Leadership opportunity for a Psychiatrist in Phoenix!

Leadership opportunity for a Psychiatrist in Phoenix!

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is seeking a psychiatrist to serve as the Associate Chief of Staff of the Mental Health Service. This position reports directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff and is responsible for setting overall goals for the Mental Health Service. This is your chance to make a profound impact on the lives of Veterans while advancing in your career and enjoying exceptional work-life balance.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) provides outstanding health care, trains America’s future health care providers, and conducts important medical research. PVAHCS opened its doors in service to Veterans in 1951 and today provides world class health care to more than 130,000 Veterans across the valley. PVAHCS is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Desert Pacific Network with the largest number of enrolled Veterans in the region. PVAHCS facilities include the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, 12 community-based outpatient clinics in Gilbert, Globe, Payson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Show Low, and Surprise, and a Community Resource Center in Phoenix that focuses on Homeless Veteran programs and services. We also operate a Mobile Medical Unit to provide care to Veterans who can’t easily visit one of our facilities.

Why Choose the VA?

Being a physician at VA offers unparalleled professional growth, allowing you to focus on patients’ needs while enjoying excellent benefits:

• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Competitive Pay: Based on your training, experience, and local labor market
• Annual Performance Pay: Up to an additional $15,000 per year
• No Employment Contracts: No non-compete clauses or restrictive covenants
• Generous PTO: 26 days of vacation, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays, plus 5 days for CME*
• Retirement Plans: Federal Retirement Plan and a plan similar to a 401(k) with partial agency match
• Comprehensive Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Nationwide Mobility: Relocate without losing benefits, vacation, or pay
• Malpractice Coverage: Under federal tort laws
• Licensure: One unrestricted U.S. medical license allows you to work at any VA facility

Preferred Experience: 

VA or Clinical Supervisory Experience. You must be a seasoned clinician who demonstrates extensive and progressive leadership experience both as a clinician and administrator. Exceptional interpersonal skills as well as operational, financial, and clinical skills are essential. You must have the ability to meet VA established performance measure goals and possess a thorough knowledge of the standards of the Veterans Health Administration and other accrediting bodies.

Why Phoenix?

Phoenix, the capital city of Arizona, is renowned for its sunshine, stunning desert landscapes, and vibrant urban life. As the fifth-largest city in the U.S., Phoenix offers:

• Year-round outdoor activities
• World-class resorts and golf courses
• A thriving culinary and cocktail scene
• Rich cultural institutions and arts
• Professional sports teams to include football, basketball, and baseball

Join us in Phoenix, “The Valley of the Sun,” where professional fulfillment meets an adventurous and fulfilling lifestyle.

Ready to join our team? Email your CV to Timothy A. Bernau at timothy.bernau@va.gov or call 623-920-1304 today!

*Must be board-certified to receive the 5 days off for CME.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2025, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $23,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $31,000.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

About the Phoenix VA Health Care System 

Basking in sunshine 300 days a year in the aptly named Valley of the Sun, The Phoenix VA Health Care System is located near downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Although renowned for its warm, dry climate, Arizona’s capitol offers much more than great weather.  The Phoenix metro area, now America’s 5^th largest city, offers affordable housing and a relaxed, informal southwestern lifestyle.

Diversity abounds.  Greater Phoenix has an abundance of golf courses, parks, public swimming pools and bike paths.  For the sports fans Phoenix is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, NFL's Arizona Cardinals; major league baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks and the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.  Across the state, more than 11 million acres of national forest lands provide a varied playground for those who enjoy skiing, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking or camping….for the more adventurous, there's white water rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon!   

For city dwellers, the valley boasts exceptional shopping and retail establishments, restaurants and night life.  The valley is also rapidly gaining prominence as a Mecca for the arts.  Phoenix possesses world class museums, a ballet, symphony orchestra and several theater companies.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System proudly serves Veterans in central Arizona at its main medical center and outpatient VA Health Care Clinics.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is joining a growing number of VA health care facilities in adopting a new method of health care delivery called Patient Aligned Care Teams or PACTs.  This system is even more patient-centered and focuses heavily on quick and easy communication between patients and their health care providers.