Summary The primary purpose of the position of the Social Science Specialist (CEPC) Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator is to serves as a content matter resource for community-based suicide prevention and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community. This position is designated to help lead the implementation of VA's public health approach to Suicide Prevention (SP 2.0) through community-based prevention strategies. Responsibilities Major duties include but not limited to: Utilize a wide range of management skills and analytical techniques to advise professional and scientific work in one or any combination of the social sciences. The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The CEPC is responsible for community capacity development for suicide prevention by serving in a leadership role in communicating with, organizing and managing community partner interactions and in helping to build coalitions to implement suicide prevention programs aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the community, state, and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) levels. The CEPC serves as a seasoned content matter expert for suicide prevention and public health and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community by developing and organizing community partners and coalitions aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the local, state and VISN level. Provides leadership for coalition management -- leads alignment of community coalition goals with VA goals, collaborates with non-VA coalition leaders, attends coalition meetings, manages and attends coalition sponsored events/public meetings, conducts and/or supports coalition evaluation activities; and leads other coalition activities defined in a coalition action plan. Is responsible for establishing and maintaining strong relationships between the VA suicide prevention team and community-based veteran organizations and leadership. Develops and maintains content expertise in suicide prevention through, networking, internet access, published literature, national conference calls, and educational offerings and professional meetings. Promotes and utilizes evidence-based guidelines at all stages of program development and implementation. Oversees outreach to educate community partners, the media, VA and other government stakeholders to enhance the development of suicide prevention coalitions. Develops and delivers education and outreach services that encompasses underserved veteran populations and expands SP coalition building in communities in the Facility's geographical catchment area and may include regional or state events. Serves as a subject matter expert in public health and suicide prevention and implements VHA Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention including collaborating with community, Veteran, and state partners to develop, conduct, and/or support community-based suicide prevention programs as defined and supported by the VHA Suicide Prevention Program. The position will facilitate planning, direction, and timely execution of policy, training, education, research and evaluation, and/or data and surveillance projects/programs pertaining to the prevention of Veteran Suicide. The CEPC Performs duties and functions as a primary point of contact for the dissemination of information related to VHA's efforts to prevent Veteran suicide to internal and external stakeholders including VISN and VAMC staff, federal, state and community agencies as well as the public by developing and implementing a comprehensive suicide prevention communications plan to support community coalition development for local suicide prevention efforts. To communicate effectively with stakeholders the CEPC researches communication requirements to determine the nature of the audience and other special considerations to enhance the development of suicide prevention coalition building. As well as developing and/or coordinating graphics requirements, including databases, tables and spreadsheets to complement communications materials. The CEPC will work with the Public Affairs Officer, VHA Communications and external VA partners to plan, develop and disseminate suicide prevention outreach communications to enhance the work of community coalitions. This will include developing and providing suicide prevention related media/marketing, including interviews (print or broadcast), social media postings, and communication campaigns (Paid/PSAs). The CEPC will also disseminates program evaluation and surveillance data related to suicide prevention with community partners to internal and external stakeholders in conjunction with the clinical arm of SP 2.0. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Social Science Program Special/PD03026O Requirements 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education and experience: The candidate must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1)Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The degree must be in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR, (2)Two years of specialized experience as a first responder (e.g., Police, Medic,Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Dispatch, etc.) or in a social science related field that included behavioral health crisis response, and two years of higher education (i.e., above the high school level) from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR, (3)Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or universityin any field and, one year of specialized experience that included behavioral healthcrisis response or mental health counseling. c.Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series, orin another occupational series, who perform the duties as described in the qualificationstandard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held,including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of thebasic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basicrequirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to theposition at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1)Employees in an occupation not requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may bereassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2)Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may bereassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demotedwithin the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level orplaced in supervisory or managerial positions. (3)Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only athigher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirementbefore they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels. (4)Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of thequalification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or bereappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basicrequirements of the standard. (5)Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency: Social Science Specialists (Crisis Responders) must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATION: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level. Supervisory Social Science Specialist, GS-12 (1)Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of experience comparable to the GS-11 grade level. (2)Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and a range of variety that the incumbent must perform at least 25% of the time. Employees at the GS-12 level provide direct supervision to Social Science Specialists (Crisis Responders). Supervisors provide oversight for evidence-based paraprofessional skilled intervention services, trainers, and silent monitors. Supervisors must possess clinical expertise to serve as a consultant to other Crisis Responder supervisors and any other staff assigned to the VCL. They troubleshoot and solve any unique problems or challenges that occur while connecting Veterans to the appropriate level of care. Supervisors resolve work problems presented by staff and recommends or implements methods to improve production/quality of work in the unit. Supervisors provide subordinates with performance requirements and expectations. They track and evaluate progress providing feedback to the Crisis Responder. Supervisory responsibilities include making recommendations for employee promotions or reassignments; approving leave requests; addressing leave issues; and taking disciplinary action in accordance with established policy and negotiated labor agreements. Supervisors assign work to be accomplished by subordinates. Supervisors manage stressful, complex, or emergent situations that may arise within the workplace. Supervisors assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure efficient and safe operation of the VCL. Supervisors ensure policies, training, and clinical procedures of the VCL are up to date and consistent with crisis intervention practice, clinical practice, and effective coordination of care. Supervisors communicate business goals, procedures, and quality standards and provides leadership with guidance regarding clinical standards, training, policy development, and data analysis. Supervisors identify career development and training needs of employees. Supervisors promote an environment that encourages staff well-being. After an emotionally charged contact, the supervisor supports staff to ensure the Crisis Responder managed the situation in an appropriate manner, including post event review. (3)Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge and skill in management/administration, which includes supervision, consultation, negotiations, and monitoring. (b)Ability to write policies, procedures, and or/practice guidelines. (c)Ability to effectively interact with individuals and groups with cultural differences to problem-solve and negotiate complex issues and obtain cooperation. (d)Ability to provide training, orientation, consultation, and guidance within clinical specialization of practice. (e)Skill in developing interpersonal relationships including the ability to address the unique needs of Crisis Responders. This includes the provision of postvention as professionally indicated. (f)Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and make recommendations for change, as appropriate. 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.