Physical Therapist Job in Gainesville - 98111368 - ZA6A7HMTJNF/.

Job Title:
Physical Therapist

Department:
Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency:
Veterans Health Administration

Job Announcement Number:
VHA-573-11-454609-JK

SALARY RANGE:
$56,798.00 - $80,455.00 /year

OPEN PERIOD:
Monday, March 28, 2011 to Friday, December 30, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:GS-0633-11

POSITION INFORMATION:
Full Time Career/Career Conditional

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
11

DUTY LOCATIONS:
1 vacancy - Gainesville, FL

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:
United States Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:Vacancy exists for one Physical Therapist at the VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.  The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System is affiliated with health care programs at local college/universities.  Florida has a low cost of living and no state income tax.  Enjoy excellent recreational activities year-round and nearby beautiful beaches.

To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.  How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED.  The North Florida/South Georgia

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.

VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities.  For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/ .  

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• U. S. Citizenship
• Must pass pre-employment examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

Additional Duty Location Info:
1 vacancy - Gainesville, FL


Statement of Practice:  The incumbent will serve as a Physical Therapist in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service which is part of a general medical and surgical hospital.  The incumbent will primarily work in the acute setting with some coverage of outpatient care as needed.  Specialty areas include but are not limited to neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, cardiopulmonary, amputee rehab, and general medical/surgical care.  The incumbent must posses the knowledge and ability to integrate social, cultural, emotional and age specific (ages 18 to 65 and over) requirements into intervention planning.  He/she is an independent therapist who is responsible for evaluating referred patients, and muscle strength, sensory/perceptual deficits, coordination, functional mobility, pain scales, and social needs.  Incumbent modifies treatment plan according to patient response toward meeting established goals and documents treatment progression and/or modifications accordingly.  The incumbent will attend ward rounds, conferences, clinics, and relay pretinent information to other therapists; participate in in-service education activities of PM&R; assist in supervision of PT assistants.  The incumbent will particpate in appropriate, meaningful clinical and educational experiences for physical therapy students, as well as work study students and volunteers.  He/she will participate in continuing education programs as needed enhance professional skills and update knowledge.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• U.S. citizenship.  
• Graduate from a degree program in physical therapy from an approved college or university approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  The CAPTE is the only accreditatation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs.  Possession of written documentation that applicant has a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

For the GS-9 level:  In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must have one year of post degree progressively responsible experieince equivalent to the GS-7 level OR a master's degree in physical therapy or a directly related field.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-11 LEVEL:   In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must have one year of progressively complex experience and a broader scope of experience equivalent to the GS-9 level OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree; or doctoral degree in physical therapy or a directly related field.

EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 LEVEL:   To meet the required specialized experience for the GS-11 level, applicant must submit a transcript to receive credit for this education.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.  Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.  All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

*** 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. ***

Veterans' Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.   You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.

BENEFITS:

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life.  For more information please visit us at http://www4.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp .

OTHER INFORMATION:

This position will be filled on a full-time permanent basis.  Upon completing any required probationary period, the position will be permanent.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 

Receiving Service Credit for 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.   VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.  This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

HOW TO APPLY:

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

YOU MUST INCLUDE VA FORM 10-2850c IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS VACANCY.   You may upload the completed form to your USAJOBS or Application Manager account if you apply online.  Then you can use the uploaded form again and again when applying for future vacancies.  Please see this guide (http://www4.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/uploading-and-using-documents-online.doc) for more information on uploading and re-using the form in your applications.  Other required forms and documents can also be saved in your account and used the same way.  Applicants are urged to apply online; this process is much easier and faster.

Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application, just reapply through your account in USAJOBS.  Check your account ( https://my.usajobs.gov/Login.aspx ) to see the status of your application after applying, including any messages that may have been sent to you.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire: View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the occupational questionnaire: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf .
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with all supporting documents to (478)757-3144.  Your 1203FX form must be placed on top of all materials being faxed and will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
4. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:

1. Complete this cover page  http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID: 454609.  You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your documents to be matched with your online application.
2. Fax your documents to (478)757-3144.

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on TAG:Closing Date.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. CV or Resume.
2. VA Form 10-2850c - Applicationfor Associated Health Occupations (Available at  http://www.vacareers.va.gov/jobs_download/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf) (required).
3. Occupational Questionnaire
4. Optional Form 306 - Declaration for Federal Employment (Available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of612.pdf).  This is a required form and must be submitted with your application.
5. If prior military service, include all copies of your DD Forms 214 (required).   Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must also complete and submit an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf).  
6. If currently employed in the VA system, include latest SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action. (required).

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Erron Buchman
Phone: (352)376-1611
Email: ERRON.BUCHMAN@VA.GOV Agency Information:
VHA North Florida South Georgia VHS
Malcolm Randall VAMC NF/SG
Human Resources Management Service
Gainesville, FL 32608-1197

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After we receive your complete application package (including any required documents), your qualifications will be reviewed to decide if you meet the basic requirements.  You will be notified when this decision is made.