KEY REQUIREMENTS



• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for, or exempt from,
• The Selective Service. Click Here

What are the Major Duties of this Position?

The Special Management Unit (SMU) Psychologist serves a subpopulation of inmates characterized by violent, impulsive or disruptive behavior and/or affiliation with prison gangs. This subpopulation presents with unique behavioral and risk management concerns requiring specialized skill in risk assessment, behavioral management, and clinical care.

The incumbent’s responsibilities include (1) conducting behavioral, clinical and risk assessments of SMU inmates; (2) developing and implementing behavior management intervention to address self-injurious, disruptive and assaultive behaviors which pose a threat to self or others; and (3) identifying, managing and treating mental illnesses. The incumbent also provides supervision to Specialty Treatment Program Specialists assigned to the SMU.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staffs correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

How Do I Qualify for this Position? 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: ALL applicants MUST submit legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. The education MUST be from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications

In addition to the basic requirements, you must have:

GS-12 and GS-13: 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 particular qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Some examples of the qualifying experience are:

GS-12:

• Experience in screening and monitoring inmates requiring special management.
• Experience in conducting individual and group psychotherapy.
• Experience in providing recommendations for mental health aftercare appropriate in a community setting.
• Experience in providing oral and written reports for a variety of audiences including other mental health professionals and the courts.

• Experience in conducting behavioral assessments and developing specialized correctional management plans based upon the assessments.
• Experience in developing interventions based on behavior analytic principles (e.g. contingency management techniques) to reduce inappropriate conduct and promote pro-social behavior.
• Experience in initiating transfers of psychologically unmanageable inmates to Medical Referral Centers as needed.
• Experience in making recommendations regarding course of action most likely to provide for the safe and secure housing of inmates with behavioral and/or mental health issues.

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.**

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).  The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.  If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if:  1)this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy.  To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria.  You must provide proof of eligibility with your application of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.  Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:  Click Here

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.  If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if:  1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy.  To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria.  You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.  Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at:  Click Here

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures.  Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement.  If you are qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses provided to the online assessment questionnaire.  Your application will then be placed in one of three categories:  Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified.  Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration.  Candidates within the Best Qualified category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans preference you are claiming on your resume.  Although veterans preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under "How You Will Be Evaluated", veterans preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified.  

In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest qualified category (i.e. Best Qualified).
To preview questions please click here.

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.  The link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to federal employees:
Click Here

OTHER INFORMATION:

The Department of Justice provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the hiring/servicing personnel office.  The decision of granting a reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.  Selection will be made without discrimination for any non-merit reason such as race, color, religion, national origin, age, physical disability, marital and/or parental status, membership in an employee organization, sex, or sexual orientation.  The Bureau of Prisons is an equal opportunity employer.

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Initial appointment to a managerial position requires a one-year probationary period.

The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.  All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

This position has been identified as test designated.  Incumbents will be subject to urinalysis testing under the BOP Drug Free Workplace Plan.

How do I Apply for this Position if I am a Current Public Health Service Commissioned Officer?

• Submit a complete/detailed resume or curriculum vitae.
• Address selective factor, if required.
• Resume or curriculum vitae must contain all information listed in the Qualifications Section.
• Submit supporting documents (i.e. certification, registration, and/or license, if applicable).

Your completed application packet must be submitted to the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), on the closing date of the vacancy announcement.  You must include the last four digits of your social security number and the vacancy announcement number on your application packet.  DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON-LINE.

How do I Apply for this Position if I am a Current Public Health Service Commissioned Officer and want to enter the competitive service?

Refer to "How do I Apply for This Position" below.

How do I Apply for this Position?  

You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov.  Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.  

NOTE:  Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application.  This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section.  Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions.  Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

Claiming Veterans Preference? If yes, you MUST claim preference on-line during the application process and upload documentation to support preference claimed.   Failure to claim Veterans Preference or provide supporting documentation may result in you not receiving appropriate consideration during the assessment process.

Required supporting documentation must be submitted via mail, fax, e-mail or transferred from USAJOBS (uploaded).

All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the vacancy announcement.  Supporting documentation for announcements with an application limitation MUST be submitted the same day you apply, as these positions may close earlier than stated in the announcement.  You MUST include the vacancy announcement number on your supporting documentation.

Paper applications:  If applying online is impossible, please contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure.

Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line:
DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX  75051
E-Mail:  GRA-HRM/ConsolidatedStaffingUnit@bop.gov
Phone:  972-352-4200     Fax:  972-352-4577

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

• Veterans' Preference Documentation:   Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214 Member Copy 4); or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.   If you are currently on active duty, a statement from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information: Name, Rank, Branch of Service, Active Duty time, Projected Separation Date and type of anticipated discharge must be provided.   In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you MUST submit a completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference", and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.  Documentation to support a disability must reflect the overall evaluation or percentage disability rating.
• Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional).
• In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history must be documented in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date and include the number of hours worked per week.  Failure to follow this format will result in disqualification.
• A college transcript (Note:  If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day).
• SF-50 for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed.  Applicants will be notified via e-mail, to the e-mail address registered in USAJOBS.  The referral certificate or list of eligibles will then be issued to the selecting official for further consideration.  The Human Resource Office may then contact you for an interview if they wish.  We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants referred on a certificate of eligibles may receive an Inquiry of Availability (OF-5 Form)via e-mail, mail or a telephone inquiry from the local Human Resource Department.  Applicants MUST complete the OF-5 form and return it to the Human Resource Management Office or contact the Human Resource Department telephonically or via e-mail.  Applicants MUST also telephone the Human Resource Department during normal business hours to schedule an interview.  Failure to either return the form or contact the Human Resource Department will result in a loss of consideration for the position.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS will receive a rating of INEL or NCND (ineligible due to missing supporting documents).  Requests for reconsideration will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit a complete application package. We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, fax transmissions, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.