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.
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center serves as the primary health care provider for more than 151,000 Veterans in southeast Texas. Houston exudes a cosmopolitan and down-home vibe together that lets the residents of the country's fourth-largest city and third-largest county (Harris) know that there's no place quite like Houston. The city attracts visitors and transplants with a wonderful mix of world class arts, booming business, pro sports and award-winning cuisine.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly applicants. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
Contact jennifer.isbell-gross@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 Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Associate Director provides independent clinical administration of the BHIP within the Mental Health Care Line and shares supervision of interdisciplinary staff who work in the Program.
Reporting directly to the Director of the BHIP, this highly complex role requires advanced clinical expertise, in-depth administrative knowledge, and strong managerial skills to independently oversee mental health services. The program's staff (FTEE) includes physicians, psychologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants. Additionally, social workers provide clinical care within the BHIP.
While these social workers are formally supervised through the Social Work Service, the Associate Director collaborates closely with the Social Work Supervisor to direct their program activities. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES Supervisory Responsibilities (30%) Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work.
Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Develops performance standards and evaluates work performance of subordinates.
Interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignments to such positions Hears and resolves complaints from employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to Mental Health Care Line Executive. Finds ways to improve production or increase the quality of work directed. Administrative Responsibilities (30%) Coordinates services offered to Veterans and their families enrolled in the program.
Services include assessment, medication management, crisis intervention, educational, individual, family, and group treatment, case management and specialized psychological testing. Formulates, interprets, and implements policies and procedures pertaining to quality mental health care in a mental health program to assure compliance with internal and external performance standards.
Develops effective programs and treatment strategies for mental health program patients and their families. Directs and guides various mental health disciplines within the mental health program to assure efficiency, including the scheduling of activities, the redesign of workloads, daily monitoring of the operations of the program, and feedback to other managers about staff.
Serves in advisory role to the MHCL and BHIP Leadership on relevant programmatic issues with recommendations for improvement in service delivery. Prepares and implements grant and contract proposals. These may be for Veteran or non-veteran populations. Maintains liaison with local, state, and national organizations related to content field of program (e.g. behavioral health care, telemedicine).
Clinical Responsibilities (40%) Clinical responsibility as defined in approved delineated clinical privileges Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (weekend call).
Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.
NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities.
The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.
Melia.Calvin1@va.gov · 224-706-8243
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $285000 – $350000/yr.
Applications close on 2026-10-05.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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