Clarification from the agency

Please be advised this vacancy is opened to current permanent VA employees and current/past/upcoming VHA Healthcare Professional Trainee eligible (HPT). NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

The Pharmacist - Inpatient Supervisor is a licensed pharmacist with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy administration and the delivery of evidences based pharmaceutical care services in the inpatient and extended care settings.

Duties Include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for providing pharmaceutical care as a clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP), functioning as an advanced practice professional under a scope of practice as defined by the medical center.
• Coordinates, monitors, develops, and evaluates the activities of the clinical pharmacy specialists and clinical pharmacists.
• Provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome, and advises prescribers as appropriate.
• Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to ensure optimal drug therapy.
• Provides medication counseling to patients.
• Completes health and medication histories including patient interviews.
• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing.
• Supervises clinical pharmacy specialists and clinical pharmacists in the provision of clinical, long-term care and operations pharmacy services.
• Establishes work schedules and allocates staff as needed to provide adequate coverage. Maintains time and attendance records and approve leave.
• Performs any duties and special projects deemed necessary by the Chief of Pharmacy Services.
• Responsible for providing pharmaceutical care to optimize patient response and resource management.
• Directly involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned practice areas. Independently initiates, modifies or discontinues medication therapy for items other than controlled substances under a scope of practice.
• Processes, checks and fills all orders in a timely fashion. Review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease states interactions and assessment for clinical relevance.
• Develops, establishes and maintains written policies and procedures defining operational requirements.
• Ensures the assigned pharmacy practice areas are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (e.g. The Joint Commission, DEA, FDA, ASHP).
• Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested.
• Provides first level supervision to pharmacists, technicians, trainees and other staff assigned to clinical pharmacy program areas.
• Assesses workload shifts, identifying backlogs and makes staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals.
• Establishes work schedules and allocates staff as needed to provide adequate coverage. Maintains time and attendance records and approved leave according to facility policy.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 52099F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.
• 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).
• 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.

Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

• 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.
  • 2. Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 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 IBT).
• 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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience: PGY2 in Pharmacy Administration and Leadership or Inpatient Clinical Setting and/or 2 or more years of pharmacy supervisory experience (i.e. managing clinical platform, creating schedules, coordinating pharmacy programs, collaborating with external customers)

Grade Level Requirements

Pharmacy Supervisor, GS-13.

Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For
all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope,
administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at
the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Pharmacy Supervisor. Responsible for the professional and administrative management of an
assigned area in pharmacy service, to include budgetary execution. Such individuals have
responsibilities for supervising multiple pharmacists and technicians. Manages people, maintains
effective interdepartmental relations, and cooperates with other services to accomplish the medical
facility's mission and goals. Develops performance standards, assures that the program area is
compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation
and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff
activities. Develops policies and procedures relative to their assigned area. Pharmacists assigned to this
position must demonstrate the following KSAs:

a. Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
b. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management
decisions.
c. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
d. Skill in managing people or programs.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

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

Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, hands and legs, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking & standing up to 8 hours, bending and climbing and able to hear whisper. The incumbent must be physically, emotionally, and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others

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.