Occupational Therapist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Summary
This position is located within the Rehabilitation Department of the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service Line. Provides comprehensive Occupational Therapy care to inpatient veterans and cross coverage as needed.
Duties
- Major duties include but are not limited to: Plans, coordinates, and carries out Occupational Therapy evaluations and interventions for referred veterans to restore function, compensate for dysfunction and improve quality of life and independence.
- Demonstrates the ability to assess and develop occupational profiles for the OT treatment of patients across multiple ages, diagnoses, and environments.
- Utilizes knowledge of adaptive equipment and environmental adaptations with all patients seen, making or recommendation modifications as needed; seeks out additional options for patients as needed
- Schedules veterans for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care and coordinating schedules with other members of the treatment team.
- Assures all documentation is done in a timely manner as per documentation policy for all veteran visits.
- Functions on a multidisciplinary team, representing the Rehabilitation Department by communicating directly with team members such as Veteran's physician, nursing personnel.
- Continues to maintain and learn advanced skills in this area by attending continuing education courses and training when applicable.
- Always utilizes equipment appropriately and ensures safe operation.
- Responds appropriately to emergency situations; demonstrates compliance with fire, disaster, and infection control policies.
- Participates in developing departmental protocols, policies, and teaching materials.
- Perform set-up and pre-cleaning for all reusable medical equipment per policy.
- Work Schedule: Intermittent, primarily on weekends, holidays, and intermittent week day coverage during low staffing.
- Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
- Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
- You must be a U.S.
- Citizen to apply for this job.
- 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.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
- As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
- In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the
- Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the
- Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.
Required Documents
- To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume Transcript Special Note for
- Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume
- This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
- Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
- The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
- Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former
- Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License
- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Write to the
- Knowledge, Skills, and
- Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document
- KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
- Resume/CV exceeding two-pages Professional Certification
- Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible
- Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
- You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
- If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
- Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
- Documentation is required to award preference.
- For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets
- Veterans' Preference. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
About this role
The Occupational Therapist position and is based in Iowa City, Iowa. This position is located within the Rehabilitation Department of the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service Line.
Day to day, the work involves major duties include but are not limited to: Plans, coordinates, and carries out Occupational Therapy evaluations and interventions for referred veterans to restore function, compensate for dysfunction and improve quality of life and independence. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for United States citizenship, the relevant certifications named in the posting, and a valid driver's license. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Occupational Therapist position in Iowa City, Iowa, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
Competitiveness for this Occupational Therapist role depends mainly on how closely applicants match the stated qualifications. Based in Iowa City, Iowa, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.
