Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff-Ambulatory Care)

Summary

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.

Duties

• 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.

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/.

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 (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.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13013466. To begin, click Apply Online to create 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 occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. During the application 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 application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.