Behavioral Health Science Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

This position is located in the Office of Research and Development (ORD), Veterans Heath Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Office in D.C. This Position provides scientific direction for the Brain, Behavioral and Mental Health Broad Portfolio (BBMH) with the focus on improving mental and behavioral health and advancing mental health care within the VA for our nation's Veterans by conducting high priority VA research in post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.Qualifications:To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/12/2026.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
Provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF-50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
Basic Requirements: This section covers the basic requirements for this vacancy. For positions at the GS-15 grade level, applicants may qualify by meeting or exceeding the minimum proficiency level established for each of the required competencies, in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirement as demonstrated through the assessment of skills identified through the agency's job analysis.
Applicants must meet the requirements of the competency-based qualification standard to be fully qualified.
NOTE: The basic requirements MUST be substantiated in your resume. Failure to provide the required information will render your application ineligible for consideration.
For GS-15 positions, individuals must meet or exceed the minimum proficiency level established for each of the nine competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled.
Attention to Detail- Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
Customer Service- Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
Decision Making- Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
Information Management- Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
Interpersonal Skills- Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Teamwork- Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Technical Competence- Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
NOTE: Evidence of claimed competence must be substantiated in your resume and upload copies of applicable certifications, licensures, registrations, etc, as supporting documentation.Education:The Individual Occupational Requirement for the 0601 Health Science Series is as follows:
Education: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position.
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants may also be considered to have satisfied the minimum qualification requirements for a position if they can present evidence that clearly justifies a high evaluation of their competence, such as one or more of the following:

• Appropriate licensure, registration(s), certification(s); or
• A substantial record of experience, achievement, and publications that demonstrates eminence in the appropriate profession/technical field.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.
Employment Type: OTHER