Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Care Line Manager)

Veterans Affairs$80K — $95K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or related field from CACREP-accredited program.
  • Full, current, and unrestricted license as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.
  • Advanced administrative skills in multidisciplinary mental health program management.
  • Minimum of one year of experience at GS-13 level or equivalent in behavioral health management.
  • Ability to develop and oversee complex mental health programs and policies.

Responsibilities

  • Provide leadership to Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program teams of diverse mental health professionals.
  • Develop and refine program goals and workflows to align with clinical standards and accreditation requirements.
  • Evaluate operational issues and implement changes to optimize team effectiveness.
  • Maintain communication and guide staff through operational challenges across interdisciplinary teams.
  • Serve as a primary advisor to Mental Health leadership on program operations and compliance matters.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive federal benefits package for employees and their families.
  • Access to a variety of health and wellness programs.
  • Opportunities for professional development and training.
  • Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave.
  • Job security and retirement benefits.
Full Job Description
Summary

The LPMHC Program Manager oversees the daily operations and long-term planning for the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) and Neuropsychology within the Mental Health Service Line at all Roseburg VA locations. This role focuses on ensuring Veterans receive coordinated, high-quality mental health care through strong team leadership, effective program management, and consistent alignment with VA standards.

Duties

Help

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties include but are not limited to the following:

The Program Manager provides direction for BHIP teams made up of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and other mental health professionals. The position is responsible for developing program goals, establishing and refining workflows, and ensuring services meet clinical expectations, accreditation requirements, and national initiatives.

This position requires advanced mental health knowledge, strong leadership skills, and experience in managing complex behavioral health programs. The Program Manager operates with considerable independence and serves as a primary advisor to Mental Health leadership on program operations, compliance, and future planning.

The LPMHC Program Manager provides administrative oversight for daily BHIP and Neuropsychology operations and ensures that clinical services are organized, efficient, and consistent with VA standards. The incumbent evaluates workflow and workload patterns, identifies operational issues, and implements adjustments to support effective team functioning.

The Program Manager offers guidance on processes, assists staff in resolving operational barriers, and maintains clear communication across interdisciplinary team members. The role includes reviewing program data, coordinating improvements, and ensuring that procedures remain current with changes in staffing, demand, or policy.

The incumbent represents BHIP and Neuropsychology in operational planning within Mental Health and collaborates with other service areas on shared processes, resource needs, and system-wide initiatives. The position exercises independent judgment in managing clinical operations and contributes to decisions that affect service delivery and program performance.

The LPMHC Program Manager will serve as a member of the Mental Health Leadership Team and MH Executive Committee and will work alongside the ACOS of MH, Chief of Psychiatry, and other designated MH Leaders to strategically plan and implement policies, procedures, mandates, initiatives etc. for the entire MH Department. This position will also provide coverage for other Service Chiefs including the ACOS of MH when needed.

The LPMHC Program Manager carries out clinical duties for approximately half of their time, providing direct assessment, treatment, and care coordination services to Veterans. The incumbent delivers evidence-based interventions within their scope of practice, conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments, and develops individualized treatment plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.

Clinical responsibilities include managing a caseload appropriate for a GS-14 LPMHC, offering individual and group interventions, and ensuring continuity of care for Veterans with complex mental health needs. The Program Manager participates in case consultations, provides clinical guidance as appropriate, and maintains accurate and timely documentation in accordance with VA standards.

The incumbent ensures clinical care aligns with BHIP practice models and contributes to meeting access needs within the program. This includes responding to urgent clinical situations, supporting coverage needs when staffing changes occur, and participating in team-based care activities required to sustain consistent, high-quality clinical services.

The LPMHC Program Manager is under the direct supervision of the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) of Mental Health, who falls directly under the facilities Chief of Staff. However, as a fully qualified LPMHC with a high level of training, the incumbent carries out duties with a high degree of independence. With difficult or complex cases, incumbent consults with the ACOS of Mental Health, Chief of Staff, and other professional staff of the Mental Health Service or with other VA consultants. Incumbent coordinates any clinical activities with the ACOS of Mental Health and Chief of Staff to meet the overall goals of the unit. The ACOS of Mental Health will periodically review the incumbent's performance.

The Program Manager handles conflict and customer concerns constructively and appropriately, demonstrating sound judgment and maintaining professionalism in all interactions. The incumbent promotes an environment of collaboration, service excellence, and responsiveness to customer needs.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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.
  • Education: Hold a master's 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 http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. 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.
  • 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.


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).

GS-14 Grade Determinations:

  • 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-13 grade level. They must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-13 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:


  1. Advanced knowledge and skill in management/administration of multidisciplinary mental health programs at complex facilities and/or across multiple sites which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
  2. Demonstrated global knowledge of mental health counseling practice to develop, maintain, and oversee programs in all settings.
  3. Ability to provide consultation on policy implementation, qualification standards, counseling practice, and competency with medical center director, VISN, or national program managers that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.
  4. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and mental health practice guidelines in multiple professional areas, and the ability to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing appropriate treatment interventions.
  5. Ability to influence high level officials in adoption of, and conformance to, performance measures, monitors, and other policy guidelines.


References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106 PART II APPENDIX G43

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with up to 25% travel. Extended periods of working at a computer station, including long periods of sitting or standing. Travel includes periods of prolonged sitting or standing, driving, and moving personal luggage, promotional materials, and a laptop. Occasional lifting and moving of moderately heavy items, such as boxes of promotional materials up to 50 pounds, involving bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. Rigid deadlines and the need for high degree of accuracy. High stress situations and crisis management: ability to adapt work plans based on urgent issues.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Benefits

Help

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.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Veterans Affairs

More Healthcare Jobs

Find similar Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Care Line Manager) jobs: