program management regulatory compliance qualify improvement and data-driven decision-making
  • Fostering Professional Development
  • Advocating for veteran-centered care
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • Communication mentoring and technical skills to ensure high standards in service provision continual process improvement and the advancement of social work practice across the organization
  Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit above full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.
  
  Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing lifting carrying sitting stooping bending puling and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.
  
  Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. However the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
  Additional information

  Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  
  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.
  
  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 applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

  Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

  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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  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.