Physician - Associate Chief Of Staff (Research Service)

The Associate Chief of Staff, Research Service, is accountable to provide leadership to a growing Research Service at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. The incumbent must provide administrative and research leadership that promotes the careers of young investigators and fosters the career promotion and satisfaction of mid and senior level researchers.

RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED
The Associate Chief of Staff (Research Service) will oversee ongoing professional development of current faculty and staff, as well as identify new investigators and key technical staff with specialized skills and competencies needed by CTVHCS investigators in support of our mission. She/he will also be directly involved in long-term strategic planning including executive management and planning. The incumbent will be expected to be a strong partner to the Chief of Staff and Medical Center Director in guiding the leadership team and shepherding the Research Service mission. Responsibilities include: administrative and technical supervision and management of the administration and operations functions within the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System Research Service including the supervision of Research Service staff, all research investigators and staff; supervisory authority and responsibility involving work assignments and reviews of each investigator and the investigators program; full compliance with all applicable Office of Research Development, Public Health Service, and Office of Research Oversight regulations and requirements; compliance with all stipulations of MOUs and contracts with all research partners; act as advisor to all investigators and research partners; act as a mentor to all Research Service staff, investigators, lab personnel and all research committee chairs and members.

The responsibilities also include ensuring that all research committees are properly staffed, committee meetings run efficiently, personnel are up to date in education and training, and ensuring a smooth flow of all research studies that are undergoing initial review or continuing/annual review. The incumbent also establishes guidelines and performance standards for staff and investigators that are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. The incumbent is also responsible for the complete review of all new research studies that have been submitted for Research Service review and approval. In accomplishing this goal, the incumbent will act as a scientific and writing expert and resource to the submitting investigator. The incumbent is expected to maintain cordial and collegial relationships with all research partners and using these relationships will promote growth of all research partnerships with a focus on increasing VHA-funded research studies.

The incumbent will specifically work closely with of the University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, Texas State University, Temple Bioscience and Health District and other partners to promote collaborative research that benefits veterans. The incumbent will specifically seek to increase research relationships with the mentioned entities and to develop new research relationship that will enhance Office of Research Development priority research areas. The incumbent will maintain a collaborative relationship with the VISN 17 Center of Excellence in Research on Returning War Veterans in Waco and is expected to work closely with the Baylor Scott and White Health System Research Institute and the Texas A&M. The ACOS/R provides advice and counsel to CTVHCS Executive Leadership Team related to research and administrative matters. The ACOS/R is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, recognizing and resolving conflicts, coordinating and delegating work of subordinates, coordinating with staff and management personnel, and conducting all phases of the program.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm or as agreed upon with the possibility of extended hours and weekends.
NOTE: Candidates must be willing to work weekends, irregular work hours and extended hours. The candidate must be willing to be assigned to other related services and/or locations, if necessary.

Salary: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 49-54 days of annual paid time offer per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 10 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
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Designated and/or random drug testing required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
You may be required to serve a probationary period
Subject to a background/security investigation
Must be proficient in written and spoken English
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Must pass pre-employment physical examination

Qualifications

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.
Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Preferred Experience:

Board Certification in Medical Specialty
Managerial experience. Supervisory or Program management experience
The successful candidate must exhibit a track record of peer-reviewed publications
Evidence of intra-and extra-mural research program funding
3-5 years experience in research administration (overseeing a research program, administering a successful research program, submitted research grants and obtaining funding, being a member of research committees
Familiarity with VHA ORD Handbooks concerning ORD research programs; requirements of PHS Federal Wide Assurance, Office of Laboratory and Animal welfare, Research Safety and Animal Welfare concerning animal and human research
Ability to successfully manage a large, complicated program that is highly regulated
Demonstrate a knowledge of personnel management, mentoring, and guidance of highly technical investigators and laboratory staff
Familiar with research laboratory function to include equipment use, safety and maintenance
Familiar with various contracts such as service contracts, MOUs, licenses and leases

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (up to 45 lbs); Heavy Carrying (up to 45 lbs); Straight pulling (up to 1 hour); Pulling hand over hand (up to 0.5 hours); Pushing (up to 0.5 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 6 hours); Standing (up to 6 hours); Crawling (up to 1 hour); Kneeling (up to 1 hour); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Climbing (up to 1 hour); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and emotional stability.