This Psychologist Clinician Investigator position is in Mental Health services at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems, located at the Augusta, ME location.
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
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/.
MELISSA.KUMAR@VA.GOV · 802-295-9363 X6509
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $141829 – $184383/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-09-10.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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