Psychologist 1 / Psychologist 2 / Associate Psychologist

TITLE:                                     Psychologist 1 / Psychologist 2 / Associate Psychologist      

NUMBER OF POSITITONS:     1

SALARY GRADE:                    21 / 23 / 23

SALARY:                                  Psychologist 1: $81,642 - $103,513

                                                Psychologist 2: $90,582 - $114,585

                                                Associate Psychologist: $90,582 - $114,585

NEGOTIATING UNIT:               PS&T- Professional, Scientific & Technical (PEF)

OFFICE/REGION:                     Finger Lakes, Region 1

DIVISION/DEPARTMENT:        State Operations

LOCATION:                              620 Westfall Rd. Rochester, NY 14620                                             

SHIFT/PASS DAYS:                 8:00am - 4:30pm, Saturday / Sunday pass days

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The appointee will be responsible for providing psychological services to intellectually disabled and developmentally disabled individuals who reside in our State Operated Residential Group Homes. Job duties include:

1. Assess individuals in 3-4 IRAs in the Monroe County Area and develop appropriate interventions: Behavior Support Plans, Higher Risk Behavioral Support Plans, Medication Monitoring Plans, Behavioral Guidelines, Functional Behavior Assessments, and Risk Assessments.
2. Provide staff at group homes and day programs with training on implementation of interventions and related data collection. 
3. Provide assessments, counseling, and specialized therapy to individuals on caseload as needed. 
4. Provide strategies to staff to teach replacement behaviors to improve individual’s skill levels.
5. Participate in Psychiatric Consults, consultations with clinical experts, Life Plans and QLR meetings.
6. Ensure compliance with 633.16 Person-Centered Behavioral Intervention.
7. Participate in Psychology Department activities and agency committees as requested.
8. May teach New Employee Orientation classes on psychology related topics.
9. Assist Chief or Principal Psychologist in fulfillment of other tasks as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Psychologist 1 and Psychologist 2:

You must have a master’s degree in psychology from a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education/United States Secretary of Education. The psychology degree program must have been one that prepared graduates for positions treating individuals in clinical, forensic, community mental health, or school settings. Qualifying degree programs must have included coursework in psychological and behavioral assessment, and treatment modalities for psychological and behavioral disorders;

AND

For Psychologist 1 – you must also have two years of supervised post master’s degree experience in a clinical, forensic, community mental health, or school setting, where your primary duties were providing psychological services as described below.

For Psychologist 2 – you must also have three years of supervised post master’s degree experience in a clinical, forensic, community mental health, or school setting, where your primary duties were providing psychological services as described below.

Substitutions:

A doctoral degree in a clinical field of psychology and one year of qualifying experience may be substituted for both the education and experience requirements above. Clinical psychology practicum, externship, or field work assignment, that was completed as part of a qualifying master of psychology degree program, may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Certificate of advanced study in a clinical field of psychology or school psychology may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Note: Examples of qualifying degree programs/majors include but are not limited to the following: clinical psychology, clinical forensic psychology, community psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and child psychology.

Note: Examples of non-qualifying degree programs/majors include but are not limited to the following: education, counseling, clinical counseling, clinical hypnosis, community counseling, educational counseling, forensic counseling, guidance counseling, human relations, marriage and family counseling, professional counseling, rehabilitative counseling, school counseling, student and personnel services, mental health counseling, psychological counseling, pastoral psychology, transpersonal psychology, neuroscience, experimental psychology, industrial psychology, and organizational psychology.

*Note: Examples of qualifying experience is considered to be direct experience with individuals, families, or groups in a hospital, psychiatric hospital, psychiatric clinic, community mental health clinic, correctional facility, intermediate care facility, institutional or school setting, or community based residential and/or day program, under the supervision of a doctoral level psychologist, licensed psychologist, licensed physician, licensed psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or licensed clinical social worker (or in the case of school psychologists with permanent certification from the New York State Education Department, working under the supervision of a school principal or similar administrator). In order for experience to be considered qualifying, primary duties must have included activities such as administering assessments and tests for diagnostic psychological evaluations or completing functional behavior assessments; developing behavior support plans or writing psychological treatment plans; and/or providing psychological counseling and treatment in one or more of the following areas: mental and/or emotional disorders, cognitive disorders, behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities,developmental disabilities, alcoholism, addictions, substance abuse disorders, sex offender assessment and treatment, or forensic mental health.

Note: Examples of non-qualifying experience include but are not limited to, experience in experimental psychology, research psychology, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, health psychology, utilization review, guidance counseling, pastoral counseling, or as a habilitation specialist or instructor of psychology. A practicum, externship, or clinical fieldwork assignment is defined as a direct clinical experience providing psychological services in a hospital, psychiatric hospital, psychiatric clinic, community mental health clinic, correctional facility, intermediate care facility, institutional or school setting, or community based residential and/or day program; and must have been a component of a qualifying Master of Psychology degree program listed on the official transcript.

Associate Psychologist:

A doctoral degree in a clinical field of psychology (see notesbelow); AND

EITHER a one-year, full-time pre-doctoral clinical internship OR one year of psychology experience in a clinical setting, under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. You must demonstrate on your application how you meet this qualification.

Notes:

1. Non-qualifying degrees include, but are not limited to the following: education, educational psychology, educational counseling, guidance counseling, experimental psychology, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, student and personnel services, mental health counseling, human relations, etc.
2. Psychology experience in a clinical setting is considered to be any direct care experience with individuals, families, or groups in a hospital, clinic, private practice, or correctional setting under the supervision of a Licensed Psychologist. Qualifying experience must primarily include performing psychological evaluations or assessment tests, psychological diagnostic testing, developing psychological treatment plans, providing psychological counseling and treatment in one or more of the following areas: mental and/or emotional disorders, mental retardation, developmental disabilities, alcoholism, addictions, sex offender assessment and treatment, or forensic mental health.
3. The following experience is NOT considered qualifying: experience in administration, administrative services, administrative oversight, training, special education, behavior specialist, habilitation specialist, project management, research, or primarily supervisory experience. Other non-qualifying experience including, but is not limited to, experience in experimental psychology, research psychology, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, utilization review ,guidance counseling, etc.

Additional:

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. 

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:              Submit cover letter and résumé by 11/4/2026 by 5pm to:

                                                           OPWDD Region 1 – Finger Lakes Campus

                                                            Posting Department - HRMO

                                                            620 Westfall Road

                                                            Rochester, NY 14620

                                                            FL.HRBids@opwdd.ny.gov

                                                            FAX #: (585) 461-8935

**Please reference the above EOA # in all correspondence**

Please note:

• For CSEA positions: Local Bidding Agreements will be honored.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume. 
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility. 
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). 
• If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

***All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.***