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Posted: February 3, 2026 (2 days ago)

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Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - SUD/IOP

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$117,033 - $152,144

per year

Closes

February 17, 2026

GS-1 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $21,996 - $27,534

Typical requirements: No experience required. High school diploma or equivalent.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading and coordinating substance use disorder (SUD) and intensive outpatient programs for veterans, including supervising staff, managing budgets, and developing policies to support patient care.

A good fit would be an experienced social worker with a passion for helping veterans recover from addiction, strong leadership skills, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks while collaborating with teams.

It's ideal for someone who thrives in a government healthcare setting focused on improving lives through organized support services.

Key Requirements

  • Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school
  • Full, unrestricted state licensure or certification at the advanced practice level for independent social work
  • One year of experience equivalent to GS-12 level, demonstrating advanced skills in program coordination
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • United States citizenship (non-citizens only if no qualified citizens available)
  • Ability to supervise staff, including performance evaluations, training, and disciplinary actions
  • Skills in fiscal oversight, policy development, and collaborating with internal/external partners

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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.

Education: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited.

A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.

Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment.

Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13 Experience/Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility.

Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.

Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).

Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.

Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action.

Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.

Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Assignment.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

At this grade level, social worker program coordinators oversee the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty treatment program, such as, but not limited to: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Home-Based Primary Care, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Caregiver Support Program or Transition and Care Management Program, or a combination of programs located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility.

They are responsible for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing, work assignments, budget, treatment services provided, and admission criteria for the program.

The program coordinator may or may not have supervisory responsibilities. They have full responsibility for all phases of service delivery for a major specialty program.

The program coordinator is responsible for the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds.

They are administratively responsible for the programming and operations of the program assigned, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.

Program coordinators provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff.

They initiate and conduct program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity.

Program coordinators 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 Veterans Health Administration.

Physical Requirements: Involve active listening, reading, observing, and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, speaking, writing reports, writing policies and procedures, writing clinical notes, using office equipment such as computers, telephones and other electronic medium of communicating Major Duties:

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position functions as the program manager responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing administrative and clinical management of all components of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) across Northern Arizona.

The primary responsibilities are to develop and manage programming for these programs which provide integrated psychosocial outpatient treatment services to Veterans with addictive and co-occurring disorders who are determined to be at high risk to relapse or who need a step-down from a more intensive level of care.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Responsible for the development, organization, and implementation of the SUD and IOP programs as well as direction, coordination, and management of psychotherapeutic components of the various programs and clinics.

Responsible for ensuring all necessary program elements, activities, and therapies are managed on a day-to-day basis.

Conducts program planning, develops necessary policies and procedures, sets program goals and objectives for substance use disorder programs as a part of the leadership team.

Responsible for program staff meetings and interdisciplinary treatment planning sessions with appropriate program staff.

Regularly appraises the SUD program and makes recommendations related to the program's scope and direction and actively participates in decisions impacting substance use disorder programs.

Formulates and directs the implementation of internal performance improvement programs that objectively monitor major aspects of care provided and implements program changes based on performance improvement data.

Collaborates with Mental Health leadership to identify training and development needs of the substance abuse clinicians to maintain appropriate levels of clinical competence.

Plans staff development programs and takes responsibility for providing opportunities for staff to update clinical skills or acquire new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities.

Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized to highly qualified candidates.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more 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: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/3/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/4/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSX-12877789-26-MK