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Section Chief Podiatrist (Surg Adv Rft/Ank)

Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs

Open to the publicPermanentFull-timeSecurity clearance required
Location
Birmingham, AL
Salary
$145,000 – $335,000/yr
Pay grade
GS 15
Openings
1
Posted
Oct 30, 2026
Closes
Closes in 6 days

Summary

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.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

The incumbent will perform the below duties, and any that may be additionally assigned:
Clinical Duties:
  • Responsible for performing operations that require a Podiatric surgeon. Operations include, but are not limited to, lesser digital deformity repair, bunionectomy, flatfoot and cavus foot repair, amputation and limb salvage and reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery, and forefoot surgery.
  • Section Chief and all associated duties includ but are not limited to supervision of personnel in the Section, procedure and processes, and overall management of the Section.
  • Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders in the podiatric care of patients.
  • Responsible for the evaluation of patients in multiple settings which may include the Podiatry clinic, emergency room, intensive care unit, operating room, and other inpatient services.
  • Responsible for providing on call in accordance with the call schedule.
  • Responsible for applying safety, environmental, and infection control policies, procedures, and practices.
  • Responsible for the delivery of podiatric health care in the promotion of health education, with the objective being to stimulate public interest in early detection and care for the identification of common foot problems and complications of systemic diseases and to prevent deformity, disability and complications.
  • Assess all patients for their degree of risk to limb loss and maintain an interdisciplinary approach to amputation prevention to reduce the incidents of amputation and other lower extremity complications resulting from diabetic foot ulcers and peripheral vascular disease.
  • Assess need for and prescribe the appropriate prosthetic aids and devices including aids, appliances or parts which are required to replace, support or substitute for a deformed, weakened or missing anatomical portion of the foot.
  • Closely interacts with Prosthetics, along with other interdisciplinary health care professionals, to provide care and treatment to amputee veterans, veterans at risk for amputation, and veterans with foot deformities.
Administrative Duties:
  • Responsible for the daily running of the Podiatry Section in the inpatient, OR, and outpatient setting.
  • Responsible for maintaining clinical efficiency in the outpatient setting and working to keep clinic and surgical wait times low.
  • PAVE Coordinator
  • Administrative leadership and representation of the Section.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm
Telework: Ad hoc is authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
PCS: Not authorized
Recruitment/relocation incentives: Not authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact information for the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance will be provided.

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.
  • Service Chief, Section Chief or Line Manager. A service chief or line manager podiatrist must demonstrate the following: (1) Outstanding professional ability in the practice of medicine or a medical specialty; and (2) Ability to guide the development and implementation of programs, within their respective domain. These programs would include, but are not limited to, medical practice, professional standards, personnel issues, and quality and performance improvement.
Preferred Experience:
  • 3-5 years Administrative Leadership Experience
  • Strong experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration with internal and external stakeholders

Grade Determinations: VM-0668-15

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. however, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

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/.

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.

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