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Posted: January 29, 2026 (8 days ago)

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Clinical Psychologist (Chief Psychologist)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Recent

Salary

$128,162 - $166,615

per year

Closes

February 20, 2026

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job is for the head of the psychology department at a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, where you'll oversee mental health programs, supervise staff, and help inmates prepare for life after release through treatments like drug abuse counseling and offender rehabilitation.

It's ideal for an experienced clinical psychologist who enjoys leadership roles in a secure, correctional setting and has a passion for improving inmate well-being while ensuring facility safety.

You'll balance administrative tasks with hands-on psychological work in a team environment.

Key Requirements

  • Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in clinical or counseling psychology
  • Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, or D.C.
  • At least one year of specialized experience in areas like drug abuse treatment, forensics, sex offender treatment, or transitional services
  • Experience in organizational development, modern correctional practices, and psychology department management
  • Proven ability to provide professional guidance, training, and supervision to psychology staff
  • Familiarity with psychological assessment, evaluation, research, and program development in a correctional setting
  • Commitment to maintaining institution security as a regular duty

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following: Basic Requirements: Satisfactory completion of all the requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D.

or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required. NOTE: Applicants may have received this degree in either clinical or counseling psychology.

AND In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have: Education: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience in specialized treatment program areas such as drug abuse treatment, forensics, sex offender treatment, APA psychology internship program, and transitional services program.

Experience in organizational development, modern correctional practices and various management concepts as it relates to the psychology department.

Experience in providing professional guidance to staff in the psychology department.

AND Selective Placement Factor: Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor.

In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

Applicants must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.

NOTE: All applicants must electronically upload a copy of their license at the time they apply to the vacancy announcement. The documentation provided must show the expiration date of the license.

Failure to provide this documentation will result in loss of consideration for this position. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.

To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

Serves as Chief of the Psychology Services department at a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal correctional facility.

Major duties and responsibilities include administration and program development, psychological assessment and evaluation, training and supervision, research/program evaluation, as well as facilitating a wide variety of professional, self-help and personal growth programs.

The Chief Psychologist supervises two or more specialized treatment psychology programs, each directed by a GS-13 program coordinator psychologist.

Specialized treatment programs include such program areas as drug abuse treatment, forensics, sex offender treatment, APA psychology internship program, transitional services program, etc.

Maintains an ongoing awareness of organizational development, modern correctional practices and various management concepts as it relates to the psychology department.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/29/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/30/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: WRO-2026-0056