SummaryThe New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) is seeking an experienced and motivated
Lead Physician Assistant (PA) to join our team.
*Current New Mexico VA Health Care System Internal Facility employees only!DutiesHelp
Lead Physician Assistant. Typical duties include:
- Coordinate daily PA clinical operations and workflow.
- Serve as a clinical and administrative resource for PAs and other team members.
- Assign schedules, clinic coverage, consults, and other duties.
- Support onboarding, orientation, mentoring, and competency assessment of PAs.
- Promote compliance with scope of practice, clinical policies, documentation standards, and applicable regulations.
- Monitor quality, safety, access, productivity, patient outcomes, and patient satisfaction.
- Review clinical processes and help implement performance-improvement initiatives.
- Facilitate communication between PAs, physicians, nursing, leadership, and other services.
- Participate in hiring, performance evaluations, counseling, and professional development, as delegated.
- Help manage staffing issues, leave coverage, workload distribution, and operational barriers.
- Participate in committees, policy development, audits, and accreditation activities.
- Maintain an appropriate clinical workload and provide direct patient care within privileges and scope of practice.
- Escalate patient-safety, staffing, or operational concerns to the appropriate supervisor or service chief.
The exact responsibilities depend on the facility's position description, delegation of authority, clinical privileges, and organizational policies.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employment- 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.
QualificationsApplicants 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. Physician Assistant Basic Requirements
- Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
- Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
- Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
Physician Assistant-IV (PA-IV). Positions may include but are not limited to: Facility or Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Lead PA, Facility PA Education Lead, PA Residency Program Director, or other Clinical and/or Administrative leadership assignments.
- a. PA (Facility Lead). Facility lead PAs have a thorough understanding of the various functions involved in the care of patients, and the ability to interact effectively with different medical and surgical specialists, health care team members, and administrative staff. Facility lead PAs have the knowledge and expertise pertaining to PA employment, credentialing, clinical practice, and appropriate utilizations of PAs. A lead PA can monitor patient care operations, polices, and work performance of fellow PAs.
b .Experience. PA facility leads require five years of experience, which includes progressively responsible leadership assignments, such as serving on any local committees, workgroups, or taskforces. The PA may exhibit knowledge of PA VHA employment and utilization of PAs through demonstrative actions as a facility point of contact (POC) for PA issues, policies, and directives.
c. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-IV:
a. Ability to provide clinically and occupationally focused orientation to new PA appointees and mentoring other PA staff members.
b. Knowledge of the FPPE and OPPE processes to evaluate and assess patient care services provided by PA staff.
c. Knowledge of the educational needs of PAs.
d. Ability to provide leadership and clinical oversight of PAs at the facility.
e. Ability to exercise independent judgment, perform tasks involving special technical, supervisory, or administrative lines.
f. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of professional clinical staff.
The full performance level of this vacancy is PA-IV. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is PA-IV
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over): Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.
EducationNote: 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/.
Additional informationThis job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
BenefitsHelp
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
