About This Position
Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay).
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. Preferred Experience: Must have attained additional recognition in clinical, administrative, or research areas. Such recognition may be demonstrated by: 1. Certification by an American Specialty Board, or 2. Significant accomplishments in clinical practice, educational activities, research, or administration which clearly distinguish the physician as having the highest professional qualifications in the specialty area to which assigned, such as: a. Past or present faculty appointment at the professional level in an approved medical school, or b. Completion of an accredited residency in the primary specialty area or in a related area to which the individual will be assigned and unusual professional accomplishment such as: (1) Publication of articles in nationally recognized professional journals, or (2) Officer in a State or National professional medical organization, or (3) Directorship of a hospital or large clinic. 3. Management and academic experience that would qualify the applicant for an assistant professor appointment at a medical school. 4. Post graduate VA experience in a Surgical Service. 5. Administrative / Leadership / Supervisory Experience. 6. Able to be obtain surgical privileges. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing; clear, distinctive speech; and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially long periods of continued sitting, telephone and computer usage, walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing. Transferring of equipment/objects may be required.
Major Duties
The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development department is dedicated to building a prosperous future by attracting new businesses, expanding existing ones, and fostering an environment where innovation thrives. Our 2025 Strategic Priorities focus on targeted economic development, manufacturing growth, and positioning Montgomery as a leading logistics and technology hub in the Southeast. The Montgomery area is a balance between production and service economies with major interstates in all directions; public, private and military institutions of higher learning; and a proud heritage to showcase. The warm Southern hospitality, high quality of life and low cost of living make Montgomery a wonderful place to put down roots and raise a family. Montgomery offers everything expected in a big city - from world-class arts and theater to state-of-the-art health care and vibrant retail - all with the small-town warmth seldom found in a city of this size. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 Chief of Surgery is responsible for the overall operation and supervision of a broad range of surgical services to include the following specialty services: General Surgery, Urology, Podiatry, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology and Anesthesia. These surgical services provide quality improvement, maintenance of reusable medical equipment, and the provision of excellent inpatient and outpatient care. The Chief of Surgery insures national, network, and local missions, values, vision, and performance measures are supported and met, provides efficient management of resources and budgetary constraints, facilities a collaborative team environment, develops orientation and training of pertinent clinical staff under the service, and proactively identifies needs and concerns concerning the service. The Chief of Surgery reports to facility's Deputy Chief of Staff and is a member of the Medical Executive Council. The incumbent should have administrative experience in outpatient surgical clinic, acute surgical inpatient unit, ICU, and operating room. The Chief of Surgery must have expensive experience with coordinating operating room schedules and facilitating the daily surgery schedule. The Chief of Surgery oversees and coordinates all surgical services for operating room, endoscopy suite, and PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit). The Chief of Surgery is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with medical and surgical diseases, accomplished through ambulatory and bed-based resources assigned to the Surgical and Specialty care service. They actively participate in patient care by conducting patient clinics and operative procedures, through hospital rounds, morning reports, conferences, consultations, participation in ambulatory care and other similar activities. The Chief of Surgery represents the service on important medical center committees with influence on patient care, teaching, and closely monitors all other committees on which surgery and specialty care service has representation. The Chief of Surgical Services is responsible for recruiting qualified physicians to perform comprehensive and specialized surgical patient care and teaching. The Chief of Surgical Services maintains an active role actively in the multifaceted Peer Review Committee (PRC) and by facilitating any outside surgical peer reviews requested through the risk manager. The Chief of Surgery plays a pivotal interactive role with quality/outcome measurement systems that are in place as integrated improvement tools. They assure that data collection is accurate and verified and that the returned aggregated data elements are communicated to the appropriate process owners and providers. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - some occasions may require work outside of this core schedule as this is a 24/7 hospital facility.
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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
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, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate 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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
Additional Information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
How to Apply
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. To apply for this position online complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2026 to receive consideration. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing date indicated if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing date click here and include the CBTB-12863668-26-KL in the Notes field. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a C.V. and/or resume. Other documents may be requested later in the process if needed. Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Chief of Surgery (MD/DO) position at Veterans Health Administration?
The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $400,000/yr. This is a VM-15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Chief of Surgery (MD/DO) job located?
This position is located in Montgomery, Alabama. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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(...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Sep 30, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does VM-15 mean?
VM-15 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.