Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist (Service Chief)

Duties

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This is an external announcement open to all US citizens. Veterans Preference applies to all applicants. Current permanent VA/Federal employees may apply under announcement CBTC-[redacted]-26-YAS to receive internal consideration.

The Miami VA Healthcare System's Surgical Care Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist (Service Chief). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

The incumbent will develop policies and program standards for the service, and interpret national mandates, guidelines, standards, and regulations to ensure departmental compliance, and will develop and provide guidance for administering service operations to include: the service's educational programs, they will provide overall direction and oversight for all activities related to the Respiratory Service and its programs and functions and staff by utilizing excellent time management, communication, organizational and clinical laboratory skills.

Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supervising the RRT staff (GS-11), Respiratory Lead Therapist (GS-12), Supervisors (GS-13 and Assistant Chief Therapist (GS-13)
• Administering complex respiratory therapy procedures and treatments to critically ill patients, primarily in the ICU
• Assigning and ensuring work requirements are explained relative to blood gas for new and/or changed, as well as ensuring existing programs are following national guidelines and VA standards
• Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings including senior facility leadership meetings, as well as overseeing daily work rounds, grand rounds with consultants, participating as leader in the Surgical Service monthly meetings, and other team functions and activities
• Setting up, monitoring, and adjusting a variety of complex respiratory equipment for critical care patients; including volume and/or pressure cycled ventilators, and other advanced ventilatory modalities
• Conducting and continually assessing cardiopulmonary conditions of patients using physical examinations and respiratory diagnostic equipment
• Adjusting ventilator settings based on blood gas data
• Performing quality improvement initiatives to enhance respiratory care practices and patient outcomes
• Applying a range of ventilator techniques and advanced modalities while developing weaning plans and closely monitoring patients to avoid incidents
• Making continual assessments of patients' cardiopulmonary conditions using physical examinations and diagnostic equipment to manage airway and tube care, collaborating with physicians during emergencies, and managing the airway during patient transport
• Other assigned duties

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• 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 evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one or two-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

Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications.

• United States Citizenship:Must be a US Citizen
• English Language Proficiency:Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs) appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor
• Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series 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-0601 series must possess and maintain, for the duration of employment, a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT

Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials. An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, all candidates must:

• Have one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; examples of work include, but not limited to the following: managing programs, which may include, but are not limited to home oxygen, home ventilators, ALS clinic, Sleep/PAP clinic, pulmonary procedure clinic, respiratory care in the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and operating and managing key clinical, training, research or administrative programs, including the day-to-day activities, resource management and fiscal management of those programs.

• Hold an active license and RRT credential
• 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

In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data
• Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care
• Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies
• Ability to supervise employees
• Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters

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.

Physical Requirements:Must pass a pre-employment physical examination/evaluation as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination/evaluation is administered by VA Occupational Health.

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, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.