Optometrist

Company: Department of Veterans Affairs
Location: Chula Vista
Posted on: August 5, 2022

Job Description:

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 26, 2022. Eligible applications received after the opening date will be referred on a as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Duties will be discussed with the hiring manager.

Work Schedule: Department's discretion.

Telework: Department's discretion.

Virtual: Department's discretion.

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Overview

* Accepting applications
* Open & closing dates

09/13/2021 to 08/26/2022


* Salary

$72,355 - $172,500 per year

Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay)


* Pay scale & grade

VP 00


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Locations

* Chula Vista, CA Many vacancies


* Oceanside, CA Many vacancies


* San Diego, CA Many vacancies




* Telework eligible

No


* Travel Required

Not required


* Relocation expenses reimbursed

No


* Appointment type

Multiple Appointment Types


* Work schedule

Multiple Schedules


* Service

Excepted


* Promotion potential

15


* Job family (Series)

0662 Optometrist


* Supervisory status

No


* Security clearance

Other


* Drug test

Yes


* Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk


* Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness


* Announcement number

CBSX-11230173-21-IC


* Control number

613957600



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This job is open to

* Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.



Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Current permanent facility employees ONLY.

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Duties

This is an Open Continuous Announcement that will be used to fill Optometrist vacant positions throughout the San Diego VA, Chula Vista facility and Oceanside facility. There may not be any vacancies at the time of the submission of your application, however, when vacancies become available, you will be referred based on your eligibility and qualifications. This vacancy is open to only Optometrists currently employed at these VA Medical Center or associated CBOCs. Resumes will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration as a vacancy occurs. You will receive an email notification when your resume has been referred to the hiring manger.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

* Performs procedures that require an optometrist, including comprehensive eye examinations, management of new patient consultations, diagnosis and treatment, and management of established patient eye and vision care, binocular vision, low vision and contact lens exam.
* Provides accurate and timely completion of clinical records, patient encounters, and other performance standards.
* Performs diagnosis and treatment consistent with guidelines of the organization, the eye clinic, professional practice, clinical privileges, and community standard of care.
* Assists with the residency training program.
* Utilizes a team approach to patient care with ophthalmologists, medical staff, rehabilitation staff, ancillary staff, residents, other services, patients, and family members.
* Performs a variety of administrative functions.
* Serves as a facility resource.
* Maintains optometric education requirements of the facility and of licensure.
* Performs other duties as assigned by the Chief of Optometry.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases

Paid Time Off: 49-54 days of annual paid time offer per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 10 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)

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)

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement

Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided

Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

* U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
* 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
* You may be required to serve a probationary period
* Subject to a background/security investigation
* Must be proficient in written and spoken English
* Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
* Must pass pre-employment physical examination
* Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

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.
* English Language Proficiency. Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
* Education. Degree of doctor of optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed

Licensure or Registration.

* Optometrist (Except Residents). Licensed to practice optometry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Optometrists are required to possess full and unrestricted licensure and to maintain a current registration in their State of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular State.
* Residents. Licensure in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia before completion of the first year of VA residency. Unlicensed residents must meet any registration or other equivalent requirements established for optometric residents of non-VA facilities or optometry clinics with which the VA facility is affiliated for training purposes during the first year of VA residency.
* Impaired Licensure. An optometrist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed on a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions of chapter 3, section B, paragraph 14, this part.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Associate Grade (11). None beyond the basic requirements.

Full Grade (12). Two years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association is acceptable in lieu of the 2 years of practice. Candidate must have demonstrated the professional competence and performance necessary to provide independently the full range of clinical optometric diagnosis and treatment for all the most prevalent types of vision dysfunctions and the detection and referral of patients with ocular disease or ocular manifestations of systemic disease.

Intermediate Grade (13). Meets the requirements in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) below:

(1) Four years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association is acceptable in lieu of 2 years of practice.

(2) The optometrist at this level has successfully passed the examinations of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry

(3) Has achieved a high level of professional attainment

Senior Grade (14). Meets the requirements for Intermediate grade and the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) below:

(1) The optometrist at this level possesses such academic stature as would warrant a faculty appointment of a professional level in an approved school or college of optometry.

(2) Has demonstrated recognized superior professional attainment

Chief Grade (15). Meets the requirements for Senior grade and must demonstrate a sustained very high level of professional performance with evidence of exceptional professional and/or administrative development by the following: (1) Has assumed substantial professional and/or administrative responsibilities in which the individual is expected to fully advise and make professional clinical and educational recommendations as to courses of action on problems and considerations of national scope in all areas of optometry. Typically, the optometrist at this level has had responsibility for a major optometric program segment on a nationwide basis and has been consistently called upon to represent the organization in an authoritative manner in matters dealing with development of new and/or revised concepts and programs having a major impact upon the academic, medical, and optometric communities (2) Outstanding professional attainment. Examples of such attainment are: (a) Achievement of outstanding results in research which are regarded as having a major impact on advancing the field. (b) Significant number of noteworthy publications in professional journals.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-15 Optometrist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is Chief Grade (15). The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Associate (11) to Chief (15).

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

Degree of doctor of optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: (1) United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed. (2) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure

NOTE: Licensure may be waived by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in Central Office, for individuals in research or academic assignments involving no direct patient care in accordance with current regulations

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides an overview of the benefits associated with a VA practice: VHA Physician Brochure.

* This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
* It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
* 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.
* 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.
* Financial Disclosure Report:Not required
* If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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* Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.



How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, rsum, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. 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.

Keywords: Department of Veterans Affairs, Chula Vista , Optometrist, Healthcare , Chula Vista, California