Staff Audiologist

Summary
The Phoenix VA Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) Audiologist, in its Audiology and Speech Pathology Service. The position is located at the North West Clinic in Surprise, Arizona. The Audiologist conducts a full range of audiology and balance evaluations, treatment interventions, and counseling services to the hearing-impaired veterans and their families.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This position is open to current, permanent internal employees of the Phoenix VA Health Care System and other Health Professions Trainees (HTP) in Phoenix. SF 50 or WOC paperwork must be provided.
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Duties
The audiologist conducts, plans, and coordinates all clinical, and administrative aspects of a full range of services associated with contemporary Audiology practices. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Documents in the medical record of a patient; diagnosis, and treatment plan, in accordance with facility policy.
• Performs special audiological procedures for a diverse range of disease conditions (site of lesions tests, ABR, and OAE).
• Provides treatment and rehabilitative services including, but not limited to, fitting and selection of all types of hearing aids; ear impressions; programming of digital hearing aids; selection and fitting of assistive devices and assistive listening devices.
• Provides proper maintenance and calibration of the specialized electro-acoustic instrumentation.
• Evaluates the type and degree of hearing loss for patients who may be unable to provide consistent and reliable reaction to diagnostics.
• Plans, delivers, and monitors the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services for patients with significant physical and psychological complicating conditions.
• Plans, conducts, and coordinates auditory (aural) rehabilitation, tinnitus, and/or vestibular rehabilitation programs for patients.
• Supervises, evaluates, and mentors, student trainees in audiology, as well as serves as a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities.
• Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases, and is a recognized subject matter expert on matters related to hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders.
• Identifies differential diagnosis of auditory and balance disorders.

Work Schedule: Monday, Tuesday 7:00 am to 5:30 pm Thursday, Friday 7:00 am to 5:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Ad-hoc, with supervisory approval.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 0000
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.
• 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.
• 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
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: 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.
• 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.
• Grandfathering Provision: All audiologists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

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:
For GS-9:
(a) Education and Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
For GS-11:
(a) Education 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.
For positions involved in research audiologist assignments involving no direct patient care, no additional education or professional experience is required beyond those identified at the GS-9 level.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) identified for the assignment.
Staff audiologists at this grade level perform audiology assessment and treatment intervention. If unlicensed, the individual must function under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. The following KSAs are required:

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

For GS-12:
(a) Licensure. The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. [ ].
(b) 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. For positions involved in research audiology assignments involving no direct patient care, completion of a doctoral degree in audiology, hearing science, or a related field is fully qualifying.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the [KSAs identified for the assignment.]Staff audiologists at this grade level must 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. Individuals may 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).
The following KSAs are required:

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

References: See VA Handbook 5005/38, Part II, Appendix G29, Audiologist Qualification Standard.
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-09 to GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); Light carrying (under 15 pounds); Use of fingers; Walking (1 hour), Standing (4 hours); Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted). See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or 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.
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.

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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...