This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service at the Orlando VA Healthcare System. It is based out of the Lake Nona location. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the organization at all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service. The incumbent is assigned to a primary duty station but will routinely travel to other sites in accordance with facility policy as part of their Clinical Program Responsibilities. 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. Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: (1) Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org. OR (2) Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AuD programs in audiology. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for appointments at grade levels specified. Audiologist (Clinical Specialist) GS-13 Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the following KSAs are required: (a) Advanced knowledge in a focused area of contemporary audiology practice to provide oversight of a specialty program. (b) Skill to evaluate the specialty program to ensure deadlines and goals are met. (c) Skill to coordinate initiatives and build consensus among interdisciplinary team members. (d) Ability to monitor and report on work progress in the specialty program to adjust workload and processes. (e) Ability to serve as the SME and provide education relating to the specialty 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. Audiologists (Clinical Specialists) provide leadership and direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning, and management of the specialty program. They serve as coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and are responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. These individuals serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program. 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: Work is primarily sedentary, and most of the duties can be accomplished sitting comfortably, while others require walking, standing, bending, and carrying or moving items, notebooks, papers, and books. The work is performed in an office and Medical Center setting but will routinely travel to other sites. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. ["The Audiologist - Clinical Specialist (Vestibular and Electrophysiology) will regularly travel to all sites of care where Audiology Services are provided. The frequency and need of travel to other locations will be determined by the Supervisory Audiologist, the Deputy Chief of Audiology, and/or the Chief of Audiology & Speech Pathology. This position is a non supervisory position, although has clinical programmatic responsibilities. Audiologists (clinical specialists) provide leadership and direct oversight in the design, development, implementation, planning and management of the specialty program. They serve as coaches or facilitators for the interdisciplinary team and are responsible for training all support staff and trainees as it relates to the specialty program. These individuals serve as the SME in matters regarding the specialty program (vestibular and electrophysiology). The audiologist at this level plans, conducts, and coordinates all aspects of diagnostic evaluation and treatment of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders. The duties of this position are to perform independently the full range of audiological activities for the care of inpatients and outpatients presenting with the most difficult and complex hearing disorders, including those patients whose communicative abilities are compounded by emotional and/or extreme physical symptoms, on an independent basis. In additional to the clinical duties of a staff audiologist, incumbent has special clinical program responsibilities for the vestibular and electrophysiology programs across Corporate Orlando Audiology. Incumbent serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for vestibular and electrophysiology care for the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service and dedicates no less than 25% of all clinical contact time to this pursuit. Additional clinical program responsibilities include: Coordinating all vestibular and electrophysiology continuing education and trainings for staff audiologists and residents as well as interdisciplinary providers. Ongoing sharing of updated research, articles, or pertinent classes with staff. Incumbent provides support including continuing education services to clinical audiology peers. Clinical oversight and training/coaching of audiologists and audiology health technicians related to vestibular and electrophysiology at all Audiology clinic locations. Facilitating all vestibular and electrophysiology equipment updates and maintenance across Corporate Orlando. Developing and updating SOPs and protocols for vestibular and electrophysiology exams for all sites of care. Serves as a preceptor for students and externs (including those outside of ASPS ex. ENT, Neurology residents or medical students) at the request of the service Education Coordinator. Managing the vestibular evaluation referral process with stakeholders (this includes internal and external referrals). Managing the referral guidelines for non-vestibular electrophysiology exams and communicating this with all members of the service. Monitors and reports on consult timeliness for vestibular and electrophysiology exams. Leads/participates in interdisciplinary teams. Evaluates clinical competencies of new staff/students in vestibular and/or electrophysiology exams. Serves as the vestibular and electrophysiology POC for issues submitted via Secure Messaging across sites of care. Maintaining oversight of the vestibular program including grid utilization. Responsible for grid and schedule maintenance for all vestibular related care across the organization. May participate in research activities. Serves as the external point of contact for all vestibular and electrophysiology issues/needs. Oversees application of these clinical modalities into Telehealth and virtual care. Coordination of all performance improvement activities related to the vestibular and/or electrophysiology care. Collects and provides pertinent information regarding vestibular and electrophysiological evaluations and outcome measures for Station level OAA Trainee application to Education Coordinator and/or other designee. Assists with service level management for Care in the Community for all types of clinical audiology care. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 81910F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
