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Summary The incumbent serves as the Recreation Therapy/Creative Arts Therapy Supervisor in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Tennessee Valley VA Health Care System (TVHS) in the Whole Health Service. The incumbent has full administrative oversight for planning and directing the staff assignments in a variety of clinical settings. Supervisors as this level are responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of program services. Responsibilities Supervisory Recreation Therapist supports the Chief of Recreation Therapy in the activities involved in running Recreation Therapy/Creative Arts Therapy Section and maintains a leadership role in the professional standards for all TVHS recreation/creative arts therapists. The incumbent performs all assignments above the full performance level and the higher-level duties consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and are performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. They evaluate programs to ensure proper coordination with the overall delivery of healthcare. They have responsibility for general or technical supervision of key clinical and training programs. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Assigns work, monitoring clinical performances of staff, resolving staff conflicts which may interfere with the delivery of services, identifying continuing education and training needs, and preparing performance standards and ratings. Interviews candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions. Makes decisions that affect staff and other resources with some latitude of control and independent judgement. Develops policies and procedures, manages document control, develops and rates performance standards, position descriptions, functional statements, and is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, and time and attendance management. Conducts section meetings to convey information to staff, maintains interdepartmental relations with other services, fosters and maintains community contacts that augment and enhance service goals. Oversees Recreation Therapy Sections compliance with standards defined by accrediting organizations and assists department in the preparation of inspections. Responsible for directing the Process Improvement Activities of the Section. Develops and monitors standards of clinical practice/standards of care for Recreation Therapy Section, including development of care guidelines, manuals, and guides to professional practice. Compiles and disseminates Recreation Therapy quality management findings, actions, and outcomes to recreation/creative arts therapists, medical center staff, and leadership personnel. Briefs management orally and in writing on a regular basis concerning matters related to Recreation Therapy Service, to provide information required to make effective decisions for program planning. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Education: (1) A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation /leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); OR (2) A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation). Credible Experience: Knowledge of Current Professional Recreation Therapy or Creative Arts Therapy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (also referred to as "clinical competencies") associated with current professional recreation or creative arts therapy practices. Evidence of such experience includes private practice, U.S. military services, local/state/federal government organizations, for profit/non-profit organizations, health care, or educational facilities. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to the next lower grade level. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreation or creative arts therapist. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met for a Supervisory Recreation Therapist GS-13: Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. Ability to provide treatment in complex cases and work with great independence. ii. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. iii. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and use data to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service. iv. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, to include conflict management. v. Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools. vi. Knowledge of organizational theories and strategies to positively impact the overall goals and objectives within the service. vii. Knowledge related to administrative functions, such as fiscal, material supply, equipment management, and clinical and program management. References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Regular and recurring physical exertion in standing, walking, bending, reaching, and sitting should be anticipated routinely. Light to heavy lifting may be required at times. Work discharge may require physical health, unhindered use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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.