Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent LTC Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center and CBOC employees. Veterans Preference does not apply to this vacancy.

Videos

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

The Pharmacy Supervisor, Clinical Pharmacy Services, acts as a representative for the Chief, Pharmacy Service and serves as a clinical liaison for VAAAHS to enhance all clinical pharmacy services.

Functions of the Position
The Pharmacy Supervisor is a licensed pharmacist who fulfills the duties and responsibilities of direct supervisor of personnel assigned to the Clinical Program Section of the Pharmacy Service. This position is responsible for the control of the policies, procedures, operations, and ongoing development of their Clinical Pharmacy section.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

Administration and Supervision

• Plans and directs the comprehensive clinical pharmacy services provided by the Clinical Pharmacy Specialists assigned to the Clinical Program section of Pharmacy Service
• Assists the Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy Services with other clinical, operational, or administrative functions or projects as assigned and/or delegated.
• Provides oversight of daily operations to clinical pharmacy specialists within the assigned Clinical Pharmacy Section.
• Interviews prospective employees, makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential.

Clinical Practice

• Performs all functions within the scope and functional statement of a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in area of practice.
• Demonstrates knowledge of drug information, pharmacology, pathophysiology, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacoeconomics and advanced clinical pharmacy practice to provide comprehensive patient care and consultations to professional staff.
• Prescribes medication in accordance with a high level of clinical privileges and within scope of practice.

Education

• Serves as preceptor for pharmacy students and/or pharmacy residents and assists with coordination of precepting efforts within designated Clinical Pharmacy Section.
• Develops and provides in-service programs directed at the development and education of the pharmacy staff and other health care disciplines.
• Coordinates educational opportunities for staff development and ensures that educational goals and/or requirements for clinical pharmacy specialists are met.

Clinical Liaison

• Participates in continuous quality improvement of all clinical pharmacy programs and services in service area including, but not limited to PBM initiatives, Medication Use Evaluations, and quarterly reports.
• Identifies and assists with resolving problems relating to clinical pharmacy specialists including interdisciplinary and interdepartmental issues that may arise.
• Ensures distribution of information related to formulary changes, drug monograph reviews, PBM initiatives, and P&T committee action items.
• Develops and maintains mechanisms to promote adherence to quality control programs in accordance with all hospital, governmental and accrediting agency regulations.

Order Verification (if applicable to Clinical Practice Setting)

• Screens medication orders appropriately (appropriate drug, dose, route, dosing frequency, indication, drug-drug or drug-food interactions, duplication, allergy etc.) prior to verification. Any identified concerns are addressed appropriately.
• Reviews orders for renal function and appropriateness prior to verifying.
• Processes inpatient orders in a timely manner appropriate to the level of care required for the patient.
• Processes outpatient discharge medications in a timely manner and sets for window or mail as appropriate for the patients' clinical course.

Safety

• The pharmacist will work safely in performing all assigned tasks, being mindful to follow applicable safety rules and regulations.

Drug Information

• Maintains a good working knowledge of information resources (written and electronic).
• Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management.
• Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.
• Provides drug information and education to other members of the health care team.
• When appropriate, educates physicians and students on drug ordering to include, but not limited to: formulary drugs, non-formulary drugs, approval prior to use drugs (i.e. antibiotics restricted to the Infectious Disease team), and restricted drug templates

Research

• Participation in research activities must be in accordance with FDA guidelines and regulations and VHA policy.

Preferred Experience:
Prior supervisory and/or program management experience.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0700-1530 (negotiable)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Ad hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:94177-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.

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.

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
• 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://vvww.acpe-accredit.orgt (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).
• Grandfathering provision: 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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:GS-12 Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:

1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. Program.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):

1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

GS-13 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

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:

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• 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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. The physical demands of the work includes moderate lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 44 lbs., pushing and pulling of large medication carts, light lifting of under 15 pounds, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required), walking up to 4 hours, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, kneeling, repeated bending/stooping, climbing, use of legs and arms, operation of vehicle/motorized cart, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, specific visual requirement, ability to read fine print on labels, depth perceptions, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), clear speech, and emotional stability.

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.