Job Description
Physical Therapist- Service Chief is listed by Veterans Health Administration in Madison. The Veterans Health Administration is hiring a Physical Therapist Service Chief for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the William S.
Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. This is a full-time, permanent GS-14 position open only to current Madison VA employees.
As Service Chief, you will supervise and direct allied health professionals across physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology.
Responsibilities include clinical oversight, consult management, scheduling coordination, and ensuring timely documentation in the electronic medical record. You will also serve as a consultant to hospital staff and resolve issues that affect service delivery.
This role is ideal for an experienced physical therapist with leadership experience in a hospital setting who is ready to manage resources, evaluate staff, and collaborate on strategic planning at the local or national level.
Salary & Compensation
Salary: $125,776 - $163,514 per year.
Qualification
To qualify for this GS-14 Physical Therapist Service Chief position, you must be a U.S. Citizen, hold a current and unrestricted physical therapy license, and meet one of the education/experience combinations below. Additionally, you need one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-13 and demonstrated KSAs.
- U.S. citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed only if qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
- Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy plus five years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
- Master's degree in Physical Therapy plus two years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
- Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
- Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the U.S. or the District of Columbia.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005.
- One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
- Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.
- Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution with employees, discipline leads, and administrators.
- Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development.
Role Responsibilities
Supervise and assign work to PM&R professionals (PT, OT, PTA, COTA, TR, SLP, Audiologists), trainees, administrative support, and volunteers.
- Oversee PM&R consult management for appropriateness, clinical triage, and clinical review of requests for contracted services.
- Coordinate scheduling for all consults for new patients.
- Coordinate with other services in PM&R treatment, treatment scheduling, and delivery of care.
- Serve as a consultant to PM&R staff and other hospital personnel in evaluating and planning rehabilitation treatment.
- Resolve problems that interfere with delivery of PM&R services.
- Perform and provide oversight of consistent and timely documentation of patient encounters in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted practice, Joint Commission, facility, and PM&R Service requirements.
- Perform and provide oversight of competent documentation of patient care.
Conditions & Requirements
Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Must complete an online onboarding process.
- Must provide acceptable form of identification (REAL ID compliant after May 7, 2025).
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all VA Health Care Personnel.
- Must meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements as per hospital policy.
- Position may require walking, ambulating patients, patient transfers, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Benefits
Complete benefits package as a federal employee, including health insurance, retirement, and paid leave.
- Annual leave accrual based on years of service; prior work or military experience may qualify for credit toward a higher leave accrual rate.
- Access to a range of benefits designed for federal careers; eligibility depends on position type and work schedule.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your application, resume, CV, and supporting documentation will be verified.
- You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications; be clear and specific in describing your experience.
- Experience includes paid and unpaid work, including volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps).
- The VA performs pre-employment reference checks to verify information and assist in final selection.
- After the announcement closes, applications are reviewed for qualification and eligibility.
- A referral certificate is issued, and referred applicants may be contacted for an interview.
- All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision is made.
Required Documents
Resume (no 2-page limit applies; use the standard Clinical Resume Document as a cover sheet).
- SF-50/Notification of Personnel Action (for current/former federal employees).
- Transcript (if using education to qualify).
- License (current physical therapy license).
- Cover Letter (optional).
- DD-214/Statement of Service (for veterans' preference).
- Disability Letter (Schedule A or VA) if applicable.
- Professional Certification (if applicable).
- Separation Notice (RIF) if applicable.
- SF-15 (for 10-point veterans' preference).
How to Apply
Open the official application portal and with your the official application portal/Login.gov account.
- Complete the online application questionnaire; you can preview the questions before starting.
- Attach your federal resume and all required documents as specified in the Required Documents section.
- Submit your complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/03/2026.
- After submission, you will receive a confirmation email. You can check your application status in your the official application portal account.
Additional Information
This position is open to Madison VA employees only.
- This is an Excepted Service position and does not confer competitive status.
- The 2-page resume requirement does not apply to this position; use the standard Clinical Resume Document as a cover sheet and upload your full resume/CV in the 'Other' document field.
- Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent federal agency employees.
- If you are relying on education, ensure it is from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a condition of employment; exemptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.
- Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the VA prohibits requesting criminal history prior to a tentative job offer.
- Agency contact: Ruth Joseph, Phone (478) 272-1210 X72092, Email [email protected].
- Address: William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison, WI 53705.
About Company
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care to veterans at over 1,200 facilities. The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, is a Complexity Level 1b facility offering complete medical and rehabilitation services. This position is within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), which delivers physical, occupational, recreational, and speech therapies as well as audiology. The Service Chief role is critical to ensuring high-quality, coordinated care for veterans.
Veterans Health Administration employment opportunities
FAQs
Can experience substitute for a degree in physical therapy for this position?
No, you must have at least a bachelor's degree in physical therapy. However, the required years of progressively independent experience vary by degree level: a bachelor's requires five years, a master's requires two years, and a doctorate has no additional experience requirement beyond the degree.
Is this position open to the public or only current Madison VA employees?
This position is open only to current Madison VA employees. It is an internal agency announcement, so only those already employed by the Madison VA may apply.
What is the selection process timeline after the closing date?
After the closing date of August 3, 2026, applications are reviewed for qualifications. A referral certificate is then issued, and referred applicants may be contacted for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision is made.
Are there any physical requirements for this role?
Yes, the position involves walking, ambulating patients, patient transfers, and potentially lifting up to 50 pounds. You must also meet physical and drug test program requirements as per hospital policy.