Psychology Technician

Major duties include but not limited to:

Recruitment & Retention

Under the supervision of the investigator or senior level staff ensures participant recruitment and retention goals are met as required by the funding agency and approved protocol. Makes telephone calls and email contacts to potential research participants. Schedules appointments and follow-upsessions. Coordinates with other research staff to optimize use of research space and make efficient use of time. Maintains tracking spreadsheets of recruitment and enrollment metrics. When recruitment and/or retention is falling beneath the target goal the incumbent is expected to be resourceful and draw on the experiences of other project coordinators on similar VA studies to identify ways to enhance recruitment (e.g. novel sources of advertisement) and/or retention (e.g. personal telephone calls or letters).

Data Collection/Conducting Study Procedures

After receiving appropriate training conducts consenting procedures with study participants. Explains all procedures to research participants. Explains the tasks required of participants and monitors participants performance and attention during study procedures. Establishes and maintains effectiverapport with research participants and provides an appropriate non-threatening setting for optimal performance. Under the supervision of the investigator provides sensitive communication with participants with disabilities and adapts procedures in a manner to meet any special problems or needs related to these up and maintains research equipment and testing measures. Keeps track of supplies and reports if any equipment or measurement tool needs to be repaired or the supervision of the investigator or senior level staff conducts study procedures including but not limited to administering tests questionnaires and structured interviews attaching EEG electrodes and monitoring neuroimaging scans. May assist investigator in completing behavior rating scales conducting behavior modification or administering neuromodulatory treatments in accordance with clearly defined all phases of study to ensure data is collected in accordance with approved protocol and that participants are following instructions. Documents any deviations from protocol and reports them to the principal investigator.

Assessment & Scoring

Administers and scores a wide variety of psychological and electrophysiological tests assessments and structured interviews to research participants under the supervision of a Psychologist or Principal Investigator including but not limited to tests of mental health neuropsychological functionintelligence social cognition and memory. Analyzes data using one or more statistical software packages. Adheres to all regulations rules and laws regarding psychological assessment and practices.

Data Entry & Storage

Codes transcribes records and stores data in spreadsheets databases or secure online portals according to approved study protocols. Ensures all data entry is accurate. Stores physical data in appropriate cabinets or storage facilities and maintains file management system. Creates backup filesand under the supervision of the investigator or senior level staff initiates the transfer of data to other sites in accordance with approved study protocols. Documents data entry and storage procedures and generates routine data reports to supervisor and research oversight committees.

Administrative Support

Writes duplicates and distributes letters memos agendas forms certificates and reports for the Psychologist Principal Investigator or Supervisor. Conducts literature reviews to assist investigators with study proposals or grant research team meetings recruitment events and conference calls. Records meeting minutes maintains tracking logs and schedules follow-up actions as other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Psychology Technician/PD0538TA and PD00806TARelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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)

• 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 Federal service.

THIS IS A TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED 4 YEARS.

NOTE: Any permanent employee may apply for this position. However if selected incumbent will be converted to a temporary status. Upon conversion to temporary status employee has no guarantee of returning to a permanent position and is placed in the second area of consideration for permanent positions posted within the bargaining unit. If temporary funding is terminated or at the expiration of the appointment employee may be terminated.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 8/18/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirements:

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above)Experience that involved the observation of and assistance in the application of techniques relating to behavior capacities traits interests and activities of either humans or under laboratory conditions animals. Experience may have been gained in connection with a program of research or direct services in psychology that gave a practical understanding of some of the principles methods and techniques of psychology needed to assist professional psychologists.
OR
Education and Training

For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelors degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects in psychology sociology or other approved social/biological sciences.

For GS-06 / GS-07 (and higher): Requires progressively higher levels of specialized technical experience assisting professional psychologists (such as scoring specific neuropsychological tests collecting research data or conducting behavior modification support) plus required undergraduate coursework


DUTIES: Performs one or more of a variety of technical tasks in a program of research or other professional services in psychology. Performance of these tasks requires a practical understanding of some of the general principles theories methods and techniques of psychology in order to carry out duties which are performed under the supervision of a professional psychologist. These duties may include one or more of the following: (1) assist in research as in systematic collection of psychology research data recording and collecting of data preparing tabular or graphic presentation of data in accordance with a predetermined research plan; (2) assist counseling psychologist in contacting potential employers for purpose of making vocational placement providing follow-up consultation administering and scoring of interest achievement and aptitude tests securing work history and other relevant vocational information; (3) assist neuropsychologist in administering and scoring of selected tests of a neuropsychology battery in accordance with clearly defined procedures; (4) assist psychologists in completing behavior rating scales or in conducting behavior modification.

Requirements: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with a major in an appropriate social or biological science which included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours in psychology.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Data Collection/Documentation
• Research
• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Data Management