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Physician Assistant - Surgical Service

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Veterans Health Administration

Wilmington VA Medical Center - Surgical Services

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Summary

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Duties

Requirements

How you will be evaluated

Required documents

How to apply

Summary

The Wilmington VA Medical Center located in Wilmington, Delaware is seeking a Physician Assistant for its Surgery Service Line- Orthopedic Surgery. The Certified Physician Assistant will utilize their clinical skills to facilitate, coordinate, and deliver comprehensive health care to eligible veterans at the Wilmington VA Medical Center.

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This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties

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Duties include but not limited to:

Clinical:

The incumbent will be responsible for initial evaluation of patients in outpatient clinics. May include history, physical exams, ordering laboratory tests, x-rays, and other routine diagnostic tests. May institute appropriate treatment for less complex problems.

Participates in the care of in-hospital nursing home, emergency room, clinic consultations received, may be written or verbal. Development of appropriate care plans for these patients.

Conducts pre-operative work-ups and post-operative follow up care for patients.

Conduct patient and family teaching/education to provide continuity of care.

He/she shall be available for assisting in the operating room as needed.

Performs simple laceration suturing; venipuncture; arterio-puncture; urinary catheterization and irrigation; suture removal; administration of IV fluids; administration of intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal injections; administers local nerve blocks, administration of local anesthetics and corticosteroids and cleansing and debridement of wounds as needed. Conduct procedures such as: Joint aspiration / injections, cast / splint application and removal, realignment of simple fractures and dislocations, closure of surgical wounds.

Participate in rotating on call schedule.

Administrative:

Prompt screening of consultations and scheduling patients into the appropriate clinic.

Assist in responding to patient inquiries and with clinical issues brought forth by a team member, or other personnel within or outside of this VAMC.

Direct scheduling of appropriate x-rays and diagnostic tests in advance of clinic dates.

Non-Routine/Non-Emergency Duties:

The following duties may additionally be performed by the incumbent after direct consultation and the approval of the responsible physician:

Wound aspiration.

Wound incision and drainage.

Wound irrigation.

Suture of minor wounds and incisions.

Administer IV or IM medications.

Possible research involvement

Emergency:

The following emergency duties are to be carried out for patients in life threatening situations when a physician is not immediately available. The PA is to initiate these activities, but make every effort to summon a physician as soon as possible.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) including electrode fibrillation.

Treatment of acute respiratory failure.

Treatment of life threatening traumatic injuries.

Endotracheal intubation.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

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 ( 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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~

Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~

Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience: Experience in orthopedic surgery and current active clinical practice will be given preference.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I)

Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PA's

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The following list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include, but is not limited to:

Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care

Ability to perform patient history and physical

Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient

Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession

Physician Assistant-II (PA-II)

Experience and Education: The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:

Two years of successful practice as a PA

OR

Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, US Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency

OR

A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the US Department of Education.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-II:

Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems

Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions

Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care

Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care

Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively

Physician Assistant-III (PA-III)

Experience and Education: PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multi-disciplinary teams, and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs, and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by:

Three years of successful practice as a PA

OR

Successful completion of a PA post graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, US Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency AND one year of professional practice as a PA

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III:

Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care

Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE)

Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials

Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel

Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes

Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is PA-III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of PA-I to PA-III.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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.

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additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or 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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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

Help

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link 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.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

Cover Letter

DD-214/ Statement of Service

Disability Letter (Schedule A)

Disability Letter (VA)

License

Other (1)

Performance Appraisal

Professional Certification

Resume

Separation Notice (RIF)

SF-15

SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Transcript

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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

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All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/26/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click

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.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

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.

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how to apply

Agency contact information

Lisa Newton

Phone

...

Email

...

Address

Wilmington VA Medical Center

1601 Kirkwood Highway

Wilmington, DE 19805

US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

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next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probationary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service

Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

05/15/2026 to 05/26/2026

Salary

$99,806 - $184,769 per year

Pay scale & grade

VN 00

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Wilmington, DE

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Competitive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

0603 Physician Assistant

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

Yes

Announcement number

CBSZ-12962773-26-LN

Control number

869575200

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