Associate Chief of Staff for Social Work (Social Work Program Manager)

About the company

The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Social Work is the senior social work executive and the highest-level professional position responsible for the practice of social work throughout the facility. The ACOS translates facility-level clinical and operational priorities set by the DCOS and Chief of Staff into social work program policy, staffing plans, and practice standards, represents the needs, performance, and risks of Social Work Service in facility-level clinical governance.

Your tasks

Duties include but are not limited to: Program and Systems Management: Plans, organizes, and directs a very large, interdisciplinary social work program spanning multiple complex specialty areas and treatment sites. Establishes local policies, procedures, and clinical pathways consistent with national VHA social work program requirements, and adapts staffing and service delivery models to the needs of assigned care/product lines. Assesses the need for basic and complex social work services across the full range of patient care venues and coordinates the efforts of multiple program elements - inpatient units, outpatient clinics, specialty programs, and community-facing services. Resource, Budget, and Workforce Management: Manages the Social Work Service budget and line authority, including forecasting staffing and equipment needs, monitoring control points, and accounting for appropriated funds. Directs workforce planning and position management across the service, including recruitment, retention, and succession planning for a large, multi-grade professional and support staff. Exercises full supervisory authority - directly or through subordinate assistant chiefs and supervisory social workers - over assignment of work, performance evaluation, selection, training, awards, and disciplinary action. Quality, Safety, and Accreditation: Directs data-driven quality assurance and performance improvement activities for social work services, including completion of program evaluations and documentation required by the medical center, VISN, and VHA Central Office. Ensures ongoing compliance with applicable accrediting and regulatory bodies, such as The Joint Commission (TJC), the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), as applicable to programs under the service's purview. Education, Consultation, and Professional Development: Serves as a consultant and educational resource to facility staff and trainees on social work practice, competency, and treatment expectations for Veterans, family members, and caregivers. Establishes and oversees orientation, in-service training, and continuing education for social work staff, and supports field placement, internship, or fellowship activities affiliated with the service. Interdisciplinary, VISN, and Community Coordination: Represents Social Work Service on facility-level clinical governance and safety committees and coordinates with VISN social work leadership, other service lines, and community and Veteran Service Organization partners on care transitions, access initiatives, and population health efforts. Advises the DCOS and Chief of Staff on social work workforce and program matters as part of the facility's senior clinical leadership team. Correspondence and Executive Reporting: Prepares responses to controlled correspondence concerning social work services and Veteran care, including inquiries from VISN and VHA Central Office, elected officials, and the Office of Inspector General Hotline. May be assigned additional facility-wide program responsibilities outside Social Work Service at the direction of the DCOS or Chief of Staff. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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: AdHoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Education: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensure or Certification: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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: Associate Chief of Staff for Social Work (Social Work Program Manager), GS-15 Experience/Education. The social work program manager at the GS-15 grade level must have at least four years of experience as a VA clinical social worker with at least one-year equivalent to the GS-14 grade level and evidence of possession of progressively higher supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating professional competency, skills and judgment including knowledge of the VHA System and operations. Licensure/Certification. The social work manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to manage and direct unusually large interdisciplinary programs, complex organizational units, apply effective management practices, plan, design, implement, and evaluate a program(s) that encompasses a wide range of facility/ healthcare system/VISN/CO activities Ability to oversee issues related to budget projections and participate with senior leaders from the governing body, management and staff in upholding the facility mission, vision, value and strategic plan to include directly interacting with elected officials on VA related issues/concerns (i.e., members of Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, State and Local entities) Knowledge in establishing policy, procedures and quality monitors while considering multiple priorities, funding sources, and varying resources. Skill in assessing need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic patient care venues, coordinate and expand the efforts of multiple program elements across a complex system. Knowledge to complete all program evaluations and documents required by the medical center, VISN and VHA Central Office, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission (TJC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) Ability to orient, teach and serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the clinical social work characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding Veterans, family members and 29 caregivers. Skill in balancing responsibilities in a complex environment and to work with great autonomy, set priorities and delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines; analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions for those problems. Ability to promote and effectively manage a workforce which embraces the values and needs of all individuals through long-term commitment, strategic and business planning, education, experience which broadens the mindset and by fully managing human resources. Preferred Experience: Certification or Post-master's degree in Social Work or related field of study from an accredited university or nationally recognized professional organization. Three or more years of clinical leadership experience at a VA Medical Center at the Section Chief level or above, or five or more years of Service line clinical leadership experience outside VA. Demonstrable familiarity with healthcare laws, regulations, and accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission, VA policies). Previous Assignment including temporary as ACOS Social Work, Deputy ACOS Social Work/Mental Health in any VA and/or Medical Facility. Proven ability to lead complex healthcare initiatives, build collaborative relationships within and outside the organization, and effectively employ quality improvement processes. Experience in clinical research, publication, or academic leadership roles. 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-15. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination

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/. You must possess a master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CSWE website (https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/about/directory/), you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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. 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.