Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff, Research and Development)

Department of Veterans Affairs

Portland, Oregon Other $165,000 – $350,000 Closes Aug 7, 2026

Summary

The incumbent is responsible for leading the VA Portland Health Care System Research and Development (R&D) Division with the assistance of the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for R&D and Administrative Officer for R&D. This senior management team works collaboratively to run all aspects the Research Division. The incumbent will have professional qualifications that include medical education, cognitive, and administrative skills, and sound judgment to carry out program responsibilities.

Duties

  • Portland is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon.
  • Situated in the northwestern area of the state at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers.
  • Portland is known for having the amenities of a major city (such as an international airport, an efficient public transit system, major league sports teams and many museums and art galleries) and the charms of a small city (such as plentiful arts and crafts fairs.
  • Independent bookstores and local traditions like the annual Rose Festival Parade).
  • Rain or shine, you can take advantage of the city's proximity to nature by playing in the Willamette River, wandering through lush public parks and gardens, biking the city's 162 miles (261 km) of bike lanes and hiking trails both within city limits and in the nearby Columbia River Gorge.
  • VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
  • VHA Physician Total Rewards.
  • Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Maybe available for highly qualified individuals.
  • Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties include but are not limited to the following: Fosters research programs throughout the institution that are consistent with the core missions of the VA.
  • Participates with the Director and Chief of Staff in the management of the hospital's health care programs, particularly in the areas where integration of R&D programs can have a beneficial effect either directly or indirectly on patient care.
  • Ensures all required research accreditations are maintained (i.e. Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International).
  • Serves as the primary official to advise the Director, VISN Director, and Chief Research and Development Officer on all matters of compliance and assurance regarding VAPORHCS Research Program human subjects' protections, animal welfare, research safety, and research misconduct.
  • Develops and implements both long and short-range policies and plans.
  • The policies and procedures dealt with are for all of the various aspects of Research Service including accreditation requirements; budget and fiscal management; supply, service and equipment procurement; personnel and workforce utilization; contract negotiation; construction and renovation; and space utilization.
  • Develops the need for and maintains an awareness of available resources, and makes recommendations to Medical Center management regarding needs, distribution or redistribution of these resources to include equipment, staffing, and space.

Requirements

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.

Conditions of employment include:

  • 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 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. 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.

Required Documents

Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:

  • 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.

About this role

The Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff, Research and Development) position with the Department of Veterans Affairs is based in Portland, Oregon. The incumbent is responsible for leading the VA Portland Health Care System Research and Development (R&D) Division with the assistance of the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for R&D and Administrative Officer for R&D. The role pays $165,000 to $350,000 per year.

Day to day, the work involves ensuring all required research accreditations are maintained (i.e. Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International). The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.

Who should apply

This role calls for United States citizenship and a valid driver's license. Be prepared for a pre-employment drug screening and physical or medical requirements as part of the hiring process. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Podiatrist (Associate Chief of Staff, Research and Development) position with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Portland, Oregon, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.

How competitive it is

At $165,000 to $350,000 per year, this is a mid-to-senior role where a precisely tailored application matters most. Because it is a supervisory or senior position, expect experienced candidates and a strong emphasis on a documented leadership and performance record. Based in Portland, Oregon, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on August 7, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.

This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.

Job Details

Department Department of Veterans Affairs
Job Type Other
Location Portland, Oregon
Salary $165,000 – $350,000
Pay Period Per Year
Closing Date Aug 7, 2026
Posted Jun 9, 2026
Source ID CBSV-12978750-26-RAC
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