Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff-Ambulatory Care)

About the role

The West Texas VA Health Care System is seeking a Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff for Ambulatory Care Service) responsible for the oversight of all primary care and related clinical programs at the West Texas VA Healthcare System, including the Clinical Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the Outreach Clinics.

What you will do

• 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.

Requirements

• 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 (***).
• 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.

Education

Applicants must possess a doctor of podiatric medicine degree, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery.

The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. (1) Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted.

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: ***

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: ***

How you will be evaluated

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.

Documents you must provide

• To complete your application, please use the following link *** 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.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation 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 that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation 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 locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, 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 at 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 patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

The health-related 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 alternate 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 tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.