Optometrist (Chief of Optometry)

<p>Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay-setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay).</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>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. 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 makes 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. This positions is a full-time Director of Optometry, assigned to the Acute Care and Specialties Service Line located at the Central Alabama VA Medical Center. This position may be resided at either of our main campuses located in Montgomery, AL and Tuskegee, AL or at outlying CBOCs located at Fort Benning, AL, Columbus, GA, and Fort Rucker, AL. The primary purpose of this position is to provide supervision over Optometry staff and services to include administrative and management functions. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Relocation Incentive: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): 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 Function or Scope of Assigned Duties: - Full program responsibility for the Optometry service and provide supervision to subordinates. - Performs other directly related duties as assigned, including management of community care referrals as needed. - Provides clinical supervision to student interns when applicable. - Eye examinations in regularly scheduled clinics provide diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic eye care to patients of all ages, taking into consideration age-related and cultural differences of the various veteran populations served. - Address Visual functions to include reduced visual acuity, impaired contrast sensitivity function, impaired central and/or peripheral vision, eye movement dysfunction, loss of depth perception and combinations of these. - Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. - Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. - Participate actively in performance improvement and attend assigned meetings or process action teams. Work collaboratively with other specialties. - Follow VA directives and polices and maintains current in BLS. - Possess computer skills to access and input typed data on each patient into the computerized patient record system (CPRS). - Provides direct clinical supervision of health technicians and other staff as appropriate. - Supports the TECS (Technology-based Eye Care Services) program. - Establishes professional working relationships with other clinical service providers within the medical center and outlying clinics, provide telephone and e-consult consultations as needed. - Cooperate with and participate in medical duties or functions related to quality of care, peer review and with other performance improvement activities as directed. - Provides prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to veterans in need of Optometry services. - Documents observations, assessments, and changes in patient's condition; collaborating with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes. - Attend mandatory training, such as VA Voices, Own the Moment, comply with CME requirements in the specialty of Optometry, and must complete the required TMS courses timely. - Must be aware and compliant of VA SAIL metrics and VA Performance Measures. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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.<h3>Education</h3>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.