Social Worker Program Manager (Chief of CERS (Homeless Programs))
About This Position
The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. More information, refer to Required Documents below.
This position is located at the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System at the Campus located in Los Angeles, California within the Community Engagement and Reintegration Service (CERS). This is a Temporary Promotion opportunity, not-to-exceed one (1) year.
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.
Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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 and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Experience/Education.
The social work program manager at the GS-15 grade level must have at least four years of experience as a VA clinical social worker with at least one-year equivalent to the GS-14 grade level. The social work program manager must evidence possession of progressively higher supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment.
The individual may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. The social work manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must fully meet the KSAs for the GS-14 grade level and demonstrate all the following professional KSAs: Ability to manage and direct unusually large interdisciplinary programs, complex organizational units, apply effective management practices, plan, design, implement, and evaluate a program(s) that encompasses a wide range of facility/healthcare system/VISN/CO activities. Ability to oversee issues related to budget projections and participate with senior leaders from the governing body, management and staff in upholding the facility mission, vision, value and strategic plan to include directly interacting with elected officials on VA related issues/concerns (i.e., members of Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, State and Local entities). Knowledge in establishing policy, procedures and quality monitors while considering multiple priorities, funding sources, and varying resources.
Skill in assessing need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic patient care venues, coordinate and expand the efforts of multiple program elements across a complex system. Knowledge to complete all program evaluations and documents required by the medical center, VISN and VHA Central Office, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission (TJC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). Ability to orient, teach and serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the clinical social work characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding Veterans, family members and caregivers.
Skill in balancing responsibilities in a complex environment and to work with great autonomy, set priorities and delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines; analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions for those problems.(h)Ability to promote and effectively manage a workforce which embraces the values and needs of all individuals through long-term commitment, strategic and business planning, education, experience which broadens the mindset and by fully managing human resources. 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-15.
Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; hearing (aid permitted);
Major Duties
VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) is a Joint Commission accredited, complexity level 1a facility serving Veterans throughout Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. The VA Medical Center is located in West Los Angeles, California and currently supports two Ambulatory Care Centers and 8 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) across the 20,000 square mile catchment area. GLAHS operates on an annual budget of over $1.4 billion dollars, employs approximately 5,000 employees, and operates 1,040 beds.
GLAHS has approximately 1.3 million annual outpatient visits, treats over 8,000 inpatients, and cares for almost 87,000 enrolled unique patients. GLAHS also offers many specialty services and is known for its Homeless Program Center of Excellence, Patient Centered Care Center of Innovation, Integrative Health and Healing, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC), & Polytrauma and Amputee Networks Site, and Headache Center of Excellence. The Social Work Program Manager serves as the Chief of Community Engagement and Reintegration Service (CERS), the largest VA Homeless Program in the country and delivers a wide range of specialized professional services that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans, their families, and caregivers.
The nature of the work performed is diverse. The workload can be unpredictable and fluctuate dramatically, according to facility and Veteran needs. The CERS Chief provides direct oversight to services with multiple complex programs, located at multiple sites and sections across the health care delivery system.
CERS includes staff members of different grades, multiple disciplines, and various treatment sites at multiple locations close to and distant from the primary medical facility. The CERS Chief has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of VA GLAHS homeless program operations. The CERS Chief oversees the largest VA homeless program in the nation and provides strategic planning, including establishment of long- and short-range goals, and development of policies and procedures to ensure goal attainment management of administrative and programmatic resources (including budget and line authority within the service), and outcomes monitoring, using data driven quality assurance processes.
The CERS Chief provides input to Master Plan responsibilities, to include Extended Use Lease (EUL) development for housing and is responsible providing servant leadership for all homeless programs at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System including Health Care for Homeless Veterans, Grant and Per Diem, Housing and Urban Development- VA Supportive Housing, and Veterans Justice Programs and offers coordination and direction to programs unique to the site including .a Veteran Peer Center, Food Hub, and other special projects involving community partners. The CERS Chief ensures partnership with local non-profits, county, state, and federal partners, represents VA GLAHS Homeless Programs on Federal Advisory Committees, and develops responses to controlled correspondence received by the Medical Center, from VISN, and VHA Central Office levels, inclusive of responding to elected representatives and the Office of Inspector General Hotline concerning Veteran care and other matters of public interest Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Telework: Possible ad hoc after 90 days upon manager approval Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:00000 The position may cover expenses pertaining to travel, accommodations and per diem. This will be discussed at time of selection.
Conditions of Employment
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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. The applicant must obtain supervisory approval to apply for this detail.
NOTE: Requires supporting documentation of approval to be uploaded with your application. Failure to provide supporting documentation will result in your application not being considered.
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/.
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.
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.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/25/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12956420. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account.
Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: License Supervisory Approval Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx 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.
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 License Supervisory Approval Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript