Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

This Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) position is in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS) at the VA Boston Healthcare Systems, with duties at both Brockton campus and Plymouth CBOC. Incumbent provides Physical Therapy care in the outpatient setting. This position is a full-time position at 40 hours per week including weekend/holiday rotation at West Roxbury Acute Care.

The Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) serves in the Physical Therapy Department, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), at the VA Boston Healthcare System. The incumbent practices independently under the general guidance of the Service Line Care Manager and Outpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Providing comprehensive physical therapy evaluations and treatment, particularly for patients with complex conditions. Applying advanced clinical knowledge and skills within the designated specialty area. Making autonomous clinical decisions regarding patient evaluation and treatment. Independently evaluating and treating patients in a Direct Access environment. Preferred Experience: Strong leadership and communication/teaching skills. Preference for orthopedic and/or geriatric PT expertise. Leadership skills and growth mindset with a commitment to supporting the team, department, and system. High level of autonomy in advanced clinical decision making and system/process improvement. Program development experience. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Brockton, Wednesday and Friday at Plymouth. Weekend/Holiday Rotations a West Roxbury Acute Care. Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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: Not eligible. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F04788 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized. NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is part of the AFGE Bargaining Unit. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. You may be required to travel to other Boston Campus locations. Physical Requirements: The work involves standing, stooping, lifting (frequently greater than 50 pounds), sitting, pulling, assisting patients in transferring from various devices (bed, W/C, floor, motorized vehicles, mats etc.). Additionally, moving patient and supplies and pushing patient in their manual or motorized W/C's. Additionally, the PT is required to work at a computer workstation to complete his/her documentation of incidents involving a patient and the progress in the patient's overall PT Program.

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 pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.

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/.