Podiatrist - Deputy Chief of Staff for Health Care and Business Operations

Summary

The Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS), Health Care Business Operations (HCBO) is the senior clinical executive responsible to the Chief of Staff for the leadership, direction, integration, and performance of the business-operations programs assigned to HCBO across the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS).

Duties

Major Duties may include: Executive & Operational Leadership Provides overall leadership for HCBO and is accountable for oversight of all HCBO programming, including setting goals, priorities, policies, procedures, clinical programs, and resource allocations. Collaborates with the Chief of Staff and other members of the Executive Leadership Team to achieve seamless coordination and implementation of HCBO programs across all VAMHCS sites. Coordinates, motivates, and guides implementation of directives; serves as a catalyst for change within HCBO and works with HCBO staff to implement, guide, develop, and improve patient care programs, performance-improvement initiatives, and related processes. Chairs specific committees and task forces, providing leadership and innovative input to planning, development, research, education, problem solving, and marketing efforts, with results carrying broad, long-term, and short-term effects on HCBO and VAMHCS. Supports VAMHCS's teaching and academic missions through collaboration with affiliates and education offices, as applicable to HCBO programs. Executive Communication, Governance & Compliance Communicates regularly with the Chief of Staff regarding performance risks, staffing concerns, resource needs, and issues requiring executive attention. Ensures timely completion of executive correspondence, action items, reports, and issue briefs. Builds positive relationships with Veterans, employees, union partners, clinical and administrative leaders, and academic and VISN/HSA/VHA partners. Ensures compliance with laws, regulations, VA policies, information security, privacy, and records-management requirements. Direct Clinical Care (approximately 10%): Maintains an active clinical practice within the scope of podiatric medicine and surgery, consistent with licensure, credentials, privileges, and VAMHCS needs. Provides evidence-based, Veteran-centered care including evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg; routine and surgical podiatric care; wound assessment and management; durable medical equipment and orthotic recommendations; consultation; and coordination of care. Documents care accurately and timely in the electronic health record. Quality, Performance & Regulatory Readiness Provides leadership in establishing minimum standards and benchmarks for clinical practice, performance-measure goal achievement, problem solving, utilization review, risk management, and productivity across the professional groups represented within HCBO programs. Identifies opportunities for improvement; implements nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines; ensures development and implementation of effective, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of performance measures and clinical reminder performance. Resource Stewardship & Strategic Planning Collaborates with the HCBO Business Manager, Section Chiefs, and HCBO Program Managers in developing fiscal priorities and budget allocations for HCBO; directs strategic planning for VAMHCS HCBO and determines priorities and resource allocations. Participates with HCBO leadership in developing marketing strategies for HCBO programs, responding to requests for proposals, and exploring new program opportunities consistent with VAMHCS, VISN/HSA, and VHA goals. Workforce Leadership & Professional Practice Oversight Has first-line authority over the HCBO Leadership Team; supervises and mentors clinical and administrative leaders; supports succession planning and professional development. Ensures compliance with credentialing, privileging, scope-of-practice, competency, and coverage processes across HCBO. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 evaluation/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

Podiatrist Basic Requirement: Citizenship. Candidates must be a United States citizen. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, in accordance with VA policy. English Language Proficiency. Podiatrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d), 7407(d). 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: The preferred candidate will have extension leadership experience and a record of clinical, academic, research, and administrative experience fostering inter-institutional relationships in a academic setting along with proven managerial skills in a health care environment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

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 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. Other Information

"Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care." 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.