Occupational Therapist (Supervisory)

This position is organizationally aligned under the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Audie L. Murphy Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. This position is part of therapy services and reports to the therapy services program manager (or section chief). This position will provide direct supervision for Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) staff and matrix OT and PT staff as stated below.

**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 and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. Individuals must be a graduate of] a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. 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-13: Supervisory Occupational Therapist Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service. Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution. Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools. Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of clinical practice as a licensed Occupational Therapist, with demonstrated advanced competency in evaluation and treatment planning. Prior supervisory or team-lead experience in a hospital, multi-clinic network, or large healthcare system. Experience overseeing day-to-day clinical operations, including staffing, productivity management, and patient-flow coordination. Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop clinicians, including new graduates and students. Familiarity with performance management, competency assessment, and supporting staff through skill development. Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including nursing, physicians, case management, and rehab leadership. Strong understanding of regulatory standards (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, state practice acts) and documentation compliance requirements. Background in program development, quality improvement initiatives, or clinical process optimization. Demonstrated leadership in implementing evidence based practice and supporting clinical education. Experience with electronic medical records and data driven decision making for scheduling, outcomes tracking, and productivity management. Ability to foster a positive team culture focused on patient centered care, staff engagement, and continuous improvement. Prior experience providing care in diverse clinical settings such as acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient, or specialty programs. 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-13. Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse. Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.