Physician-Psychiatry Medical Director

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, GA

6d

About The Position

The Physician-Psychiatry Medical Director provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for psychiatric and behavioral health programs within the Mental Health Service. The role sets clinical standards, promotes evidence-based and recovery-oriented care, oversees complex psychiatric services, and supports innovation in psychiatric practice. The Medical Director supervises and mentors clinical leaders and staff, including section supervisors, psychiatrists, advanced practice providers, and psychiatry residents, and supports workforce development and training.

The position oversees psychiatric program operations, clinics, clinical workflows, quality, and workload distribution. It collaborates with executive leadership on staffing, resources, productivity, quality benchmarks, strategic planning, and policy development. The Medical Director also coordinates care across medical and behavioral health services, including integration with programs such as BHIP, CRH, and Addiction Services, and participates in interdisciplinary meetings and care coordination.

Direct psychiatric care may be provided as needed, including assessment, pharmacologic treatment, follow-up, and care for complex or high-risk cases. The role maintains documentation and continuity-of-care standards, leads quality initiatives and peer reviews, monitors regulatory and accreditation compliance, responds to audits, and participates in executive meetings, committees, and workgroups. It also oversees hiring, onboarding, workforce planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for psychiatric services.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and may change based on agency needs. The announcement is open continuously and is scheduled to close September 30, 2027, or earlier if filled or cancelled. Qualified applications are referred at two-week intervals; the first referral is scheduled for November 9, 2026.

VA compensation and benefits described include competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, 50–55 days of paid time off per year, federal pension and 401(k), federal insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized. Some positions under the announcement may qualify for EDRP, subject to program eligibility and approval. The announcement states there is no physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to eligibility for board certification, or a qualifying alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete onboarding requirements.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Physical capacity for standing, walking, lifting and carrying light loads, assisting patients with positioning and transfers, and working with biohazardous materials.
• Ability to use a computer, communicate directions and patient orders, work closely with others or alone, and meet the stated vision, hearing, and emotional and mental stability requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in diagnostic evaluations, medication management, crisis intervention, and treatment planning for complex behavioral health conditions.
• Ability to deliver or oversee evidence-based treatments, support interdisciplinary care, and ensure safe prescribing practices.
• Experience supervising psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and residents; conducting competency assessments; monitoring performance; and supporting professional development.
• Experience with strategic planning, policy development, and resource allocation within mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for psychiatric and behavioral health programs within the Mental Health Service.
• Set clinical standards and promote evidence-based, recovery-oriented psychiatric care and innovation.
• Oversee complex diagnostic evaluations, medication management, crisis intervention, and treatment planning.
• Ensure compliance with VA, VHA, VISN, facility, and accreditation requirements.
• Supervise and mentor section supervisors, psychiatrists, advanced practice providers, and psychiatry residents.
• Conduct performance evaluations and competency assessments and foster professional development and training.
• Oversee psychiatric program and clinic operations, quality, workload distribution, and interdisciplinary coordination.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate program goals, workflows, and service improvements.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on staffing, resource allocation, productivity, and quality benchmarks.
• Lead mental health service strategic planning and policy development.
• Coordinate comprehensive patient services with medical directors, mental health leaders, primary care, specialty care, and administrative stakeholders.
• Promote integration of behavioral health with broader clinical programs, including BHIP, CRH, and Addiction Services.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment meetings, case reviews, and care coordination initiatives.
• Provide direct psychiatric care as needed, including assessment, pharmacologic treatment, and follow-up for complex cases.
• Maintain documentation, continuity-of-care, safety-planning, and high-risk patient management standards.
• Lead quality initiatives, peer reviews, and performance-improvement projects; ensure safe prescribing and effective follow-up.
• Respond to audits, reviews, and required reporting with timely and accurate information.
• Participate in executive leadership meetings, committees, and workgroups and complete administrative reports and performance reviews.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, workforce planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for psychiatric services.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible CME reimbursement of $1,000 per year for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized.
• Possible Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement of up to $200,000, subject to eligibility, application, and program approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree