Physician (Regular Ft)

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

2d

About The Position

The Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development (ACOS R&D) at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) manages and oversees human-subject, animal, health-services, and laboratory research programs, as well as other Research Service functions. The Director delegates authority to administer the Research and Development Program to the ACOS R&D. The role fosters research consistent with VA’s core missions, works with the Director and Chief of Staff to integrate research programs with health care, and ensures required research accreditations are maintained. The ACOS R&D advises the Director, VISN Director, and Chief Research and Development Officer on compliance and assurance matters involving human-subject protections, animal welfare, research safety, and research misconduct.

The position develops and implements short- and long-range policies and plans covering Research Service operations, including accreditation, budgets and fiscal management, procurement, personnel and workforce utilization, contract negotiation, construction and renovation, and space use. It assesses available resources and recommends their distribution, formulates and executes the service’s annual budget, manages assigned payroll and leave accounts, and collaborates with Contracting on service contracts. In an official VA capacity, the ACOS R&D serves as statutory VA Director on the CVHCS Nonprofit Research Corporation, ensuring it furthers CVHCS and VA interests and operates in accordance with applicable law and VA policy. The role also develops policies to ensure data repositories comply with applicable confidentiality and information-security requirements.

The ACOS R&D is expected to maintain patient-care and teaching responsibilities, engage in an active research program, and foster research throughout VA. The division of time must provide adequate attention to research and development administration. The role should have sufficient teaching and research contributions to be suitable for an academic appointment at the affiliated medical school. The position is full-time, with a stated schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; ad-hoc telework is available. No Physician Employment Contract is required, and there is no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an 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 residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative training and practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Board certification is required for the ACOS R&D assignment.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Physical and mental capability to satisfactorily perform the duties of the assignment.
• Credible research and academic experience; the ACOS R&D must be a physician unless the Chief Research and Development Officer grants an exception.
• Patient-care and teaching responsibilities, active practice in the specialty, and maintenance of clinical privileges.
• Ability to devote adequate attention to research and development administration while engaging in an active research program.
• Must meet VA pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation and physical evaluation; designated applicants are subject to pre-employment urinalysis, and seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must complete application and onboarding requirements; Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• Preference for a full-time employee appointed on a career basis, with the expectation that tenure will span several years.
• Significant teaching and research contributions suitable for an academic appointment at an affiliated medical school.
• Experience managing and overseeing human-subject, animal, health-services, and laboratory research programs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement policies, manage budgets, supervise staff, and ensure compliance with federal and VA regulations.
• Strong knowledge of research accreditation, research ethics, and regulatory requirements for human and animal research, including safety, privacy, and integrity standards.
• Experience participating in operational boards, councils, and committees at local, VISN, and national levels, and leading organizational improvement and quality activities.

Responsibilities

• Foster research programs throughout the institution consistent with VA’s core missions.
• Participate with the Director and Chief of Staff in managing hospital health care programs, particularly where integrating R&D can benefit patient care.
• Ensure required research accreditations are maintained.
• Advise the Director, VISN Director, and Chief Research and Development Officer on compliance and assurance matters concerning human-subject protections, animal welfare, research safety, and research misconduct.
• Develop and implement short- and long-range policies and plans for all aspects of Research Service, including accreditation, budget and fiscal management, procurement, personnel, contracts, construction and renovation, and space utilization.
• Assess available resources and recommend needs and distribution or redistribution of equipment, staffing, and space to Medical Center management.
• Formulate and execute the annual Research Service budget, including salaries, supplies, equipment, and operating expenses.
• Manage payroll for assigned time and leave accounts, including evaluating overtime and compensated time.
• Collaborate with Contracting to develop, implement, and monitor service contracts.
• Serve as the statutory VA Director on the CVHCS Nonprofit Research Corporation in an official VA capacity and ensure it advances CVHCS and VA interests and complies with applicable laws and VA policy.
• Develop policies and procedures to ensure data repositories comply with confidentiality and information-security requirements.
• Maintain patient-care and teaching responsibilities and an active research program while fostering research within VA.
• Participate in operational boards, councils, and committees at local, VISN, and national levels, and lead organizational improvement and quality activities.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; potential reimbursement of up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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