Job Summary

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital (http://www.hines.va.gov/), located 12 miles west of downtown Chicago on a 147-acre campus, offers primary, extended and specialty care and serves as a tertiary care referral center for VISN 12. Specialized clinical programs include Blind Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury, Neurosurgery, Radiation Therapy and Cardiovascular Surgery. The hospital also serves as the VISN 12 southern tier hub for pathology, radiology and radiation therapy.

Job Description

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. You must be proficient in the English Language. Education: You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, technology and industrial arts education, or health care (Transcripts Required);OR,A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined above) that included or was supplemented by at least one of the following: At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). (Transcripts Required)OR ,One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15-18 semester hours).(Transcripts Required)OR,A certificate in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy or low vision therapy from an accredited college or university and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. Certification: (1) Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2)) below: BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows: Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS®). Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT®). [(d) Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS®). GS-12 Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of 1 year of experience as a BRS equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11. In addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-11 level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the KSAs required for the specific assignment and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs. Specialized experience for this position include: Ability to independently develop, plan, and administer complex treatment programs; Ability to act as a subject matter expert in the blind/vision rehabilitation field and as consultant, supervisor and/or mentor in evaluating and treating patients in specialty or program areas; Ability to coordinate, motivate, and effectively manage staff and/or committee members to include organizing work, setting priorities, and delegating tasks and responsibilities; Ability to disseminate appropriate information through various media as a consultant or mentor; Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with patients, employees, other team leaders, managers and other stakeholders; Ability to identify team group dynamics, objectively observe, and modify behaviors; Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis, to develop short term and long range goals, and to plan for future utilization of resources. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.