Clarification from the agency

Open to Current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties include but not limited to:
A. Inpatient Pharmacy Services:
The incumbent manages Inpatient Pharmacy Services which provide pharmaceutical care and medication dispensing services. The incumbent assumes the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Works in collaboration with physicians on matters concerning therapeutic recommendations, clarifications of orders, dosages, dosage indications, contraindications, availability, alternate medications, adverse drug reactions, formulary issues and drug incompatibilities.

2. Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates inpatient pharmacy programs withing VACCHCS. Is responsible for development of strategic plans for maintaining high quality, efficient Inpatient Pharmacy services. Coordinates programs of the pharmacy based upon the Joint Commission and VA requirements to ensure optimal use of drugs based on patient outcomes and effective use of financial resources.

3. Oversees the following programs:

• Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
• Pharmacokinetics
• Renal Dosing
• Heparin protocol and anticoagulation
• Sterile Compounding -USP 797/800 compliance
• Oncology
• Unit Dose and repackaging
• Medication Security and Storage
• Controlled Substances
• Point of Care machine (PYXIS)
• Alaris Pump Library updates
• All-Hazards Emergency CACHE (AHEC)

4. Responsible for all clinical pharmacy activities within the inpatient section of pharmacy, including oversight of clinical pharmacy specialists' scopes of practice, adherence to clinical practice guidelines, evidence-based medication utilization and cost-effective care.

5. Responsible for the FPPE, OPPE, Point of Care reviews, Peer Reviews and Pharmacotherapy Competence reviews, and Clinical Pertinence Reviews for all clinical pharmacy specialists with scopes of patient in inpatient.

6. Promotes the rational use of medications by providing unbiased drug information, drug monitoring and usage evaluation services, and drug counseling and consultations.

7. Serves as a consultant and resource for pharmacists, and with other facility healthcare staff in monitoring and evaluating healthcare delivery to patients.

8. Assess, plans, and evaluates the scope and quality of pharmacy programs to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of pharmacy services and the overall delivery of healthcare.

B. All-Hazards Emergency CACHE (AHEC)
Incumbent oversees/delegates duties related to and acts in the role of AHEC pharmacy manager. Responsibilities include:
1. Ensures accurate completion of AHEC product rotation and inventory.
2. Endures rotated stock is available for the VAMC or VISN use.
3. Re-labeling stock managed in the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) as required

C. Administration/Supervision/Leadership:
1. Responsible for the management of a complex 24-hour, 7 days/week pharmacy employing clinical pharmacy specialists, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and support personnel. Responsible for the management of inpatient pharmacy operations including intravenous additive program, oncology program, hyperalimentation program, automatic replenishment, unit dose program, controlled substances program, and emergency management program, including all prescription processing, consult management and clinic management.

D. Research:
1. Provides oversight of all research related activities within the Inpatient section of the Pharmacy Service.
2. Helps coordinate pharmacy staff participation in original and collaborative research as opportunities arise.

E. Education:
1. Identify continuing education and training needs based on performance of all subordinate staff.
2. Coordinates the training in inpatient of all new pharmacy staff, professional and nonprofessional. This training involves the Pharmacy Automation equipment utilized in the various areas of Inpatient pharmacy.
3. Assists departments throughout the medical center to provide new employee/resident orientation and procedural training regarding inpatient pharmacy services and policies.
4. Supervises the pharmacy students, interns and residents, training in the inpatient pharmacy.
5. Provides training and continuing education to subordinate employees in order to prepare them for new assignments, improve job performance, and/or maintain self-development.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 16:00
Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: FS#: 570-2466
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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

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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 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. [YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF CURRENT LICENSE WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE].
• 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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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. 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.

Associate Service Chief/ Associate CMOP Director. Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. (NOTE: Associate Service Chief/ Associate CMOP Director positions should be graded one grade below the grade of the Chief of Pharmacy Service or CMOP Director.)

Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level, and the specific KSA designated by an asterisk (*) applies to assignment 2 and 3.

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 people or programs.
5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.
*6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Preferred Experience: VHA Leadership program or equivalent training. At least 3 years VHA work experience.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The work requires standing, light carrying and lifting (under 15 pounds); walking, bending, reaching above the shoulder, and ability to distinguish basic colors. The work also involves working around machinery with moving parts and working closely with others.
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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.