Psychiatrist- Mental Health Program Manager

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved for highly competitive applicants.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): APPROVED! Learn more.
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR
  [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR
  (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences.
  Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

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

Physical Requirements: For more information on the physical requirements of this position, please reference VHA Handbook 5019

Responsibilities:

THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov,, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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

The Program Manager provides executive leadership, clinical oversight, and administrative direction for multidisciplinary outpatient mental health services across assigned facilities. This role manages daily operations of mental health clinics, ensuring efficient, high-quality delivery of diagnostic assessment, psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, crisis intervention, and evidence-based, patient-centered care for a diverse Veteran population.

The Program Manager exercises broad independent judgment in supervising an interdisciplinary team that may include Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurse Practitioners, Nursing staff, and Peer Support Specialists. Responsibilities include staffing, hiring actions, performance management, workload distribution, clinical coverage, and promoting a recovery-oriented environment. The position oversees compliance with VA policies, accreditation standards, the Mental Health Uniform Services Package, clinical practice guidelines, and all required facility, VISN, and national reporting.

The Program Manager leads integration of mental health services with Primary Care and other clinical programs, ensuring timely access to care, effective consult and referral management, coordinated transitions, and optimized patient flow. The role directs implementation of models such as BHIP, MHTC 2.0, and FLOW, facilitating team-based huddles, case coordination, and performance improvement initiatives.

Clinical responsibilities include providing or supervising psycho-diagnostic evaluations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, conducting suicide risk assessments, managing complex psychiatric presentations, and making appropriate treatment decisions across outpatient, inpatient, emergency, and integrated care settings. The Program Manager participates in team meetings, treatment planning, and serves as a consultant to staff and trainees. The role supports education and supervision of residents and trainees, while ensuring timely and accurate clinical documentation.
Additional duties include conflict resolution, addressing employee relations issues, ensuring adherence to customer service standards, promoting stakeholder-driven improvements, and supporting research or quality assurance activities that inform program development.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30p. Psychiatrists at BCVA are required to be part of the on-call rotation to provide coverage to urgent care. The on-call shift is 0700-1900 and shifts are assigned on a monthly basis.

Salary : $200,000 - $210,000