Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Portland, Oregon

Salary Range: $66505 - $136183 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service for VA Portland Health Care System. VA Portland Health Care System is a level 1 a facility that includes Portland and Vancouver in addition to the CBOC locations.

Major Duties:

• A. Clinical: 1) Provides direct patient care as assigned delivering Occupational Therapy services according to program requirements. 2) Screens patients for Occupational Therapy services for appropriateness, types of services and rehabilitation potential. 3) Independently develops and implements Occupational Therapy treatment using judgment to modify the treatment as a result of changing medical conditions. 4) Evaluates a wide range of patients with complex disabilities to determine level of function using standardized and non-standardized tests. 5) Assists multidisciplinary medical team in coordination or patient's treatment and discharge planning. 6) Considers the age of the patients in designing treatment plans. 7) Communicates with patients, families, treatment team members, and other Medical Center personnel and associates in the community to provide comprehensive services. 8) Utilizes aides, students, and volunteers to implement Occupational Therapy services. 9) Works collaboratively with the leadership to design and implement programs within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. B. Administrative: 1) Insures proper supply levels are maintained for patient treatment. 2) Maintains and submits in a timely manner statistics and other required reports. 3) Understands and adheres to policies and procedures in the section manual. 4) Employee works independently. H/She is responsible for the program and clinics to which he/she is assigned and confers with the supervisor at periodic intervals for the purpose of keeping him/her informed of problem cases, workload and progress reports. 5) Notes must be completed within required time lines: Inpatient/CRU/NHCU/LTC: Within one day or following working day if received on a Friday or holiday. Outpatient: One week. 6) Treats co-workers equally in all professional matters, regardless of age, minority status, handicap, or any other EEO factor. Contributes to a positive working environment by interacting with all persons pleasantly and courteously, demonstrating value-added service. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications: 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. The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14). a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) b. Education [and/or Experience. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. (2) Individuals must be a graduate of] a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. State Licensure. Candidates must possess] a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist, GS-9 (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Assignments. Individuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently. OTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapists. OTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OT. Occupational Therapist, GS-11 (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; or (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; or (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy. (2) Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)]. In addition to the [experience or education above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. Occupational Therapist, GS-12 (1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. (2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the [experience above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits. (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. (c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients. (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/14/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953660. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-14