Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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This position is located at the North West San Antonio VA Clinic - 9939 State Highway 151, San Antonio, TX 78251.

As the Section Chief of Eye Care Services you will provide comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Eye Care. The scope of these activities covers hospitalized patients and all phases of ambulatory care. Other responsibilities may include education of medical students and residents and/or supervision of other staff.

In addition to observance of Federal and Local regulatory, policy, and accreditation requirements governing STVHCS, this position encompasses the following examples of responsibilities overseen by the Chief of Eye Care Services:

Administration:
Leadership Responsibilities: Supervises section staff meetings; communicates down to staff, across to other Section and Service Chiefs and up to Leadership; craft congressional responses if appropriate; creates issue briefs when requested to do so by the Chief of Surgical Services. May serve as Acting Chief of Surgical Services in the absence of the Chief.
HR Management/Staff Management: Participates in recruitment as necessary; updates functional statements & position descriptions; provides the information required for physician salary and pay panel documentation; reviews non-VA care documentation; assists with focused and ongoing professional practice evaluation (FPPE/OPPE) reviews on privileged staff; supervises the management of employee 6-part folder and documentation for all subordinate staff; ensures performance appraisals are completed for the Eye Service.
Time/Leave Management: Assigns and documents Tours of Duty; supervises approval of leave, timecard certification, and clinic cancellations; ensures continuous clinic coverage.
Business Planning/Systems Redesign: Manages service DSS mapping (workload), staffing needs (equipment, IT, supplies, space, etc); oversee Program Coordinator in preparation of the annual Service Business Plan to be presented to Senior Leadership.
Clinic Management including Indirect Patient Care: Monitor open encounters, consult management, and proper CPRS documentation requirements; oversee clinic scheduling & access; ensure staff productivity; oversee relevant performance measures; monitor metrics for utilization, quality, and Patient Safety; participate in process improvement.

Supervision: The Chief of Eye Care Services reports directly to the Chief of Surgical Services. The Chief of Eye Care Services has full supervisory authority over staff members who provide clinical and administrative support to Ophthalmology and Optometry Sections. The incumbent is responsible for the daily operation of the section and ensures that agency policies and priorities are followed. Supervisory responsibilities include planning work schedules, assigning work to employees, accepting, amending, or rejecting completed work, and ensuring that production and accuracy requirements are met. Other supervisory responsibilities include developing performance standards and ratings, evaluating work performance, supervising employee leave, and assisting with appropriate disciplinary measures. The incumbent gives advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. The incumbent hears and resolves minor complaints from employees and collaborates with labor relations to resolve grievances and serious complaints. The incumbent interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, and reassignment to unit positions; identifies and provides training needs; implements processes to improve production or increase the quality of work within the area of authority.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
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
Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Available; Ad-hoc

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.
• 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 one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• License: 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR
  • (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR
  • (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.
  • Exceptions:
    • 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 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.
    • In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

PHYSICIAN STAFF REQUIREMENTS
Leadership/Manager Positions: Physician leadership and manager positions may include, but are not limited to, facility Chiefs of Staff, Directors (that is, medical center, and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)); VISN Chief Medical Officer; selected positions in VHA Central Office. Positions are approved for these levels based on the scope and complexity of the assignment and the level of responsibility.

Additional Requirement:
Board Certification: Board certify/Eligible in Ophthalmology

Preferred Experience:
-Integrated Service Line Leadership Experience leading a combined Ophthalmology and Optometry service within STVHCS, including coordination with ASC and Blind Rehabilitation programs to ensure seamless, high-quality care delivery at all levels of eye care, overseeing a total of sixty personnel.
-Strategic Planning and VISN/National Alignment Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic plans aligned with VISN priorities and national VA performance standards, with a focus on sustaining high productivity and access metrics.
-Operational Excellence and Access Management Expertise in clinic flow, consult management, and scheduling optimization to improve access, reduced wait times, and maintain efficiency exceeding national benchmarks.
-Data-Driven Performance Management Strong ability to analyze workload, productivity, and access data to guide decision-making, improve resource utilization, and enhance veteran care outcomes through OPES Power BI data analysis.
-Academic and Workforce Development Experience supporting residency/fellowship programs, student extern training, and recruitment pipelines to sustain a high-performing clinical workforce. Incumbent must be able to staff residents in both the operating room and clinic.
-Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Leadership Proven leadership in fostering collaboration between Optometry and Ophthalmology services, promoting a unified culture focused on access, quality, and Veteran-centered care.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.