Supervisory Optometrist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), 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

This position has one vacancy open at Lake Nona in Orlando and one vacancy open at the Lake Baldwin Outpatient Clinic in Winter Park.

The Optometry Supervisor for the Lake Baldwin Eye Clinic provides administrative oversight and management of all optometry staff and clinic operations and reports to the Optometry Chief, Eye Clinic Section Chief and Chief of Service, Surgical Services at the Orlando VA Medical Center. The Lake Baldwin Outpatient Eye Clinic is a full-scope optometry clinic providing comprehensive eye care to include but not limited to the management of eye disease, consultations, and emergency triage services during daytime hours. The clinic also serves as a training site for optometry residents and optometry students with educational affiliations at multiple schools and colleges of Optometry.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the supervision, administrative management and technical direction of the optometry programs located at the Lake Baldwin Eye Clinic (LKB) including direct supervision of staff optometrists at those locations.
• Provides quality patient care.
• Continually promotes teamwork and communication within the eye clinics and in cooperation and coordination with the Chief of Optometry and Section Chief of Eye Clinic both located at the main Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona.
• Makes decisions with independent judgment on day-to-day operations but with consultation and collaboration when necessary with the Chief of Optometry and Section Chief of the Eye Clinic.
• Stays informed of the latest developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal.
• Consistently demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients.
• Revises work schedules and assignments as needed to meet changes in workloads meeting performance measures and targets.
• Participates as a peer reviewer when requested
• Provides other clinical services as assigned consistent with clinical privileges as assigned by the Chief of Optometry.

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

Telework: Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. a7 7407(a).
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• Education-Transcripts Submitted: Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Licensure or Registration:-Documentation Submitted . Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.
• Residency Training or Comparable Experience-Documentation Submitted: Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below: (1) Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed. OR, Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.

NOTE: The Approving Official may approve, under unusual circumstances, a waiver of residency or comparable experience.

Supervisory Optometrist Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must meet the following staff requirement to qualify for this position:

• Supervisory Optometrist: An Optometrist in a leadership position must demonstrate the following: (1) Outstanding professional ability in the practice of optometry and healthcare administration; (2) The ability to guide the development and implementation of programs within their respective domain, to include but not limited to, optometry practice, professional standards, personnel issues, quality and performance improvement; (3) Effectiveness in coordinating and managing interdisciplinary collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders to optimize the care of patients under their purview.

Preferred Experience: Residency trained and at least 5 years VA optometry experience

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is VM-15

Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching, use of hands and fingers, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking, standing, bending and climbing. The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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.

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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.

Benefits

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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.