Optometrist

Optometrist Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administrion North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Summary

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET.

This is an

OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Applicions accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through December 31, 2026. Eligible applicants referred each month as vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Learn more about this agency Summary

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET.

This is an

OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Applicions accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through December 31, 2026. Eligible applicants referred each month as vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Learn more about this agency Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 04/29/2026 to 12/31/2026 Salary $73,939 - $190,424 per year The actual salary of the selectee is based on current VA pay setting rules th utilizes your current grade, step, salary and/or qualificions. Pay scale & grade VP 00 Locions FEW vacancies in the following locions: Gainesville, FL Jacksonville, FL Lake City, FL Marianna, FL Show more fewer locions (10) Middleburg, FL Ocala, FL Palka, FL Perry, FL Saint Augustine, FL Tallahassee, FL The Villages, FL Saint Marys, GA Valdosta, GA Waycross, GA Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Not required Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Multiple Schedules Service Excepted Promotion potential None Job family (Series) 0662 Optometrist Supervisory stus No Security clearance Other Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk Trust determinion process Credentialing Suitability/Fitness Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit stus Yes Announcement number

CBTC-12944176-26-DRD

Control number 867192000 This job is open to Help Internal to an agency Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement. Clarificion from the agency This announcement is open to current, permanent North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System VA facility employees only.

NOTE:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more informion, refer to Required Documents below. Videos Duties Help In compliance with VA Policy and union requirements/recommendions for Title 38 clinical positions, internal facility employees must receive first considerion prior to hiring managers making selections externally to other applicants. So, this internal announcement ensures this is met by posting all positions internally to facility employees throughout the year. This announcement does not signify th a vacancy exists this time. Should a true vacancy become available in this occupion/specialty, applicants reviewed and referred to hiring managers for considerion th time. You will receive notificion when/if your applicion progresses to the next stage of recruitment. Some positions/specialties are eligible for Educion Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP applicion within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Educion Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP applicion. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. This announcement may be used to fill various positions. You must choose which duty locion and specialty you wish to be considered for. You may select multiple duty locions and specialties, but you must select least one when you apply. You considered for the duty locion(s)/specialties th you select when you apply. Note th there may not be any current vacancies the time of this announcement, however, applicants may be considered for future vacancies th become available until the announcement closes. The Optometrist is professionally and clinically responsible to the Associe Chief of Surgery and Chief of Eye Care Service in both clinical and administrive areas. The incumbent is an independent practitioner responsible for providing quality pient care service to Veterans and enhance the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the pient care activities in the Eye Clinic. The incumbent's work is reviewed for technical adequacy and conformance to policies, procedures, and practices. The incumbent consults with other team members and supervising physician regarding complex or unusual situions. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following: Demonstring advanced competencies and skills in providing diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic health. Diagnosing the full range of complex eye conditions and planning and executing the necessary trement programs. Contributing to the teaching, supervising and administrion of optometric externship programs. Providing comprehensive assessment, diagnostic work-up and clinic intervention, including pient assessment, health history, physical examinion, and pient educion. Ordering and evaluing diagnostic tests as approprie, recommending trement and/or referral, and validing the effectiveness of previously implemented medical trement. Recording and documenting health appraisal informion, clinical assessments, trement decisions, plan of care, ongoing management, and therapeutic outcomes. Ordering medicions, diagnostic tests and referral consultions when needed. Conducting routine eye exams, prescribing glasses and also managing various ocular conditions prevalent in a hospital-based eye clinic including diabetes, macular degenerion and glaucoma. Interpreting diseases and conditions of the eye and adnexa and ocular manifestions of systemic disease. Ordering, verifying, dispensing and adjusting optical aids for visually impaired pients. Evaluing and fitting contact lens. Responsible for emergency pient care and being on call as needed. Other reled duties as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package .

Work Schedule:

Various work schedules available. Some positions may require roting call coverage, weekdays, nights, weekends and/or holidays. The supervisor will determine the actual work schedule (FT, PT, Intermittent and the specific work shift) upon selection based on the needs of the organizion.

Telework :

Not Available Virtual :

This is not a virtual position. Educion Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP. Contact the VISN 8 Compension Center of Excellence

VISN8CCOE

@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more . Requirements Help Conditions of employment All qualified candides 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 tentively selected for VA employment in a testing designed position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigion. Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion 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 ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examinion. Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probionary period. Complete all applicion requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualificions Applicants pending the completion of educional or certificion/licensure requirements may be referred and tentively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

United Stes Citizenship:

Must be a US Citizen.

Educion:

Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of educion in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Approved schools are:

United Stes and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Council on Optometric Educion of the American Optometric Associion, in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed. -OR- Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a Ste, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United Stes, or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure. Licensure or Registrion . Active, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a Ste, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United Stes, or in the District of Columbia; and to maintain a current registrion in your Ste of licensure if this is a requirement of the particular Ste.

English Language Proficiency:

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d) optometrists appointed to direct pient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinions :

In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify for a specific grade level:

Associe Grade :

None beyond the basic requirements.

Full Grade:

Two years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Educion of the American Optometric Associion is acceptable in lieu of the 2 years of practice. Candide must have demonstred the professional competence and performance necessary to provide independently the full range of clinical optometric diagnosis and trement for all the most prevalent types of vision dysfunctions and the detection and referral of pients with ocular disease or ocular manifestions of systemic disease.

Intermedie Grade:

Meets the requirements in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) below: Four years of optometric practice or its equivalent. One year of approved residency training or its creditable equivalent acceptable to the Council on Optometric Educion of the American Optometric Associion is acceptable in lieu of 2 years of practice. The optometrist this level has successfully passed the examinions of the Nional Board of Examiners in Optometry Has achieved a high level of professional tainment.

Senior Grade:

Meets the requirements for Intermedie grade and the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) below: The optometrist this level possesses such academic sture as would warrant a faculty appointment of a professional level in an approved school or college of optometry. Has demonstred recognized superior professional tainment.

Chief Grade:

Meets the requirements for Senior grade and must demonstre a sustained very high level of professional performance with evidence of exceptional professional and/or administrive development by the following: Has assumed substantial professional and/or administrive responsibilities in which the individual is expected to fully advise and make professional clinical and educional recommendions as to courses of action on problems and considerions of nional scope in all areas of optometry. Typically, the optometrist this level has had responsibility for a major optometric program segment on a nionwide basis and has been consistently called upon to represent the organizion in an authoritive manner in mters dealing with development of new and/or revised concepts and programs having a major impact upon the academic, medical, and optometric communities. Outstanding professional tainment.

Examples of such tainment are:

(a) Achievement of outstanding results in research which are regarded as having a major impact on advancing the field.(b) Significant number of noteworthy publicions in professional journals.

Reference:

For more informion on this qualificion standard, please https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificionStandards/ .

Physical Requirements:

Must pass a pre-employment physical examinion as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examinion is administered by VA Occupional Health. This position requires modere lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching, use of hands and fingers, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking, standing, bending and climbing. The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Educion Note:

Only educion or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your educion here: http://ope.ed.gov/accredition/ . If you are using foreign educion to meet qualificion requirements, you must send a Certifice of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for th educion. For further informion, : https://sites.ed.gov/internional/recognition-of-foreign-qualificions/ . Additional informion This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive stus. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled 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 alterne 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 tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, Human Resources and Administrion/Operions, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) The Fair Chance Act . Expand Hide additional informion Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered. How you evalued You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment.

NOTE:

A formal pay-setting process used to determine your salary. The salary may be any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience th transles directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members:

Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered. Required documents

Required Documents Help Note:

Incomplete packets will not be Failure to submit the required documention will make you ineligible for this position.

NOTE:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more informion, refer to Required Documents below. The following documents are required from all applicants: Résumé/

CV:

For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end de and if full-time or part-time stus with the number of hours worked each week. SF-50: All facility employees should submit a copy of their most recent SF-50 (th is not an award SF-50) th shows you are a current, permanent facility employee. You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF by going here on a VA computer/network: https://eopf.opm.gov/va/ .

Transcripts:

Must provide a copy of your relevant educion transcript(s). If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements: Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion . Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring. How to Apply Help All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/31/2026 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12944176 . To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your

USA JOBS

resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.

NOTE:

It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de. During the applicion process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion for additional positions. Agency contact informion Desiree Dellafosse Phone (209) 557-6225 Desiree.

Dellafosse@va.gov Address Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US Next steps Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made. You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .

NOTE:

Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities. Fair and transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probionary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodion policy Selective Service Signure and false stements Social security number request

Required Documents Help Note:

Incomplete packets will not be Failure to submit the required documention will make you ineligible for this position.

NOTE:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more informion, refer to Required Documents below. The following documents are required from all applicants: Résumé/

CV:

For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end de and if full-time or part-time stus with the number of hours worked each week. SF-50: All facility employees should submit a copy of their most recent SF-50 (th is not an award SF-50) th shows you are a current, permanent facility employee. You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF by going here on a VA computer/network: https://eopf.opm.gov/va/ .

Transcripts:

Must provide a copy of your relevant educion transcript(s). If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements: Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion . Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring. How to Apply Help All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/31/2026 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12944176 . To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your

USA JOBS

resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.

NOTE:

It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de. During the applicion process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion for additional positions. Expand Hide how to apply Agency contact informion Desiree Dellafosse Phone (209) 557-6225 Desiree.

Dellafosse@va.gov Address Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US Next steps Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made. You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .

NOTE:

Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities. Expand Hide next steps Fair and transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probionary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodion policy Selective Service Signure and false stements Social security number request Additional locions Middleburg, FL Ocala, FL Palka, FL Perry, FL Saint Augustine, FL Tallahassee, FL The Villages, FL Saint Marys, GA Valdosta, GA Waycross, GA Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 04/29/2026 to 12/31/2026 Salary $73,939 - $190,424 per year The actual salary of the selectee is based on current VA pay setting rules th utilizes your current grade, step, salary and/or qualificions. Pay scale & grade VP 00 Locions FEW vacancies in the following locions: Gainesville, FL Jacksonville, FL Lake City, FL Marianna, FL Show more fewer locions (10) Middleburg, FL Ocala, FL Palka, FL Perry, FL Saint Augustine, FL Tallahassee, FL The Villages, FL Saint Marys, GA Valdosta, GA Waycross, GA Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required Not required Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Multiple Schedules Service Excepted Promotion potential None Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Financial disclosure Bargaining unit stus Announcement number

CBTC-12944176-26-DRD

Control number 867192000