Audiologist (Clinical Specialist)

About the role

This position is located in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Section under Diagnostic Services at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center and its corresponding community based outpatient clinics including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service

What you will do

• Special program responsibilities including coordinating all aspects of the specialty care related to the student training program to ensure local, VISN, national and individual affiliate guidelines are followed.
• Serves as the coordinator for audiology interns and externs at all levels, both paid through the Office of Academic Affiliates (OM) and unpaid without compensation (WOC) students at all levels of education.
• The Education Coordinator also manages requests for student shadowing/observation experiences with educational affiliates.
• Responsible for working with the facility Designated Education Officer (DEO) (or their designee) and the OM in establishing affiliation agreements with partnering university programs.
• Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited, to Maintains a database of university affiliates contact information and affiliate specific information.
• Maintains continual contact with the affiliated programs and students by providing application criteria for interested students of all levels of education including undergraduate for shadowing/observation opportunities and graduate students for paid and WOC 2nd & 3rd year semester placements and 4th year placements.
• Serves as the point of contact for all university matters including disciplinary and grading actions.
• Requests input from all staff on student progress and/or issues ensuring all preceptors sign off on all clinical contact hours for students per the affiliation agreements on a regular basis.
• Conducts interviews when appropriate and makes recommendations for selection by the Supervisory Audiologist or designee for competitive positions.
• Develops and maintains an Audiology Student Trainee handbook with the policies and procedures LAJVAMC.
• Develops and provides the initial and ongoing training for all audiology students .
• Develops Standard Operating Procedures associated with the procedures students and preceptors are to follow to ensure the highest quality of patient care and patient safety.
• Responsible obtaining concurrence from the Supervisory Audiologist/Service Chief and for reviewing with the students during initial orientation/placement and with the audiology staff annually as well as anytime a new staff audiologist is onboarded.
• Ensures students complete appropriate TMS, CPR, and other necessary training.
• Advanced Tinnitus Management & Education - Teaches Progressive Tinnitus Management classes to include virtual classes as well as 1 :1 clinical care when warranted for complex cases of tinnitus and/or sound sensitivity. - Provides advanced tinnitus management and device training to include continuing education for staff audiologists and student trainees as well as interdisciplinary providers. - Provides quarterly updates regarding program progress and initiatives during service level staff meetings and/or when requested by the Supervisory Audiologist or designee to include utilization report of the program. - Reviews and processes Care in the Community requests pertaining to advanced tinnitus management and treatment.
• Clinical Duties and Responsibilities: Uses knowledge of contemporary audiology practice; Exercises independent clinical judgment and adapts clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations; Consults with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment; Evaluates patients to determine nature, type, and severity of hearing and balance disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners; Plans, coordinates, and implements a full range of patient-focused treatment services designed to optimize function; Work Schedule: Hours of operation for the department are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
• Specific tour based on facility needs and discussed during interview.
• Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be available, based on facility needs.
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 270070F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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 (***).
• 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.
• May need to pass a pre-employment evaluation.
• 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.

Education

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: ***

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: *** 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.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1.

Current permanent VA employees of the facility.

Documents you must provide

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) Other (2) Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Whole Health statement: Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest.

The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.