Podiatrist - Program Manager - Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC)
This position serves as a Program Manager/Team Lead/Supervisory Psychiatrist for Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC) at the American Lake Division of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) Tacoma WA. In this capacity, the physician serves as the Program Manager of PACC for the Mental Health Service Line.
Duties
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. The Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC)/Same Day Access (SDA) services at the American Lake Division of VA Puget Sound Health Care System provides urgent and walk-in mental health services to Veterans who are experiencing acute psychiatric conditions that are interfering with day-to-day functioning. PACC staff triage, evaluate, and manage Veterans requesting mental health services due to a wide variety of psychiatric conditions including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder,psychotic disorder, PTSD, anxiety disorders, dementia with behavioral disturbances, delirium, dual diagnosed Veterans, and Veterans who present as imminent risk of harm to self and/or others (i.e. suicidal, homicidal, gravely disabled). In addition, PACC is also able to provide follow up medication management care in a less restrictive environment to Veterans who are in crisis but do not require admission to high intensity inpatient psychiatry, through the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). PACC is also the entry point for new Veterans seeking to establish treatment in mental health services, and provides assessment and care coordination of Veterans who are new to mental health. Duties may include: 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 Veterans. Responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, with the approval of the affiliated Program Director and/or Service Line Leader. Organizes and leads team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, and the adherence to administrative demands. Functions as the first line supervising authority (i.e., rater) for 7 employees. For these individuals, the incumbent provides administrative, as well as clinical, supervision and/or consultation as appropriate. Provides comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology receiving care within the Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Center (PACC), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP),including services for patients with complex psychopathology requiring advanced diagnostic and intervention skills. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: ADHOC only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Podiatrist Basic Requirements Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~ Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists 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 Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Preferred Experience: A year in Mental Health. Reference: 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.
Requirements
All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.