Psychiatrist (Program Manager) - Outpatient Mental Health Section

Summary Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. 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. Incentive Authorized 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 PolicyEducation: Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicineThe 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 completedLicense: 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 ColumbiaResidency 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completedOR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United StatesOR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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 experiencesExceptions: 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 basisPRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privilegedrather - they are to have a ""scope of practice"" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervisionAdditionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPsIn rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such actionEnglish Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written EnglishBoard Certification: Current board certification in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and NeurologyReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019 - updated on 4/17/2026. Duties VA offers a comprehensive total rewards packageVHA Physician Total RewardsRecruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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 The physician serves as Senior Program Manager for the Outpatient Mental Health (OMH) program at the American Lake division of VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) - Tacoma - WAThe physician serves as the Director OMH for the Mental Health Service LineThe Mental Health Service at the VAPSHCS is a large and diverse integrated care line with over 400 FTEE - including psychiatrists - psychologists - social workers - nurses - and several additional clinical and administrative staffThe Director of Outpatient Mental Health Service American Lake is responsible for the clinical and administrative operations of the largest section of the Mental Health Service at VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemThe Outpatient Mental Health Service at American Lake is comprised of several mental health programsThese programs include the Mental Health Clinic/Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (including Clozapine and Injection Page 2 of 10 Clinics)PTSD Outpatient ClinicPsychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery CenterMental Health Intensive Case Management ProgramNeuropsychology ServiceMental Health Research Program and the Neuromodulation ClinicProgram Management Responsibilities Provides broad program management responsibilities of a clinical care team - including leadership in the development - implementation - evaluation - and oversight of a complex program responsible for comprehensive clinical care of VeteransLeads a number of multidisciplinary teams - which include psychologists - physicians - social workers - nurses - and other health professionals and traineesThe manager of this program oversees over 80 FTEEResponsible for the development - implementation - and oversight of operational policies and procedures for the programs - with the approval of the affiliated Service Line leaderSupervisory Responsibilities Functions as the first line supervising authority (i.e. - rater) for (6 ) Program Managers and (4) front-line staff membersFor these individuals - the incumbent provides administrative - as well as clinical - supervision and/or consultation as appropriateProvides administrative oversight and clinical consultation to other interdisciplinary team members for whom the incumbent is not the designated first line rating authorityAssumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely and effective mannerClinical Responsibilities Provides comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology receiving care within the Community and Residential Care Services - including services for patients with complex psychopathology requiring advanced diagnostic and intervention skillsDemonstrates expertise in using and contemporary interview and assessment methods for mental disorders and/or behavioral health conditionsProvides education to patients and family members regarding mental disorders and best practices approaches to treatmentProvides comprehensive assessment of Veterans at imminent risk of harm to self and/or others (including grave disability) and facilitates admission for acute psychiatric hospitalizationProvides evidence-based pharmacotherapy for an assigned panel of patients - with evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions as indicated and appropriate Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30PM