Audiologist

Summary
The VA St. Louis Health Care System is recruiting for an Audiologist located within the Audiology Service of Surgery Service at the John Cochran Division. The staff audiologist conducts a full range of audiological evaluations to determine the type and degree of hearing loss, determines patients' need for amplification, predicts and measures the effectiveness of amplification, and determines need for and type of rehabilitation and counseling of veterans with hearing loss and their families.
This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
Please provide current and most recent (non award) SF-50 for consideration.
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Duties
Below are the major duties and responsibilities of the position at the GS-12 (Full Performance Level). Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Uses knowledge of principles and techniques in audiology and ability to interpret data.
• Has knowledge and ability to develop and implement comprehensive treatment plans acquired through education and experience to perform evaluation and treatment of patients.
• Exercises limited clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations.
• Communicates effectively with patients and significant others.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing.
• Functions as a constructive member of a team, knowledge of principles, and techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of audiology disorders.
• Assists in orientation/training of medical staff.
• Assists in orientation and training of new staff.
• Assists in the training and supervision of students, trainees, externs, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals.
• Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs.
• Provides patient and family education including informed consent.
• Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs.
• Maintains patient records and other data required by the clinic, service, and medical center.
• Maintains, supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency.
• May be requested to serve on service-level committees or task forces or to represent to service/section on medical center, network, or national committees.
• Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Audiologist/PD000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/23/2023.
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)Education. Master's degree or its equivalent in audiology or hearing science from an accredited college or university is required. "Accredited" means a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization and an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) and/or the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree programs in audiology or hearing science
.Licensure. For those grades that require licensure (GS-12 and above), the incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. NOTE: All audiologists who perform compensation and pension (C&P) examinations are considered to be performing direct patient care duties, and must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology (38 CFR 4.85). (1) The audiologist must maintain full, current, and unrestricted licensure/registration. (2) Non-licensed audiologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate audiologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c). Failure to obtain licensure during appointment as a graduate audiologist is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Individuals appointed as graduate audiologists may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed. This may result in termination of employment. (3) The requirement for licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office for individuals engaged in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care duties, in accordance with current activities. (4) An audiologist who has, or has ever had, his/her audiology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.
Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/ registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
English Language Proficiency. Audiologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
Grade Determinations:GS-11Education and Experience. Completion of 1 year of professional experience as an audiologist equivalent to the next lower level; or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree; or doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a directly related field. Experience includes but is not limited to: perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention. If unlicensed, the individual must function under the supervision of a licensed audiologist.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice;
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
3. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, acoustics, applied acoustics, communication, psychoacoustics, and auditory/vestibular pathophysiology;
4. Knowledge of principles and techniques in the assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders;
5. Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice; and
6. Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care professionals.

GS-12Licensure. The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
AND
Education and Experience. In addition to the requirements at the GS-11 level, completion of 1 year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level and possession of a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology. Experience includes but is not limited to: Demonstrate professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies of the practice of audiology to a wide range of populations and perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less that 25% of the time). AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies;
2. Knowledge of clinical services, and the ability to perform them independently;
3. Ability to conduct assessments and provide treatment interventions;
4. Ability to provide consultation to other health care professionals;
5. Knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; and
6. Ability to perform functions associated with contemporary audiology scope of practice.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G29, Audiologist Qualification Standard GS-0665.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.
Physical Requirements: This position is mostly sedentary. Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to read typed material, hearing aid permitted, emotional and mental stability.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
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.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
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.

• Benefits
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How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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 informat...