The New Mexico VA Healthcare System Behavioral Health Care Line is seeking qualified applicants to join our expanding Mental Health Program as the Chief of Psychiatry.
This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until February 9 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be November 21 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals on an as-needed basis until the position is filled.
You will work as the Chief of Psychiatry at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque NM and will be assigned to the Behavioral Health Care Line Leadership Team.
Albuquerque is a major metropolitan area with a population exceeding 600000 that is nestled between the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande. The climate is extraordinary with very mild winters and dry warm summers with cool evenings. Outdoor activities are vast and include hiking skiing mountain climbing fishing hunting biking year-round golf and tennis.
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 $1000 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
As the Chief of Psychiatry you will report to the Director of the Behavioral Careline and provide supervision to psychiatry supervisors as well as general supervision for all prescribers in the Behavioral Careline. Your responsibilities will include: taking part in daily huddles leadership meetings programmatic planning quality improvement processes as needed taking part in facility and VISN level meetings to monitor and improve Mental Health care provided at the facility evaluating and hiring new prescribers maintaining SOPs and Service Agreements related to your areas of supervision within BHCL. You will also be responsible for providing direct psychiatric patient care in the inpatient and/or outpatient settings. The Raymond G. Murphy VAMC is a training site for University of New Mexico medical students and psychiatry residents. There will be an opportunity for a faculty appointment with the UNM Department of Psychiatry for qualified applicants. UNM faculty track and rank are dependent on qualifications.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
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:
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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.
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 applicants 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.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
Chief