Speech-Language Pathologist (Special Clinical Program Responsibilities - PADRECC/MSCOE Neurorehab)

This position specializes in neurorehabilitation with special emphasis on Parkinsons and Multiple Sclerosis serving local, regional, and national areas. Clinical duties serve other neurological conditions to meet local needs where gaps in care may exist. The incumbent will complete complex evaluations, conduct specialized interventions and treatments, and interpret specialized procedures, theories, and outcomes in neurorehabilitation to a vast array of functional impairments.

This position serves as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within neurorehabilitation, teach and mentor medical center staff, provide clinical practice guidance and training for other Speech Pathology staff locally and nationally, and demonstrate the ability to guide work of a multi-disciplinary team.

Not all direct patient care clinical duties are related to the specialty area. As such, this individual will provide clinical services to address problems and disorders that impact the health and function of a wide range of diverse patients.

Functions
Clinical:

• Use advanced skills and knowledge of Speech Language Pathology theories and techniques to examine and evaluate patients as appropriate for their age and diagnosis to determine current levels of functioning.
• Plan, conduct, coordinate, and monitor the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning.
• Develop an effective and comprehensive plan of care for swallowing and communication disorders in collaboration with other health care practitioners; establish and maintain an effective therapy relationship with the patient, family, and caregivers; adjust treatment plans according to patient response and indicators of progress.
• Serve as a professional role model to other Speech Pathology staff, students, and volunteers by providing efficient and quality patient care.

Education:

• Have and maintain advanced training/certification and experience in neurorehabilitation. Continually increase knowledge and skills by attending seminars, workshops, lectures, and in-services, especially in neurorehabilitation.
• Orient patients, medical residents, allied health professionals, community organizations, Speech Pathology Trainees, and volunteers to the purpose and function of Speech Pathology with any area of SLP service delivery.
• Education, Consultation, and Standardization:
  • Develop and disseminate educational resources, provide expert consultation, and promote standardized practices across the VA system.
  • Design and implement educational programs for Speech Language Pathology professionals across the VA system to promote consistency in care delivery.
  • Develop and disseminate standardized training materials and resources for use across facilities.

Administrative:

• Communication is required by this position and the incumbent is expected to attend regular staff meetings and inter-disciplinary health care team meetings as appropriate; review policies and procedures and attend in-service trainings.
• Assist Speech Pathology leadership in ensuring proper supply inventory levels and equipment is available for patient treatment.
• Ensure patient appointments made in the medical record are checked out and encounter information is completed for all patients in a timely manner.
• Track and turn in monthly statistics relating to patient visits and workload as requested by the Speech Pathology Program Leadership.

Program Oversight and Management:

• Develop and provide recommendations to national programs and initiatives related to Speech Language Pathology services, ensuring alignment with VA strategic goals and policies.
• Collaborate with VISN and local facility leadership to implement and monitor nationwide strategies for enhancing Speech Language Pathology care delivery.

Consultation and Collaboration:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for Speech Language Pathology practices, offer guidance and expertise to clinical staff, administrators, and other stakeholders.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance patient care and operational efficiency across various service lines and facilities.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Establish metrics and benchmarks for Speech Language Pathology services, stratified by VISN, rurality, and diagnosis (e.g., Parkinson's Disease vs. Multiple Sclerosis).
• Prepare and present reports on program performance, outcomes, and compliance with national standards.

Policy and Standardization:

• Participate in the development, review, and revision of Speech Language Pathology policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure alignment with evidence-based guidelines.
• Promote the adoption of standardized care pathways and clinical practices to ensure consistency in patient care across the VA system.

National, Regional and Local Coordination:

• Act as a liaison between local facilities and National Program Offices to facilitate the implementation of national initiatives and policies.
• Coordinate and support VISN-level initiatives to improve access to and quality of Speech Language Pathology services.

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

Education and Experience.
(1) A master's degree, or its equivalent, in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and one year of creditable experience.
OR,
(2) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders and sciences or a related field, from an accredited college or university.

• Note: Accredited. A college or university recognized by a regional accreditation organization and a speech-language pathology academic program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association.

Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license in a U.S.state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
(1) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for SLP licensure may be appointed to a temporary position as a graduate SLP under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (c)(2). Individuals appointed as graduate SLPs may not be promoted to the GS-12 level without being fully licensed.
(2) 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.
(3) An SLP who has, or ever has had their speech-language pathology license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed on probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

English Language Proficiency. SLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Speech-Language Pathologist, GS-13.
(1) Experience/Education. In addition to the basic requirements at the GS-12 level, completion of one year of professional experience comparable to the next lower level.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience requirements, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of scientific principles and contemporary, evidence-based practice in differential diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, voice, swallowing and cognitive-communication disorders as it relates to a specialized clinical program.
(b) Skill in prioritizing program goals and objectives.
(c) Ability to build consensus among clinical team members, interests and points of view.
(d) Ability to gather and evaluate outcome data to determine program quality and effectiveness.
(e) Ability to serve as a resource to other health care providers regarding a specialized clinical program.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. SLPs with special clinical program responsibilities plan, guide and facilitate the work of a specialized, intra- or interdisciplinary clinical team to accomplish program goals and establish well-coordinated work operations. At this level, SLPs are responsible for communicating team goals and objectives to other medical center staff; and serve as a resource to other health care providers. SLPs with special clinical program responsibilities evaluate the program's work by developing quality improvement indicators and monitoring outcome data, making adjustments as needed.

Preferred Experience:

• 3 years of neurorehabilitation experience, preferably with MS and/or Parkinson's Disease.
• Specialty Certifications (Speak Out Certification, ATP, BRS-S, BC-ANCDS).
• Program and/or Project Development Experience.

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: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated on 4/17/2026.

IMPORTANT: This position has a positive education or training requirement. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of the required degree or program is required and must include the name of the school, your name, date conferred or completed, and degree or certificate type.

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 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.