Deputy Chief of Surgical Service

Deputy Chief of Surgical Service

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Albuquerque, New Mexico

Salary Range: $300000 - $400000 Per Year

Job Summary: The Deputy Chief, Surgical Service is a surgical or sub-specialty professional involved in the care of our patients providing comprehensive, efficient, compassionate, high-quality healthcare to all Veterans, functioning as a member of the Surgical Service team providing clinical care to the patients at NMVAHCS.

Major Duties:

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Not Authorized Learn more. 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 Duties to include, but not limited to: The Deputy Chief of Surgery will support the Chief of Surgery in performing clinical and administrative management of the Department of Surgery. The incumbent will have strong leadership abilities in both clinical and administrative aspects of surgical care. The Deputy Chief of Surgery will equally share the administrative duties with the Service Chief as well as assist in duties that include but are not limited to be Development and implementation of a comprehensive healthcare delivery system in coordination with the VHA Mission; Maintaining a collaborative partnership with all other service chiefs and leadership at NMVAHCS; Oversight of the various sections within the service and ensure they are compliant with VHA policy; Maintain privileges and practice in his/her specialty field; Ensuring high quality patient care is delivered in a resource efficient manner; Promoting the development of healthcare professionals within the service; Participating in the selection of qualified professional staff and ensure that recruitment and hiring meets VA and academic affiliation requirements. The incumbent will be knowledgeable in the functioning of residency and allied health educational programs within the service; Participating and assisting with monthly staff meetings; Ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to review, analyze, and evaluate patient care activities; Monitoring and tracking performance measures under Surgical Services scope of practice; Monitoring and ensuring each section's staff are in compliance with VA, Joint Commission, and all other pertinent regulations/policies as appropriate. The Deputy Chief, Surgical Service will be available to provide consultation and facilitate disposition of surgical care for our patients. The Deputy Chief will demonstrate the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers, maintain the confidentiality of patient/employee information, and to function and work in a safe manner, as well as the knowledge of changes associated with ageing and principles of human growth and development possess the ability to assess and interpret patient data, and the ability to identify age-specific needs such as incorporating age specific factors, and needs into patient care activities. Surgical Department strives to maintain a safe working environment, in which we identify and address issues and concerns as they relate to discrimination, biases and safety problems within Surgery Section. This position carries the possibility of a joint faculty appointment at the University of New Mexico. Applicants must have the appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level or higher at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center. Functions/Scope Participate in an effective clinical program with attention to patient outcome indicators. Practice within the scope of assigned privileges. Comply with the bylaws, rules and regulations of the facility and agency. Meet Surgery staff criteria for initial appointment and reappointment, including ongoing CME. Administrative Comply with prescribed record keeping practices in accordance with the rules, regulations and bylaws. Comply with prescribed information security policy and procedures. Interpersonal relationships - works effectively with patients, families, staff, coworkers and other health care professionals. Participates in Surgical Service educational activities and scheduled meetings. Participates in research activities with regard to the specialty of Surgery, as assigned. Comply with assigned Peer Reviews and maintaining quality assurance standards. Work Schedule: Full time - Monday thru Friday. 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. This position does require holidays, weekends and on call.

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 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR 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. English Language Proficiency. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Supervisory Controls The physician is under the direct supervision of the Chief, Surgical Service. Consults with the supervisor as needed and with colleagues to develop knowledge and apply agency policies and practices to new matters. His/her work is reviewed for technical adequacy and conformance with procedures and practices applicable to the subject. ??????? Preferred Experience: Surgical Administrative experience, Supervisory experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions. Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs. and over with assistive devices, heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs. and over with assistive devices; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required, walking or standing up to 4 hours per day; repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable; hearing aid permitted.

How to Apply: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. To apply for this position online, complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/03/2026 to receive consideration. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing date indicated if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing date click here and include the CBSX-12901064-26-CLY in the Notes field. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Application Deadline: 2026-09-03