Clarification from the agency

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

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The primary responsibility of the Pharmacy Vaccine Program Manager (Vaccine PM) is vaccine oversight, stewardship, and is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers as well as all administrative oversight of all vaccinations in accordance with local, VISN, and national VA guidance and protocols/procedures.

The Vaccine PM serves as a provider with prescriptive authority as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice and an authority of vaccine policy and procedures within the healthcare system.

The Vaccine PM functions as part of the pharmacy team and closely collaborates with other services, including but not limited to, nursing, primary care, internal medicine, specialty care. and infectious disease, as required for vaccine processes.

The Vaccine PM has full responsibility to develop necessary services such as physician consultation, patient monitoring, patient counseling, vaccine management, vaccine standard operating procedure (SOP) writing, CDC reporting, if required or directed, vaccine related projects, standing order creation, committee participation or facilitation, and any other tasks assigned.

The Vaccine PM promotes and manages vaccine therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies and criteria established at the national, VISN, and local levels, as well as those of other appropriate recommendation-generating bodies.

The Vaccine Program Manager:

1. Directly assists clinicians in rational vaccine selection by providing written and/or verbal consultation.
2. Actively participates as a member of the administrative vaccine team to assist with all pharmacy tasks related to vaccines, including but not limited to, reporting information as requested, creating/editing any SOPs, standing orders, or local procedures, and offering clinical opinion on processes, when appropriate.
3. Assures that all vaccines and actions meet proper eligibility criteria on a patient specific basis and National Formulary and Non-Formulary procedures are followed; this includes adherence to all national, VISN and local criteria for treatment algorithms and guidelines.
4. Participates in developing criteria for use, medication/vaccine use evaluations, data collection for pertinent reports, and other quality assurance activities, as required, to ensure appropriate and safe vaccine/drug utilization.
5. May participate in local or VISN committees/ workgroups related to the area of work, as approved by Pharmacy Administration.

Work Schedule: 8am to 4:30pm, however employees may be required to work day, evening, night, weekends, holidays, and or compressed tours on a rotating schedule. The hours may vary per the needs of the service and will rotate, on a fair and equitable basis, to include weekends and holidays.
Telework: Ad-hoc as determined by the service
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 80363F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Jamie Wunsch at V8_EDRP_Orlando@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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.

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

Education-Transcript Submitted:

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. 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-Documentation Submitted: 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.

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-13

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

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.

The primary responsibility of the Pharmacy Vaccine Program Manager (Vaccine PM) is vaccine oversight and stewardship is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers as well as all administrative oversight of all vaccinations in accordance with local, VISN, and national VA guidance, as well as guidance and protocols/procedures as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
• Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15

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

Physical Requirements: Physical Demands:
Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, (see duties section for essential job duties of this position). May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is preformed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the are is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. All other applicants.

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.