Physician-Deputy Chief (Emergency Department)

Physician-Deputy Chief (Emergency Department)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Durham, North Carolina

Salary Range: $310000 - $330000 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply

Major Duties:

• The Emergency Department (ED) Deputy Chief assists the Chief of Emergency Department Service Line (EDSL) in providing administrative guidance and oversight to the ED, while also serving as a clinical provider. The breakdown between clinical and administrative time is anticipated to be 70% clinical, and 30% administrative, but may vary based on facility needs. The incumbent directly reports to the Chief of EDSL. In the event the Chief EDSL is absent, the ED Deputy Chief assumes the delegated responsibilities of the Chief. The Emergency Department Deputy Chief's primary responsibilities include but are not limited to: Assisting the A.O/Chief in recruiting and retaining well-qualified ED physicians. Understanding current EM operations and metrics and continuously work to improve workflows. Serving as ED liaison with hospital administration and medical staff. Ensuring all ED personnel understand their patient care and administrative responsibilities. Supervises the emergency department mid-level providers. Demonstrating leadership skills, as well as a high degree of personal and professional skills in interpersonal relations, critical thinking, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Customer Service: Bases planning on patient and staff feedback and projected needs. Establishes a customer-oriented culture and promotes the hiring of individuals who fit that culture. Actively identifies and encourages the implementation of best practices in customer service. Identifies and removes barriers that impede good service delivery. Empowers staff to resolve problems and complaints independently when possible. Shares resources to service customers effectively and efficiently. Quality Improvement: Ensures the emergency department meets standards issued by various accrediting and regulatory groups and VACO. Participates in quality improvement activities and encourages staff participation in Process Action Teams and other quality improvement activities. Research and Education: Encourages and supports research and education missions. Promotes continuing education for ED personnel and ensures compliance with performance standards. Creates a climate where continuous learning and self-development are valued. Budget and Fiscal Management: Collaborates with the A.O/Chief of EDSL in the development of the ED mission and business plan. Stays informed about changing conditions in health care, particularly as they relate to emergency medicine, and educates staff about these changes. MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Emergency Department Deputy Director will assist the Chief of EDSL in supervising the ED staff to accomplish the work of the organizational unit. The ED Deputy Chief will take a primary role in responding to and resolving complaints and grievances related to the provision of emergency care. The ED Deputy Chief will provide primary managerial and supervisory direction for the emergency department as needed in the absence of the Chief of Emergency Services. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT: The Deputy Chief will serve as a resource and support for the Chief of EDSL in the strategic management of the service, including personnel management and requests for additional resources. The Deputy will assist in developing the annual strategic plan for the ED and stay informed about changing conditions in health care to educate staff accordingly. COMMUNICATIONS The ED Deputy Chief: The ED Deputy Chief will support and assist the Chief of EDSL in providing visible and dynamic leadership to achieve exemplary internal and external communication of ongoing emergency department functions, with a strong focus on optimizing ED operations and workflow

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. Additional Requirement: Preferred Experience: Emergency Department Board certified in Emergency Medicine. At least 5 years of recent experience in an Emergency Department.. Clinical Experience: Extensive clinical experience in emergency medicine, usually with several years of practice as an emergency physician. Board certification in emergency medicine is often required. Leadership Experience: Proven leadership and management experience, preferably in an emergency department setting. This may include roles such as medical director, department head, or other supervisory positions. Administrative Skills: Strong administrative and organizational skills, including experience with budgeting, staffing, and policy implementation.Quality Improvement: Experience with quality improvement initiatives, patient safety protocols, and performance improvement projects. Collaboration and Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including nurses, support staff, and specialists. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

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 05/04/2026 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 CBTA-12941790-26-KLL 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: 2026-05-04