Physician - Chief of Staff

Chief Of Staff

The Chief of Staff (COS) reports to the Executive Director and leads the medical staff in delivering safe, timely, high-quality Veteran care. The COS oversees clinical standards, medical staff governance, education, research, and compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies. The role strengthens academic affiliations, recruits qualified clinicians, promotes continuous improvement and patient safety, and represents the medical center with VA, federal, community, and professional partners.

The Chief of Staff responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provides executive leadership and accountability for the quality, safety, appropriateness, and timeliness of care across assigned clinical services.
• Oversees assigned services under the approved organizational structure, subject to modification by the Executive Director.
• Serves on the Executive Leadership Team, partnering on strategic priorities, resources, performance, and operations; participates in facility, Health Service Area (HSA), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and other leadership forums as assigned.
• Leads medical staff governance, bylaws, credentialing and privileging, peer review, continuing medical education, professional competence, and compliance with VHA and accreditation requirements.
• Ensures medical staff engagement in performance improvement, risk management, patient safety, utilization management, and clinical practice evaluation.
• Improves appointment access, capacity, provider productivity, care coordination, and patient flow through measurable actions.
• Champions respectful, patient-centered care, including prevention, screening, counseling, education, and appropriate psychosocial support.
• Advances evidence-based practice, supervision, competency, development, and performance of providers, residents, trainees, and interdisciplinary staff.
• Conducts structured leader rounding with staff and Veterans across clinical services, shifts, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), consistent with the leadership work plan.
• Maintains an active direct patient care assignment of 10%-20% of duty time per biweekly pay period (normally 8-16 hours per 80-hour period), with a minimum commitment of 10%. The specific assignment is determined in collaboration with the Executive Director based on clinical privileges, competency, specialty, and Veteran care needs.
• Sets expectations for service chiefs and direct reports; conducts performance discussions, develops leaders and succession plans, and ensures accountability for results.
• Promptly elevates significant clinical risks to the Executive Director and ensures corrective actions from reviews, inspections, and adverse events are sustained.
• Leads workforce and resource planning, aligning staffing, budgets, space, and equipment with Veteran needs, workload, priorities, and available funding; monitors variances.
• Uses clinical, operational, workforce, and financial data to identify risks, guide decisions, implement improvements, and assess outcomes.
• Translates Executive Director priorities into service plans with owners, measures, and timelines; tracks progress and removes barriers.
• Represents the medical center at Veteran engagements, town halls, community outreach, academic and professional events, and HSA/VISN forums, coordinating with Public Affairs as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for this position.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized for this position.

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

Travel: Travels as required to support CBOC visits, Vet Centers, community engagement, network responsibilities, and organizational priorities.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Occasional evening or weekend participation may be needed to support operational priorities, Veteran engagements, or community events.

Telework: Ad hoc as determined by the agency policy.