Psychologist Clinician Investigator

About the role

This Psychologist Clinician Investigator position is in Mental Health services at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems, located at the Augusta, ME location.

What you will do

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Psychologist Clinician Investigator is embedded within the Mental Health Service Line (MHS) of the VA Maine Healthcare System (VAMHCS), and reports to the Lead Psychologist or designee.
• The incumbent will serve as a subject-matter expert with regard to the intersection of mental health and spirituality, including but not limited to Moral Injury and its sequela; and shall advance through research, training, and direct clinical services, best practices for moral injury response/intervention among Veterans, particularly in a rural health setting.
• Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Program Development / Administration: Develops and administers a robust applied clinical research program relevant to the missions of MHS and VAMHCS.
• Provides oversight for Mental Health research program staff.
• Provides leadership and cultivates a healthy and collaborative workplace for assigned staff, and also fosters ongoing growth and development for staff.
• Oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement, and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts.
• Implements, monitors, tracks, and demonstrates adherence to all applicable guidelines and policies governing the conduct of research and/or pertinent to the duties listed herein.
• Research / Program Evaluation: Publishes research results and related scientific, clinical, and policy implications in peer-reviewed journals, professional books, newsletters, and online outlets.
• Presents research results at VA and regional, national, or international scientific and professional meetings.
• Responsible for compliance with relevant VA and non-VA regulations applicable to research activities and personnel.
• Serves on VA and non-VA committees that are instrumental to the research enterprise (e.g., IRBs, grant review panels, journal editorial boards).
• Clinical Responsibilities: Within the scope of privileges granted, provides a full range of patient care interventions, including individual, family, and group therapy, as well as specialized interventions such as behavior management consultations and systems or environmental interventions.
• Performs evaluations and provides interventions for Veterans presenting to MHS.
• Provides supervision of trainees who deliver direct clinical care.
• Consultation: Serves as facility subject matter expert (SME) and point of contact (POC) for matters related to moral injury, including screening, intervention, education, and outreach.
• Provides general consultation to healthcare providers on available resources for moral injury.
• Collaborates with VA at-large to share best practices through multiple touch points.
• May serve on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA workgroups, committees, or task forces.
• Academic/Teaching/Training: Provides clinical training to various disciplines and levels of training.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and consultation to the staff of units to which assigned.
• Serves as a consultant on Moral Injury and traumatic stress to trainees, and assists in their formulation of psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients.
• Provides mentorship to junior investigators.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: May be authorized.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: PDF03842 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process.
• 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.
• 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: ***

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.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2.

All other VA employees. 3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

4. All other applicants. Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.

Documents you must provide

• To complete your application, please use the following link *** to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Résumé Reminder: Your résumé must include the following information each job listed: Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible) Month & year/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time (include hours worked per week) Please be aware that your answers well be verified against information provided on your résumé.
• Be sure that your résumé clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
• An incomplete application will receive a rating of IFFM (ineligible due to missing forms).
• Requests for reconsideration will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit a complete application package.
• We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software or fax transmissions.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• 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 DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Note: SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action.
• Current or former Federal employees, an SF-50 showing your grade & step must be submitted with your application materials.
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying grade & step.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held Promotions with an effective date more than one year old SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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

***** This vacancy announcement's close date has been extended from 9/10/2026 to 9/17/2026.**** 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.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.