Physician - ACOS Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration • Montgomery, AL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Physician serves as the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Acute Care and Specialties and the Specialty Care Integrated Clinical Community (ICC) at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS). Working under the broad supervision of the Chief of Staff, the ACOS provides overall leadership and accountability for the service line’s policy planning, budget, operations, and performance across all sites. The role carries clinical, administrative, strategic-planning, budgetary, and supervisory responsibility for aligned programs and multidisciplinary staff.

The service line encompasses inpatient and outpatient medicine and specialty services provided at medical centers and Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Clinical areas include hematology/oncology, cardiology, pulmonary/critical care, endocrinology, neurology, infectious disease, gastroenterology, nephrology, and inpatient hospitalist services. The ACOS also oversees the Emergency Department, Respiratory Care, and non-clinical staff, including the administrative officer and program analysts.

The incumbent develops strategic plans, policies, procedures, and organizational structures to fulfill the service line’s mission, and has final decision-making authority and accountability on matters affecting the Acute Care/Specialty ICC. The ACOS collaborates with clinical and administrative operations and program and section managers to establish and meet integrated goals and priorities, and works with peers and management to serve internal and external customer groups. The role requires knowledge of VA, VHA, VISN, and CAVHCS goals and priorities and accountability for clinical and administrative operations, performance measures, service delivery, and resource management.

The position requires advanced practice judgment, advanced supervisory capabilities, the ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff, and program-management competencies for projects of broad scope, magnitude, and complexity. The work 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 until September 30, 2027, with application cut-off dates on the first of each month.

Requirements

• Doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited school.
• 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 board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position efficiently, with or without reasonable accommodation, and without hazard to oneself or others.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening, including applicable urinalysis, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation.
• Compliance with the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Completion of required application and online onboarding processes.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of supervisory experience.
• At least two years of VA experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for Acute Care and Specialties and the Specialty Care ICC, including policy planning, budget, operations, and performance across all sites.
• Manage clinical, administrative, strategic-planning, budgetary, and supervisory functions for aligned programs and multidisciplinary staff.
• Oversee inpatient and outpatient services, including the listed medicine specialties and inpatient hospitalist service.
• Provide oversight of the Emergency Department, Respiratory Care, administrative officer, and program analysts.
• Develop strategic plans, policies, procedures, and organizational structures to fulfill the service line’s mission.
• Make final decisions and maintain accountability for matters affecting the Acute Care/Specialty ICC.
• Collaborate with clinical and administrative operations and program and section managers to establish and achieve integrated goals and priorities.
• Work with peers and management to meet internal and external customer needs.
• Ensure service-line operations support VA, VHA, VISN, and CAVHCS goals and priorities.
• Oversee inpatient acute care, emergency/crisis care, outpatient clinics, patient/customer satisfaction, medicine subspecialty services, performance measures, service delivery, and resource management.
• Undertake collateral assignments as determined by facility, VISN, or VACO needs.

Benefits

• Recruitment or relocation incentive (sign-on bonus) may be authorized for well-qualified applicants.
• 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 VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.
• Recruitment/relocation incentive may be available.

What This Job Offers

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