Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional GS-11 - Staff Psychologist (BHIP)Major Duties Conducts diagnostic interviews, psychological evaluations, and suicide risk assessments for Veterans Provides brief, evidence-based individual, group, and family interventions within BHIP Applies structured clinical methods to support diagnostic clarification and treatment planning Delivers consultation to interdisciplinary team members on behavioral health conditions and interventions Provides services via telehealth when clinically indicated Educates patients and families on conditions, treatments, and self-management Documents clinical care in accordance with VA standards Administrative / Program Role Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, treatment planning, and care coordination Completes clinical documentation and workload capture per performance requirements Engages in training, supervision, and professional development Supports BHIP program operations and assigned initiatives GS-12 - Staff Psychologist (BHIP)Major Duties Independently conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning Provides a full range of evidence-based psychotherapies, including individual, group, and family interventions Integrates assessment data, clinical interviews, and medical history into treatment recommendations Serves as a consultant on complex behavioral health presentations Delivers care via in-person and telehealth modalities Provides supervision and training to trainees and students, as assigned Develops and delivers education on behavioral health treatment and best practices Administrative / Program Role Supports program implementation, evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives Monitors outcomes and contributes to performance improvement efforts Coordinates care across disciplines and levels of care Participates in program development and service-level initiatives GS-13 - Staff Psychologist (BHIP)Major Duties Provides advanced evaluation and treatment of complex and high-risk behavioral health conditions Delivers a full spectrum of evidence-based psychotherapies across modalities Leads consultation across interdisciplinary teams as a behavioral health subject matter expert Provides supervision to psychologists, trainees, and multidisciplinary staff Develops, implements, and evaluates BHIP or related clinical programs Designs and delivers training and contributes to staff development Participates in and may lead research aligned with program goals Administrative / Program Role Leads program operations, including planning, implementation, and evaluation Oversees quality improvement and performance measures Coordinates across service lines to ensure continuity of care Represents Psychology Service in committees and workgroups Contributes to policy, clinical standards, and service improvements This position is located at the Balcones Heights VA Clinic - 4522 Fredricksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78201-6521 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: Available, ad-hoc only, as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD51671, PD51672, and PD51673 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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.
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/. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
How you will be evaluated
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until October 28, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 12, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.