Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff-Ambulatory Care)

Clarification from the agency

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. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Associate Chief of Staff (Ambulatory Care Service) will ensure that facility programs reflect the mission and priorities of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Network Office (VISN) 17

.DUTIES:

• Clinically and fiscally responsible for the delivery of timely, ethical, compassionate, efficient, quality, and safe care to Veteran patients.
• Promotes the development of healthcare professionals through counseling, mentoring, teaching and encouraging self-assessment.
• Monitors and promotes compliance with VA regulations and professional standards pertaining to outside professional activities and ethical conduct.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining a good working relationship with affiliated medical schools and programs associated with the Medical Center.
• Monitors and ensures medical staff compliance with agency regulations, medical staff bylaws, federal and state rules and regulations, VA facility policies, OIG, Joint Commission standards and other appropriate regulations.
• Creates an environment of system-oriented, continuous performance improvement as evidenced by meeting or exceeding performance expectations and national benchmarks.
• Responsible for leading and guiding the clinical staff in support of the VHA's core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence in the provision of these duties.
• Represents the organization, internally and externally, in such a manner as to reflect positively on the facility and the Veterans Administration (VA).
• Directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of Primary Care at Big Spring, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) and the Outreach Clinic along with the nurse managers and administrative officers.
• This position consists of 25% clinical and 75% administrative.
• Maintains and promotes high ethical and clinical standards that are carried into decision-making processes, promoting constructive problem resolution in an environment of competing priorities.
• Works with the Chief of Staff (COS) to ensure the facility programs reflect the mission and priorities of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and VA.
• Promotes an effective mix, coordination and support of clinical workload and resources, special program mandates and cost/benefit analyses, making recommendation to the COS and ensuring implementation of approved clinical proposals.
• Provides leadership to staff though policy guidance and activities on behalf of patients and their clinical care.
• Promotes standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which are maintained through compliance with credentialing and privileging processes, monitoring and evaluation of clinical practice, peer review, and other appropriate quality improvement activities.
• Facilitates assessment of educational and developmental needs of clinical staff to develop and implement plans for meeting identified needs; and to prioritize use of available training funds.
• Accomplishes clinical program goals consistent with available resources and participates in the allocation of facility resources and modification of programs to best meet the needs of the Veteran population.
• Provides strong leadership, managerial, organizational, and clinical skills to improve patient flow and achieve measurable outcomes, including access and customer experience. This includes patient appointment availability; improving Ambulatory Care Service efficiency; expanding outpatient care; and implementing evidence-based practices in all clinical services as well as excellent clinical and customer experience.
• Reports to the COS of the West Texas VA Healthcare System.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

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 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

Basic Requirements:

• Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~
• Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience:

• Board Certified in Internal Medicine/Family Practice.
• Two years of experience in leadership role.
• Experience in resident training.
• Experience in team building and improving customer experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (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 that translates 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 information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate'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 that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

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 Document. 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
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. 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 - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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