Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

The Physical Therapy (PT) Supervisor is responsible for the professional and administrative management of the rehabilitation service in this complex level 1A facility with multiple therapy related disciplines at Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System (CTVHCS), including but not limited to the Austin, Temple and Waco PT and Kinesiotherapy (KT) Sections.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the effective utilization of staff, equipment, and space which include scheduling Veterans to take maximum advantage of available Staff time.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining effective personal contacts with all sections of PM&RS, Nursing Service, referring physicians, consultants, and other medical center staff. The objective of these contacts is the development of the integrated treatment program to contribute to the maximum benefit of all Veterans.
• Skilled in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors; Demonstrates ability to make autonomous clinical decisions, demonstrates ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. Has ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimizes outcomes and maximizes functional independence.
• Responsible for the professional and administrative management of the rehabilitation service with multiple therapy related disciplines, including but not limited to Temple PT and KT at CTVHCS.
• Develops performance standards, assures program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements. Develops local policies and procedures related to assigned areas.
• Responsible for determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation.
• Evaluates patients independently. Uses standard and nonstandard methods
• of evaluating and interpreting a wide variety of patient physical functional levels across diverse patient populations and providing progressive treatment.
• Assesses patient's abilities, deficits and potential, utilizing standard evaluation techniques, procedures, tests and measurements according to the patient's diagnosis.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 56273-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [redacted], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 interest. In 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.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
• (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two
• (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.
• NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.
• Licensure. Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• 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).

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: GS-14:

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.

1. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.

2. Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators.

3.Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development.

4.Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work.

5.Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, system reorganizations, etc.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory PTs at this level are responsible for the professional and administrative management of an assigned area in a large physical therapy service or a rehabilitation service with multiple therapy related disciplines, including but not limited to the Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Speech & Language Pathology, Recreation Therapy, and Blind Rehabilitation. Supervisors manage staff, maintain effective interdepartmental relations, and cooperate with other services to accomplish the medical facility's mission and goals. He/she develops performance standards, assures the program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities. He/she develops local policies and procedures relative to their assigned area. He/she is responsible for determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation. He/she formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long term interest of the service or facility, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks. Individuals at this level would generally be found at a highly complex facility.

Preferred Experience:

1. 3+ years' experience - Serving in supervisory/leadership role.
2. 3+ years' experience - Managing a diverse range of healthcare services, including outpatient, inpatient, and CLC while overseeing leave requests, telework, and coordinating schedules to ensure seamless workflow and coverage.
3. 3+ years' experience - Employee relations and performance management, including handling performance and conduct issues, disciplinary actions, and effectively managing employee performance, productivity, and clinic utilization.
4. 3+ years' experience - HR personnel actions, including position management, recruitment, onboarding, and clearance.
5. 3+ years' experience - Accreditation readiness, including the ability to ensure compliance with regulatory and accrediting body requirements, including interpreting and analyzing directives and policies. Develop relevant policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
6. 2+ years of experience in assistive technology, specifically in wheelchair assessment, seating, and mobility solutions for adults.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: "The work is sedentary.? Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.? Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site.? Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds."

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Accreditation Information: Education must be fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (capteonline.org)

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 yo