Physician - Associate Chief of Staff-Research & Development

Physician - Associate Chief of Staff-Research & Development

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Fargo, North Dakota

Salary Range: $250000 - $335000 Per Year

Job Summary: The VA Fargo Healthcare System is recruiting (1) Physician - Associate Chief of Staff - Research & Development in Fargo, ND. The Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development (ACOS/R&D) is a Physician in an Executive Career Field position and reports to the Fargo Health Care System Director through the Chief of Staff. The ACOS performs research projects, manages the research program, and is a principal investigator.

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 Research include: Clinical duties assigned would involve work in the outpatient setting at the Fargo VAHCS primary care, specialty care 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 80% administrative and 20% clinical but may vary depending on the needs of the service line. The research scientist serves as a supervisory role in the Research and Development service at Fargo VA HCS. The purpose of the work is to provide expertise and leadership to the Office of Research Administration by furnishing advisory, planning, reviewing or investigative services on specific problems, project programs, and functions. The incumbent evaluates proposed or continuing research or clinical work against specified goals, objectives while providing technical and administrative advice, as well as recommendations for area of improvement. The work involves interpreting, applying guidelines, assessing program/proposal effectiveness by analyzing, resolving difficult, and complex problems. The work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, and developing new theories. The work and service affect other experts, providers, professors, Deans of College, Vice Presidents, Chancellors of Universities that affect administrative or scientific research program missions. The research includes human subjects, animal, and all other types of research and development activities which are instrumental to VHA. Compliance with a wide variety of national, federal, and state laws and VHA regulations is necessary to achieve the defined organizational goals and objectives, and the ACOS, R&D, is responsible for assuring this oversight. Resolving common problems, developing standard operating procedures, assisting investigators with the development of research projects and proposals, and providing advice following established criteria, goals, and objectives all fall within the scope of the duties of the ACOS, R&D. Successful completion of assignments assists in the ongoing operation of effective and efficient research projects and activities. 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: Monday - Friday, 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: Physician with previous supervisory experience of 2 years preferred, but not required. Research experience and previous principle investigator. Must be able to be involved with research projects. 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 07/22/2026 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-12945412-26-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: 2026-07-22