Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) of Research & Development

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 31 2026 with subsequent cut-off date every month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until the position if filled.

The ACOS of Research and Development is responsible for the oversight of all research related activities including the Research & Development Committee the Human Research Protection Program and maintaining compliance with both VA research regulations. The ACOS of R & D is expected to remain privileged and practicing in his/her specialty field and to have an active involvement in his/her own research projects. The incumbent has both administrative and supervisory responsibilities within the Research Department. The ACOS of R & D will be expected to obtain an academic appointment at the affiliated medical school. This position offers an excellent opportunity to facilitate the growth and development of an enthusiastic and well-motivated team of staff and investigators. The Associate Chief of Staff has direct patient care (clinical time face-to-face patient care etc.) within his/her area of clinical expertise minimum of 30% (12 hours per week).

Other duties include:

• Participate in research activities pertinent to their area of expertise although limited research is conducted in the clinical setting the use of carefully executed procedures may be part of a research design. The incumbent may be requested to assist in gathering clinical research data.
• Responsible for supervising mentoring and precepting student trainees within their specialty field and maintaining liaisons with affiliated colleges and universities. They may also provide instructions to residents and interns who seek information on his/her area of specialty.
• Responsible for planning conducting coordinating and monitoring the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of patient-centered treatment and rehabilitative services to maximize and restore to the greatest extent possible physical and social functioning.
• Works independently and in collaboration with other health services researchers formulating and conducting research projects related to his/her disciplinary field.
• Serves as a consultant to other facility personnel involving the most difficult and complex cases and is a recognized subject matter expert in their field.
• Communicates with and motivate staff members of other disciplines and promote staff solidarity with regard to treatment issues.
• Supervises Research and Development staff to include but not limited to Research Nurse and Administrative Officer.
• Hears and resolves informal complaints and grievances develops performance improvement plans when indicated and recommends personnel actions as appropriate for employees supervised.
• Approves funding transactions for research control points.

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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

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.
• 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.

• 3-5 years of experience in research.
• Board Certification.