Mental Health Director

Physician – Mental Health Medical Director
VA Central Iowa Health Care System – Des Moines, Iowa

The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is seeking a collaborative, mission?driven Psychiatrist to serve as Mental Health Service Medical Director at the Des Moines VA Medical Center. This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape a comprehensive, Veteran?focused mental health program within a Whole Health model of care.

Practice opportunity

As Mental Health Service Medical Director, you will be responsible for the overall clinical performance of the Mental Health Service Line, including psychiatrists and Advanced Practice Providers. You will work in a Whole Health System of care that emphasizes personalized health plans, healing relationships, and strong connections to Veterans’ communities, aligned with the Veterans Health Administration mission to honor America’s Veterans through exceptional health care.

In this role, you will provide both clinical care and leadership, helping to design, implement, and continuously improve cost?effective, evidence?based mental health services. You will collaborate closely with the Mental Health Service Line Director and other clinical leaders to ensure seamless care across inpatient, residential, outpatient, and telehealth settings in a regional center of excellence for Veteran mental health.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and supervise psychiatrists and APPs in the Mental Health Service Line, serving as first?line supervisor for clinical performance and professional development.
• Direct the development and maintenance of innovative, cost?effective mental health programs that meet applicable quality and accreditation standards.
• Develop and oversee ongoing peer review, clinical quality improvement, continuing education, scope of practice, and privileging processes.
• Provide direct patient care, including examination, diagnosis, treatment, and documentation for Veterans with a full spectrum of psychiatric conditions.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and meetings, ensuring care is grounded in current standards of practice and the Whole Health model.
• Provide clinical leadership and problem?solving for Mental Health programs, including strategic planning and implementation of the system’s model of care.
• Ensure sound financial, human resources, space, and equipment practices consistent with medical center goals and objectives, and promote a safe work environment.
• Lead recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, and initiate program development to expand and enhance mental health services.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (full?time, no routine travel required; ad?hoc telework may be available).

Differentiating VA benefits

• Highly competitive compensation – Salary range of $300,000 – $350,000 per year, with formal pay?setting that considers education and length of practice, plus annual performance bonus and regular salary increases.
• Exceptional paid time off – Approximately 50–55 days of annual paid leave (annual leave, sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and potential additional paid time for CME).
• Robust retirement programs – Traditional federal pension with five?year vesting and a federal 401(k)?style plan with up to 5% employer contributions.
• Comprehensive insurance options – Access to federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long?term care coverage, with many programs portable into retirement.
• Student loan support – Eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program with potential tax?advantaged loan repayment up to $200,000 over one to five years, subject to program approval and individual eligibility.
• Professional support – Possible annual CME reimbursement, free malpractice coverage with tail, and no physician employment contract, resulting in minimal restrictions on outside professional activities.
• Mission?driven practice – Dedicated focus on caring for Veterans in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment, with strong system?level support for mental health services.

Why live and practice in Des Moines, Iowa

• Outstanding affordability – Des Moines offers a cost of living significantly below the national average, with overall costs and housing expenses notably lower than many metropolitan areas, allowing physicians to enjoy more space and financial flexibility.
• Attractive housing options – Median home prices and average rents are well below many U.S. cities, making it feasible to own a comfortable home in desirable neighborhoods close to excellent schools and amenities.
• Family?friendly environment – Greater Des Moines is known for its safe neighborhoods, quality schools, and strong sense of community, providing an appealing setting for raising children and building long?term roots.
• Growing, vibrant metro – The region combines the feel of a mid?sized city with cultural amenities, including festivals, restaurants, parks, and arts venues, without the congestion and commute times of larger urban centers.
• Easy access and convenience – Short commute times, accessible outdoor recreation, and a well?connected regional hub make it simple to balance work, family life, and leisure activities.
• Supportive medical community – Des Moines has an established and growing healthcare ecosystem, with collaborative relationships among health systems and physician groups, offering professional networking for both you and your spouse or partner.

Qualifications (summary)

• MD or DO from an accredited school of allopathic or osteopathic medicine.
• Completion of an approved residency training program leading to eligibility for board certification in an appropriate core specialty (psychiatry).
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any U.S. state or territory or the District of Columbia.
• U.S. citizenship (non?citizens may be considered when qualified citizens are not available, in accordance with VA policy).
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and ability to meet physical and mental requirements for the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

If you are a psychiatrist who thrives in leadership, values team?based care, and wants to make a lasting impact on the lives of Veterans in a welcoming, affordable Midwestern community, we invite you to consider this Mental Health Medical Director opportunity in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Best Care and the Best Careers…The mission of the Veterans Healthcare System is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services. To accomplish this mission, the VA needs to be a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system that provides excellence in health care value, excellence in service as defined by its customers, and excellence in education and research, and needs to be an organization characterized by exceptional accountability and by being an employer of choice.

The VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VACIHCS) operates a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facility in Des Moines, with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Mason City, Fort Dodge, Knoxville, Marshalltown and Carroll. The medical center provides acute and specialized medical and surgical services, residential outpatient treatment programs in substance abuse and post-traumatic stress and a full range of mental health and long-term care services, as well as sub-acute and restorative rehabilitation services and a domiciliary.

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