Speech Pathologist

The speech-language pathologist at this level conducts plans and coordinates all clinical and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary speech-language pathology practice.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for independent diagnostic assessment and evaluation of cases that are referred to Speech-Language Pathology without limitation as to difficulty or complexity.
• Conduct interviews with the patients and appropriate family members and/or friends selects administers and interprets the diagnostic test necessary to detect and evaluate any type of speech language voice fluency cognitive and/or swallowing disorders.
• Assesses patient condition from close observation and consultation with other members of the inter-disciplinary health care team; and utilizing all diagnostic and evaluative procedures and techniques consistent with contemporary speech-language pathology practice.
• Plan conduct coordinate and monitor the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning.
• Administer a full range tests of speech language voice fluency and cognition including modal level and variation of vocal pitch and loudness; variability of the rate of vocal utterance; frequency and complexity of speech disfluency; consistency and adaptation of disfluency in sustained or repeated speaking and aural reading; phonetic analysis of speech designed to identify and evaluate patterns of misarticulation such as distortions and omissions of sounds as well as phonemic substitutions including patterns of variation and speech sound articulation; and identification of phonetic and semantic factors related to this variation.
• Develops an effective and comprehensive plan of care for swallowing disorders in collaboration with other health care practitioners; establishes and maintains an effective therapy relationship with the patient family and caregivers; and adjusts treatment plan to patient response and indicators of progress.
• Clinician is proficient in Instrumental Swallow Studies and Laryngectomy/tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) management.
• Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to speech language voice fluency cognitive and swallowing disorders.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education and Experience. (1) A masters degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology communication disorders or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience (see paragraph 2.g.) OR (2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology communication disorders and sciences or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Licensure. Individuals must hold a full current and unrestricted license in a U.S. state territory commonwealth 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).

Speech-Language Pathologist GS-12 Grade Determination

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-11 level completing one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possessing a full current and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology
AND
demonstrate the following knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) below:(a) Skill in applying principles and techniques of diagnosis and treatment associated with contemporary speech-language pathology following evidence-based practice for adult patients exhibiting the full range of speech to the full range of patient populations.(b) Skill in administering and interpreting instrumental swallowing evaluations.(c) Ability to assess the effectiveness of clinical outcomes and adapt clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate unique patient conditions.

Assignment. This is the full performance level. At this level SLPs independently provide evidence-based assessment and treatment interventions to individuals with a wide range of speech language voice cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders. Staff SLPs select administer and interpret standardized and non-standardized assessment measures. They integrate assessment findings into a patient-centered treatment plan of care and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by collecting and documenting treatment outcomes. SLPs may be assigned to work in a specific clinical area such as traumatic brain injury head and neck cancer movement disorders or spinal cord injury. They may provide clinical training experiences for trainees and students and participate in research activities.

Preferred Experience: Instrumental Swallow Study proficiency

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service.