Psychiatrist – Recruitment/Relocation Incentive & EDRP Authorized

Department of Veterans Affairs

Des Moines, Iowa Full-time $250,000 – $315,000 Closes Sep 4, 2026

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

  • The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
  • This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.
  • As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.
  • This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.
  • This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
  • The Psychiatrist provides direct clinical services within the Mental Health Service Line, as well as being a resource to other Service Lines within VA Central Iowa HCS.
  • Provide services to Veterans seen within the Outpatient Clinic in Des Moines (either in-person or through tale-mental health to our Community Based Outpatient Clinics or to patients in their home) or on the inpatient unit, including call duties as scheduled by the.
  • Medical Director of the MHSL be needed to provide services to other areas of the Mental Health Service Line on an as needed basis.
  • Occasional contributions to the consult liaison service in terms of helping with consults to medical inpatients when staffing requires this.
  • Perform comprehensive psychiatric assessments and document all patient care via the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
  • Skilled in Psychopharmacology.
  • May be required to provide supervision and education to residents and medical students.
  • Provides comprehensive psychiatric examinations and documentation of such examinations, according to guidelines required by this facility and the Central Office of the VA.
  • VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
  • VHA Physician Total Rewards.
  • Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved for highly qualified applicants.
  • Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
  • EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
  • Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
  • 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 Work.
  • Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm.
  • Additional information may be provided during an interview.

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 Psychiatrist – Recruitment/Relocation Incentive & EDRP Authorized position with the Department of Veterans Affairs is based in Des Moines, Iowa. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. The role pays $250,000 to $315,000 per year.

Day to day, the work involves the VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. 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 Psychiatrist – Recruitment/Relocation Incentive & EDRP Authorized position with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines, Iowa, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.

How competitive it is

With pay reaching $250,000 to $315,000 per year, this is a senior professional position that will draw highly credentialed applicants. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on September 4, 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 Full-time
Location Des Moines, Iowa
Salary $250,000 – $315,000
Pay Period Per Year
Closing Date Sep 4, 2026
Posted Jun 5, 2026
Source ID OCA-CBSY-12979275-26-KA
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