Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent Veterans Health Administration employees only.

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MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
A. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT - Provides bilateral communication and professional consultations to VACO PBM, Network and Facility management concerning planning, coordination, operation, and evaluation of all pharmacy related services and programs.
1) CLINICAL
a. PHARMACY BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION - Coordinates Network Pharmacy responses, reports, and/or correspondence regarding Pharmacy Benefits Management to the Network office, National PBM, Headquarters, and to other Federal agencies or Congressional inquiries. When requested, the incumbent serves as a liaison to other professional disciplines within the individual hospitals, Network Office, colleges of pharmacy, professional organizations, and meets with pharmaceutical industry representatives. Analyzes the results of the quality assurance monitors, identifies problem areas, and assures that deficiencies are corrected. Uses customer feedback to improve VISN PBM processes.
b. CLINICAL PHARMACY - Member of the VISN 21 Clinical Pharmacy Practice Council. Provides guidance to VACO, the Network, and Medical Center management in pharmaceutical utilization and cost; in support of all clinical pharmacy programs such as drug information/patient education, Academic Detailing, pharmacokinetic dosing, anticoagulation, chronic disease management and other ambulatory care pharmacist clinics; and in support of Network Clinical Services. Trends adverse drug reactions; provides recommendations to Network and Medical Center management on appropriate action(s) necessary to correct trends in medication errors and adverse drug reactions. Provides leadership and guidance with VISN CPPC for sharing of best practices, patient safety, and quality and quantity metrics to include but not limited to: VADERS, PharmD tool, Encounters. Assures quality clinical pharmacy services are providing by tracking appropriate reviews are routinely performed.
c. LEADERSHIP - Leads/serves as an authoritative PBM representative on various VISN and National VA Committees and workgroups. Oversees priorities and strategic planning of clinical performance measures and development of measures via data tools by PBM Data Managers. Promotes continuous performance improvement in delivery of services to optimize patient care and utilization of resources.
d. CONSULTIVE SERVICES - Serves as a professional and technical consultant to the VISN 21 office, VISN 21 P&T Committee, VISN 21 Health Systems Board, VISN 21 Clinical Pharmacy Practice Council, and Executive Leadership Committee, VISN 21 Local Pharmacy Managers, and groups as assigned.
2) ADMINISTRATION
a. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - Assists the VPE with development and coordination of implementation on Network wide effective and efficient policies and procedures. Delivering of quality clinical pharmacy services, counseling, drug education through academic detailing and other means, data collection, drug distributions, and quality assurance/improvement consistent with VHA and other federal regulations.
b. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS - Oversees the development and maintenance of pharmacy related databases and data analytics tools. These tools are used to monitor drug usage, clinical care, and operational services. Provides guidance and recommendations to the Network and Facility Management, P&T and metrics workgroups.
3) RESIDENCY PROGRAM - Incumbent serves as the residency program director for the PGY2 in Population Health Management and Data Analytics. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with any American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation requirements and any requirements outlined by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA). Other responsibilities also include chairing the VISN 21 PBM Residency Advisory Board and serving as a representative to the VISN 21 RPD workgroup and National RPD workgroup.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm PST
Telework: May be available
Remote/Virtual: This position is eligible for 100% remote but may change to Virtual work and fall under the Presidential Memorandum titled "Return to In-Person Work" in which you will be required to report to the office.
Functional Statement #: 497-00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
EDRP Authorized: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: (1) Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 1 graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet- Based Test (TOEFL-BT).
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• Licensure. Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16.

NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.

Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply.
(1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:
GS-14: Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Assignments:
National or VISN Program Manager: Responsible for the management of national or VISN level programs. These programs include collaboration with other Federal agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, Department of Defense, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control, etc.) or organizations outside the Federal health care system. Programs of this magnitude are directed by VA Central Office or a VISN. (NOTE: VISN Pharmacist Executives are not included in this category.)

Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level.
1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
2. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
3. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.
4. Skill in managing multiple and diverse people or programs.
5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.

Preferred Experience/Training: Prior Deputy VPE and/or Associate Chief of Pharmacy Experience, Data Analytics Experience, and Graduation from 1 of 3 PGY2 Residencies in Pharmacy Health Management and Data Analytics (PG2 PHMDA) from V5, V17, or V21. (Note: Ensure documentation to support this preferred experience/training is uploaded with your application.)

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Travel and Site of work: Must be able to attend off-site meetings and site surveys, and on occasion, upon the direction of the appropriate direct report PBM Supervisors, must be able to travel to VHA or to a VA medical center for educational programming needs, training, and consultation. Travels up to 25% of the time and must be capable of traveling by traditional modes of air and land transportation and for a period of up to seven (7) days at a time

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily performed while sitting, though some work may require periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of this position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc., and frequent visits to community and nationwide sites. The work will require travel with a government laptop, which is required to be in personal possession throughout the travel period. The frequency of travel will fluctuate. During government travel, the work assignment must be reviewed, and responses prepared, based on the urgency of the requirements. Infrequent use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. Optional need to participate in distribution of materials that may require some lifting of small weight boxes (25 lbs.)

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.

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.