Department of Veterans Affairs

Physician - Associate Chief of Staff for Pathology and Laboratory

Fargo, North Dakota Full time

Physician - Associate Chief of Staff for Pathology and Laboratory

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Fargo, North Dakota

Salary Range: $300000 - $400000 Per Year

Job Summary: The VA Fargo HCS is recruiting for (1) full-time Physician - Associate Chief of Staff for Pathology and Lab. The incumbent is responsible for providing leadership in pathology and laboratory practice and for the organization and delivery of these services within this Medical Center; and is accountable for ensuring quality and cost-effective pathology and laboratory care.

Major Duties:

  • The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Duties of the Associate Chief of Staff for Pathology and Lab ICC: Clinical duties assigned would involve work in the outpatient setting at the Fargo VAHCS Pathology or as otherwise specified based on the unique skills of the candidate and needs of the facility. It is anticipated that the position will be approximately 25% administrative and 75% clinical but may vary depending on the needs of the service line. Supervise directly physicians, lab chief, lab manager and other clinical staff as assigned by the Chief of Staff. Manages and provides oversight of lab and pathology operations within the clinical services under their responsibility at the Fargo VA Health Care System and affiliated CBOCs. These duties include coordination of work schedules, responsibility for clinical performance measures and other administrative/clinical functions within the department. Collaborates with other leaders within the ICC and facility to ensure optimization of resources in the care delivery model. Provides physician/clinical/ administrative leadership and serves as an advisor to the other Pathologist, other leaders in the Diagnostic ICC. Collaborates with ICC operation team and other staff as appropriate to ensure operations issues/problems are resolved in a logical, fashion with clear resolution, communication, and implementation plans and timelines for decisions made. Collaborates with the VISN Diagnostic ICC Pathology and Lab and Medical Director to ensure VISN-wide ICC policies, procedures, performance goals, strategic plans and initiatives are communicated to staff and implemented. 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 Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm.

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. Preferred Experience: Previous leadership experience preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 06/04/2026 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 OCA-CBSY-12902540-26-KA 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: 2026-06-04