Summary

As a RRT Chief of Respiratory Care for the Respiratory Therapy Department, make decisions affecting staff and other resources with wide latitude of control and independent judgment. Provide direction of the program services, utilization of resources and budget. Participate in the development of a department level plan for financial and personnel resources. Attend professional meetings. They collaborate with other healthcare team members to generate new ideas for quality improvement.

Duties

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The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job:

• Will recognize opportunity for changes to improve patient care. They will develop and implement appropriate standards of care for the respiratory care department. The Chief will establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies. They will supervise employees and forecast resources needed to ensure department needs are met. Manages, directs, or assists in managing or directing, one or more programs to deliver health care services to veterans
• Assumes a high level of supervision of a large, complex section and, as necessary, provides supervision to subordinate supervisors Directly contributes to the administrative management of the health care delivery system and is the principle advisor for planning, organizing, developing, managing and evaluating the programs under their supervision
• Applies specialized principles and practices of health care management in leading programs
• Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment
• Develops and implements the organizational vision that integrates program goals, strategic priorities, ICARE values, and other factors
• Plans the sequence of operations, recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments to improve work, services, job satisfaction, etc.
• Develops statements of goals, policies, priorities and plans for the full range of department related concerns, including guidelines and policies for non-routine or complex assignments
• Resolves technical work problems, including those not covered by precedents or established policies
• Develops and reports to higher level leadership changes in budget requirements based on anticipated workload and productivity capability of the section
• Prepares formal requests for filling vacancies and for addition personnel to meet work requirements, reviews candidates, performs interviews and selects staff
• Serves as a consultant and works in collaboration with case managers, discharge coordinators, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and ancillary staff regarding the respiratory care provided
• Develops policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements.
• Acts as a resource person in planning, reviewing, or revising facility policies and procedures that impact patient care.
• Establishes relationships with professional -and/or other health-related groups within the community.
• Consults with affiliates and works collaboratively with the Medical Center's managers and discipline-specific professional and clinical leaders to develop and enhance program opportunities and performance in support of mission objectives
• Coordinates services with other departments.
• Reports progress and resolution of problems in achieving goals and objectives to higher levels of management.
• Represents the department at interdisciplinary meetings and facility level committees and to VISN level leadership.
• Participates in VISN and national-level initiatives
• Prepares special reports and responses for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential, and of a complex nature.
• Provides oversight in developing procedures and methodologies for monitoring quality assurance and continuous improvement programs.
• Analyzes a wide range or processed with long-term goals using basic and advanced tools to accomplish analysis.
• Develops audits and selects methods for measuring quality of services.
• Analyzes quality and performance improvement data to assess compliance with multiple specific and technical guidelines and functions and makes recommendations for changes to ensure desired outcomes.
• Uses sound judgment in decision-making that focuses on meeting and improving quality customer service and the delivery of patient focused outcome-orientated health care.
• Implements, evaluates, and monitors a risk management program.
• Performs administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised and has authority to prepare and follow up on actions for most supervisory personnel functions.
• Establishes a master staffing plan, including numbers and skills for staff based on patient needs, staffing guidelines, staff qualifications, infection control concerns, work area geography, and human resources supply and demand.
• Assigns and explains work requirements relative to respiratory care for new or-changed as
  well as existing programs.
• Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities as needed or assigned

Work Schedule: Full-Time Monday - Friday, 08:00am - 04:30pm

Telework: Ad-hoc Telework Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 111-04

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.
• Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
• Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
• Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.
• English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. a7 7403(f).

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 Determination:

(a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must:

• i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties such as critical care, pulmonary, education and sleep medicine.
• ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

(b) Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

i. Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data.

ii. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care.

iii. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies.

iv. Ability to supervise employees.

v. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters.

Preferred Experience: The incumbent must have and active license and certificate as an RRT from the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) and a registry number. The incumbent must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 level, also demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more special specialties, including critical care, pulmonary education, and sleep medicine. And, a Bachelor's Degree is highly desired.

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 the GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The candidate must be able to perform CPR and have no physical limitations or restrictions.

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

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

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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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.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, p