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Summary The Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Service serves as the administrative and clinical Section Chief for Pathology and Laboratory Service and is responsible for the overall operation of the Service Line at the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS). Physicians should apply to announcement CAZM-12819853-26-JMS Responsibilities This is an Open Continuous Announcement & will remain open until December 08, 2025, or until all positions are filled. The first cut-off date is November 6, 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. --- The position oversees clinical operations with responsibility for quality outcomes and patient safety. Administrative functions will include, but not be limited to, budget and fiscal management, human resource management, strategic planning, and program development. The Chief assures that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimum utilization of available resources. The position ensures the quality and timeliness of the services provided, including customer satisfaction, as well as compliance with standards of accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission, CAP, OIG, etc. The position ensures appropriate use of available resources and is responsible for inspiring, motivating, and guiding the VATVCBHCS Path & Lab staff in achieving the strategic goals and plans of the service. The position collaborates with other management officials within the VATVCBHCS in a collegial manner with the aim of furthering the mission of the VHA. The Chief of Path & Lab functions as a provider in the pathology specialty, collaborates with referring providers, optimizes timeliness, and ensures quality. The Chief of Path & Lab accomplishes the health care delivery mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs in general. Services provided are subject to close scrutiny by Congressional interests, service organizations, the general public and the media. The Chief of Path & Lab is to be a physician, board certified by the American Board of Pathologists, and should hold an unrestricted state medical license within the United States or its territories. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800 - 1630 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. 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. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Podiatrist Basic Requirements Education: Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~ Residency: Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists 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 Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~ License: Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Preferred Experience: At least three years of post-residency diagnostic experience in pathology and laboratory medicine, including surgical pathology, cytology, and clinical pathology. At least 50 Anatomical pathology cases signed out in the last 2 years. Current certification in both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology. Experience as a laboratory service chief / medical director, an assistant service chief / assistant medical director, or other managerial role, preferably in VA or the Department of Defense. Working knowledge of laboratory budgetary requirements, fiscal planning, workload projections, and productivity measures. Working knowledge of laboratory regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys, e.g., College of American Pathologists, The Joint Commission, OIG, CARF. At least 2 years post graduate experience in the VA, or Department of Defense. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (6 hours); Standing (6 hours); Both legs required; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental/emotional stability; Ability to perform privileges; Independently performs physical exams as appropriate. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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. 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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.