Optometrist - Blind Rehabilitation

Summary The Low Vision Optometrist is a licensed independent practitioner responsible for providing routine and specialized eye care to Veterans of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Low Vision Optometrist will be part of an interdisciplinary team delivering high quality Veteran-centered care at the American Lake Blind Rehabilitation Center and work especially closely with Low Vision Therapists. Responsibilities The duties of the position include, but are not limited to: The Optometrist provides comprehensive low vision evaluations and vision rehabilitation examinations to eligible inpatient and outpatient veterans in the blind rehabilitation continuum of care. Interpretates diagnostic images and coordination of abnormal findings. Understands and performs instrumentation such as optical coherence tomography, topography, ultrasound, perimetry and imagine and the analysis of the results in the detection and treatment of ocular disorders. Acts as mentor and resource to other Blind Rehabilitation Specialists and providers regarding appropriate eye examination, eye care, management of ocular diseases, and vision rehabilitation care. Supervisors, educates, and clinically trains residents, students and/or other healthcare trainees. Performs the administrative components of patient care management including but not limited to completion of progress notes and consultation referrals for both inpatients and outpatients regarding rehabilitation. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.T Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications 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. Optometrist Basic Requirements Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.AND Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below: Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed.OR Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.AND Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. Preferred Experience: The preferred candidate has experience working with Blind Rehabilitation staff and on an interdisciplinary team. The highly preferred candidate has completed a Low Vision Residency training. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.