Summary This position is located at Zuni Service Unit, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service. You will serve as Chief of Optometry for the Zuni Service Unit and Zuni Hospital Department of Optometry, providing oversight of all Service Unit eye care programs and supervising optometry staff. You will report to the Service Unit Clinical Director. Responsibilities Evaluates, develops, coordinates, and manages a comprehensive, high-quality eye care program for the Zuni Service Unit and its facilities. Monitors all patient eye care services for quality, timeliness and appropriateness, including direct clinical care, referred care ocular medications formulary, optical dispensary services for glasses and contact lenses, and other eye care services. Supervises optometry staff, conducts performance reviews, monitors required training, and coordinates staff schedules. Diagnoses, treats and manages eye conditions and diseases and refers patients to other eye care services as needed. Provides consultation for other physicians and providers, coordinating eye care services, diagnosis and management of trauma and acute pathologies. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPTOMETRIST, 0662 SERIES Education You must have a Doctor of Optometry degree from an educational program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) at the time the degree was obtained. AND Licensure You must have received a passing score on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations and possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GS-13 (or equivalent) GRADE LEVEL You must have at least two years of professional Optometrist experience (one year completion of a residency program in an institution accredited for such training or one year professional optometrist experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the grade GS-11; AND one year professional optometrist experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the grade GS-12). The professional experience as an optometrist that is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12 or equivalent) should include: 1) Overseeing or directing the work of subordinates involved in optometric care services to ensure sufficient and timely provision of services to patients. 2) Diagnosing and treating a range of eye diseases to include managing related systemic conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma, trauma, macular degeneration, etc. 3) Managing eye condition screening programs and services to promote and improve eye care, health and safety. 4) Consulting with other physicians and health care providers to manage eye care and disease which may include referral to outside resources for specialty care. 5) Overseeing and evaluating eye care services and optometric programs to ensure quality of care. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation. 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. For further information, visit http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit: For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/ For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/ For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps Additional Information This announcement will close on 09/30/2024 OR when the position is filled. Referral certificates of qualified candidates may be issued every four weeks, as needed, beginning four weeks after 12/18/2023. Please note that this announcement may be closed when filled or canceled without warning. Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed. This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes. Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Housing may be available. This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: https://www.usphs.gov/. Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.