Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open only to current federal or Department of Veterans Affairs employees.

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Work Schedule: 7:00am to 3:30pm, may include some holidays and weekends
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 03678F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Oversees the implementation of pharmacy procurement and inventory programs following the VA National Formulary to ensure timely access to medications, vaccines, supplies and equipment while promoting safety, clinical efficacy, and cost-effective options.
• Ensures drug procurement complies with VA National policies, VA contracts, and National, VISN, and local formularies.
• Employs effective purchasing procedures to maximize use of budget allocations.
• Reports regularly to pharmacy leadership on budget management activities including forecasting of future pharmaceutical expenses.
• Serves as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor and other purchasing contracts and ensures thorough follow through of ongoing or new contracts.
• Conducts review of all open market purchases to ensure appropriateness, availability of alternatives and cost-effective selections. Provides action plans on system wide improvement to the supervisors as appropriate.
• Serves as the primary pharmacy recall coordinator by developing and implementing action plans to manage drug recalls.
• Develops and implements action plans in response to drug shortages and backorders.
• Participates in drug file maintenance or review/entry of new drug file requests. Serves as a resource person to the pharmacy staff and other health professionals regarding availability of stock, order dates, expected delivery dates, back orders and CMOP rejects.
• Coordinates purchases of pharmacy items, including specialty drugs, Prime Vendor, open market, supply items, etc.
• Manages the ordering, receipt, stocking, storage, distribution, and maintenance of all pharmaceuticals throughout the VASNHCS. Including support for the monitoring and maintenance of all drug storage/dispensing cabinets and refrigerators. Responds to medication storage alerts including, fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
• Oversees the Reverse Distribution System for all VASNHCS pharmacies. Ensure correct procedures are being followed
  (generating lists, ensuring physical security, matching items to lists during site visits, etc.), reconciling credits received against the drugs returned, and analyzing information regarding drugs returned to identify potential improvements that may increase the amount of credit received.
• Responsibility for complete oversight of the functional areas described above and for independently planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, or other work functions within the facility.
• Responsible for long-range planning and organizing the specific work activities outlined in these functions, requiring coordination with peers and field representatives.
• Performs all supervisory functions for procurement personnel including, but not limited to granting leave, performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, rewards, and recognitions etc.
• Communicates effectively with pharmacy staff and ancillary team members to keep them informed of necessary information in a timely manner. Keep close communication with each section supervisor regarding drug procurement, drug shortage, drug use, drug accountability or drug budget issues and keeps the Chief of Pharmacy current on the status of assignments and responsibilities.
• Works with Administration and Staff to identify and implement new programs.
• Develops and updates policies and procedures defining operational requirements of the section.
• Serves as the Pharmacy representative on various local and VISN committees (i.e.: P&T, Medication Management, etc.).
• Coordinate's quality assurance endeavors that relate to mediation inventory management.
• Assists administrative staff in preparation of JC, SOARS, OIG, ORO, MHRPP, ASHP, and other regulatory body evaluations and survey readiness.
• Assures assigned administrative projects and reports are submitted in a timely fashion and reports are well arranged, easily understood and are submitted in the proper format in final form.
• Responsible for the security of the assigned area particularly as it relates to controlled substances. Incumbent helps to ensure departmental and medication security, including controlled substances as required by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

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.
• 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:
  • 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.)
  • 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. 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

• Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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:
  • Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
  • Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
  • Skill in managing people or programs.

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.