Summary The incumbent serves as the Associate Chief of Staff of the Mental Health (ACOS MH) for the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). This position reports directly to the Chief of Staff (COS). They will be responsible for setting overall goals for the Mental Health Care Line that comply and support Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and VASDHS strategic goals & objectives. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting The incumbent is ultimately responsible for overall MHCL clinical and administrative operations currently structured around a hybrid Care Line Model that is veteran-centric and recovery-oriented. The MHCL is an interdisciplinary service and its hybrid organizational structure aligns with distinct roles and responsibilities for the ACOS MHCL, Deputy ACOSs for the MHCL, service chiefs and discipline leads (psychiatry and psychology chiefs, associate nurse executive for mental health, and mental health social work program coordinator), and section chiefs overseeing 8 functionally distinct sections across the continuum of care. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Direct all activities of the Mental Health Care Line to include budget & fiscal management, human resource management, strategic planning, clinical end administrative program development, management and evaluation of services and programs, and ensuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimal mental health care to veteran in the context of appropriate utilization of resources. Establish MHS objectives congruent with and reflective of the philosophy and objectives of VA, VHA, VISN, and VASDHS. Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate complex integrated mental health programs. Provide oversight of the comprehensive inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health care for Veteran's diagnosed with acute and chronic mental health and/or substance use disorders. Provide direct and indirect oversight to the educational and research missions of the MHCL. Collaborate with senior management officials and service chiefs to negotiate, persuade, decide on, and coordinate work related changes affecting the operations of the MHCL. Represent VASDHS on issues within his/her purview at meetings, conferences, community events, etc. Plan and direct the administrative and technical aspects of personnel management, coordinating such functions through subordinate managers. Utilize sound management practices, using knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, supporting the partnership process with employee unions by actively seeking opportunities to develop productive labor relations, and guided by ethical standards of his or her profession. Accountable for all applicable VA performance measures and responsible for quality improvement activities within mental health, using data tools for collection and analysis. Collaborate with senior management officials including the Chief of Organizational Improvement and Quality Management to ensure compliance with applicable performance measures and practice standards. Shares responsibility with the Chief of Staff for monitoring Patient Safety and Risk Management issues in Mental Health. Responsible for a multi-million dollar budget, including staffing of about 600 FTEE, equipment, leases, non-VA care services, contract funds, etc. Identify need for and recommend major equipment acquisition and replacement with consideration being given to timeliness of acquisition and cost effectiveness of new equipment. Work with Human Resource Management Service in the employment of Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38 staff. Provide direct services to patients and their families utilizing a comprehensive range of techniques, skills, and resources. Work with subordinates to ensure optimal utilization of training resources, if appropriate, and high quality training is provided within the outpatient MHCL units. Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, PST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Board Certification - Board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Three years supervisory experience in a Mental Health or healthcare setting. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Most work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts and the work is generally sedentary. The position will require some physical effort such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, typing, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, books, or reports that do not require special physical demands. Education Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.