Physician (Deputy Chief of Staff)

Veterans Health Administration • Salisbury, NC

15h

About The Position

The Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) is the primary backup to the Chief of Staff (COS) and serves as Acting Chief of Staff in the COS’s absence. The DCOS provides administrative, programmatic, and clinical leadership to support the Salisbury Veterans Affairs Health Care System’s clinical, research, and education goals. The position reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a key clinical resource for the Medical Center.

The DCOS leads clinical access and quality-of-care initiatives and provides oversight supporting care delivery, research, and education. The role includes executive leadership participation, quality improvement and utilization management, compliance oversight, clinical program implementation, credentialing and privileging support, committee representation, and supervision of Chief of Staff Office staff and assigned departments or services. The DCOS works with service-line leaders and the Executive Leadership Team on resource planning, performance measurement, operational standards, budgeting, business planning, and strategic initiatives.

The position supports integrated care and coordination across service lines, maintains academic affiliate relationships, and advances education and research integration. The DCOS also promotes innovation, cost-effectiveness, and excellence in patient care and customer service. The work schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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 qualifying alternative training and independent-practice experience described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Provide beginning and completion dates of education and residencies in the application.
• U.S. citizenship, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug screening where applicable, physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Three or more years of leadership experience.
• Board certification may be required for physicians involved in academic training programs seeking faculty status.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary backup to the Chief of Staff and as Acting Chief of Staff in the Chief of Staff’s absence.
• Lead the medical center’s clinical access and quality-of-care initiatives and programs.
• Provide administrative and clinical oversight supporting care delivery, research, and education goals.
• Participate in executive leadership functions and support assigned clinical program implementation.
• Lead quality improvement, utilization management, and high-reliability organization initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with medical staff bylaws and policies, Joint Commission standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist the Chief of Staff in overseeing credentialing and privileging for licensed independent providers and advanced practice providers.
• Represent the Chief of Staff on committees, councils, and task forces at facility, VISN, and national levels.
• Supervise Chief of Staff Office staff, including assignments, performance management, and mentoring.
• Collaborate with service-line leaders on resource planning, performance measurement, and operational standards.
• Participate in budget development and business planning, and review contract requests for resource acquisition.
• Provide direct supervision of assigned departments or services.
• Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team and service chiefs to develop and execute the Medical Center strategic and business plan.
• Work with Medical Center leaders to coordinate services, reduce redundancies, and improve cost-effectiveness.
• Support integrated clinical care models and coordination across service lines.
• Maintain academic affiliate relationships and support integration of education and research.
• Educate staff about changing conditions in health care.
• Encourage risk-taking, entrepreneurial behavior, demonstration projects, pilots, and other experimental approaches.
• Develop an interdisciplinary team focused on excellence in patient care and customer service.

Benefits

• Potential relocation incentive or sign-on bonus for highly qualified candidates.
• 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.
• 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Possible reimbursement of $1,000 per year for CME for full-time physicians with board certification.
• 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