Job DescriptionGENERAL DESCRIPTION: Perform highly advanced (seniorlevel) psychological and managerial work within the agency's Victim and Employee Support Services. Work includes supervising the staff psychologists, providing psychological testing, screening, a comprehensive program of psychological services to agency employees, and their families. Work may include program design and implementation, training, developing curriculum and crises intervention. May prepare reports, conduct research and evaluate data, and conduct special projects and research as directed. Work is performed under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Must be available for oncall duties.
The following Military Occupational Specialty codes are generally applicable to this position
hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/JobDescriptions/0769.pdf
Applicants must fully complete the summary of experience to determine if minimum qualifications are met.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Manage the daytoday activities of staff within a large or complex department or service area; and supervise the work of others. This includes ensuring confidentiality and best practices of evidence based on treatment as well as policies and procedures.
2. Assist with coordination of responses to critical incidents, mass casualties, and crisis events. May include onscene response and support.
3. Provide clinical supervision and oversight to the regional behavioral health professionals and peer team for both routine treatment services and/or crisis situations.
4. Conduct research, develop and implement programs, procedures, and interventions that address the stressors, mental health effects, emotional health effects, physical effects, and trauma of the unique work environment.
5. Prepare management and productivity reports; and review and approve documents, reports, and other work products developed by employees to ensure professional quality and appearance, appropriate content, consistency, and responsiveness.
6. Plan, develop and present curriculum to employees with the goal of increasing overall wellness, resilience, and job effectiveness. Topics may include stress management; work performance enhancement; basic psychology in law enforcement work; crisis intervention; suicide prevention; substance misuse; critical incident reactions, etc.
7. Consult with various levels of agency leadership and/or individual workgroups regarding solutions to ongoing or anticipated problems, including but not limited to employee performance concerns, problematic behavior in the workplace, workplace wellness, post critical incident support, specific workgroup needs.
8. Provide clinical input for best practice guidelines for police and public safety psychology programs, services for law enforcement officers; and conduct training for VESS personnel and other team members upon request.
9. May serve as the designee for the chief psychologist and coordinate fitness for duty evaluations when appropriate and/or ordered by the Director or designee.
10. May conduct psychological evaluations for recruit school applicants, communications operator applicants, promotional candidates, and for other specialized workgroups such as Crisis Negotiation Unit, S.W.A.T team and undercover work.
11. May act as a consultant on special projects requiring psychological expertise. This may include threat assessment and specialized work groups.
12. Engage in operational support through field visits and training observation for law enforcement officers. Develop initiatives and strategies to improve first responders¿ mental health, psychological safety, and wellness and responsiveness.
13. Provide professional confidential treatment in a voluntary counseling for commissioned and noncommissioned agency employees and their families. Provide assessment, referral, and case management for employees requiring additional psychological services from outside facilities; and provide support and other group intervention services as appropriate.
14. Travel locally and within the state as needed to accomplish position objectives.
15. Attend work regularly and observe approved work hours in accordance with agency leave and attendance policies.
16. Perform other duties as assigned.
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS and REQUIREMENTS: Education Graduation from an accredited fouryear college or university with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), or Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA accredited doctoral program.
Experience Minimum of five (5) years full time work experience in providing direct psychological services including clinical crisis intervention and/or trauma counseling and a range of educational, psychological, and behavioral interventions for the management of stress reactions. Experience conducting preemployment psychological evaluations and/or working within a law enforcement culture is preferred. Minimum of one year of supervisory or managerial experience.
Licensure and/or Certification Possess and maintain licensure by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a Psychologist. Must possess valid driver license from state of residence.
Regulatory knowledge Working knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly assimilate information related to TXDPS, State, and Federal regulations, legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures. Thorough knowledge of the applicable laws and requirements for the practice of psychology in the state of Texas including confidentiality, record retention, and the practical applications of such rules and regulations to conducting clinical/counseling psychology. Familiarity with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements and the application of such requirements to preemployment evaluations; familiarity with preemployment screening of law enforcement applicants and the rules and regulations governing the selection of law enforcement officers in the State of Texas is preferred.
Clinical Knowledge Knowledge of the principles of assessment and treatment of acute and traumatic stress reactions and disorders; brief therapy; crisis intervention; grief; victimology; and the psychological response to routine and critical incident stress. Knowledge of the principles of choosing appropriate screening instruments, administering psychological screening instruments, interpreting test data and identifying potential behavioral deficits in an applicant's ability to perform essential job functions in conducting a preemployment screening process. Familiarity with the essential job functions of police officers and with psychological assessment research relevant to screening law enforcement officers is preferred.
Supervisory/Managerial/Leadership skills Knowledge of management and supervisory methods and principles, team dynamics, and operational practices. Strong leadership skills with the ability to direct and motivate others, maintain persuasive and credible presentation style at all levels of the organization, and to make sound workrelated judgments and decisions. Exemplify the agency's core mission to Protect and Serve Texas and the values of integrity, teamwork, accountability and excellence. Able to organize and implement program activities. Promote teamwork among VESS staff to accomplish program goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
Technology Must possess appropriate levels of proficiency with utilized software and systems and be able to learn new software/systems. Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
Interpersonal Skills Must demonstrate an ability to exercise poise, tact, diplomacy and an ability to establish and maintain positive, working/professional relationships with internal/external customers.
Organizational and Prioritization Skills Must be organized, flexible, and able to effectively prioritize in a multidemand and constantly changing environment; able to meet multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines without sacrificing accuracy, timeliness or professionalism.
Presentation/Communication Skills Must be able to construct and deliver clear, concise, and professional presentations to a variety of audiences and/or individuals. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to include complex correspondence drafting, English composition, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Ability to make quick and accurate judgment calls regarding the need to provide information to Division personnel. Communicate psychological information and professional opinions effectively in formal training situations and in business and other routine organizational interactions.
Research and Comprehension Must demonstrate ability to quickly and efficiently access relevant information and be able to utilize and/or present research and conclusions in a clear and concise manner.
Analytical Reasoning/Attention to Detail Must demonstrate an ability to examine data/information, discern variations/similarities, and be able identify trends, relationships and causal factors, as well as grasp issues, draw accurate conclusions, and solve problems.
Confidentiality and Protected Information Must demonstrate an ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information and situations and adhere to applicable laws/statutes/policies related to access, maintenance and dissemination of information.
Safety Must be able to work in safe manner at all times, avoiding shortcuts that have potential adverse results/risks, and must be able to comply with safety standards and best practices.
Schedule and/or Remote/Telecommuting work and/or Travel Availability to travel up to fifteen (15) percent of the time, including overnight and weekends. Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position as this position is required to be responsive in the event of emergent situations. The position may be required to work additional and/or extended hours. Position is provided with a state issued cell phone and is subject to oncall.
PHYSICAL and/or ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS: The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those encountered and/or necessary for the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Environment: Office/Indoors and/or Outdoors and/or Vehicle;
- Ambulatory skills, e.g. stand, walk, sit;
- Handeye coordination and arm/hand/finger dexterity;
- Ability to speak, hear, and exercise visual acuity;
- Ability to transfer weights of up to ten (10) pounds anticipated for this position;
- Driving requirements: Moderate (up to 15%).
State of Texas Benefits and Retirement Information: https://www.ers.texas.gov/ Current DPS employees who submit applications for posted DPS positions shall notify their immediate supervisor in writing. A DPS employee who is selected for a position in the same salary group and state title as their current position will be transferred with no salary change. A DPS employee who is selected for a position in their current salary group with a new state title may receive an increase of no more than 3.4% over their current salary regardless of posted salary. Salary is contingent upon qualifications and is subject to salary administration and budgetary restrictions. DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS, WE DO NOT ACCEPT TELEPHONE CALLS. ONLY CANDIDATES SELECTED FOR INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED. State of Texas retirees may be rehired for fulltime, noncommissioned positions only under very specific circumstances. 
