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 job is open to Current Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees, Current Federal Employees of other agencies, AND past, current and upcoming participants of the VA Health Professions Training (HPT) Graduates.

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The Pharmacy Supervisor - Clinical develops, organizes, coordinates, and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities or multiple programs at a single facility. The duties of the Pharmacy Supervisor- Clinical include but are not limited to the following:

1. Administrative/Supervisory:

• Develops, establishes, and maintains written policies and procedures defining operational requirements.
• Supervises the implementation of service level programs, including clinical, operational, educational, and research activities. Collaborates with appropriate subject matter expert stakeholders (e.g. direct reports, supervisors, program managers, etc), when applicable, to execute successful implementation.
• Interviews employment candidates, makes selection recommendations, conducts performance reviews, recommends appointments, special advances, within grade increases or disciplinary action to the Chief or respective Associate Chief, Pharmacy Service as appropriate.
• Provides first level supervision to pharmacists, trainees (as assigned by Associate Chief of Ambulatory Care and Education or designee), and other staff assigned to clinical pharmacy program areas.

• Serves as an effective preceptor, directing and supervising pharmacy residents and students as assigned.
• Assists in the development, enhancement, and operation of resident and student training programs.
• Participates in activities of interdisciplinary training and in-servicing of medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy staff, residents, students, and other allied health professionals at PVAHCS as required.
• Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications. Can adjust communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations. Can accurately assess and document patient comprehension. Can refer patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams.

• Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs.
• Collaborates with respective stakeholders (e.g. direct reports, supervisors, program managers, etc) as subject matter expert stakeholders, when applicable, to execute program oversight.
• Assists in the operations of the other areas of the Pharmacy Service including distribution and clinical work in other areas (e.g., medication order review and verification, relief help in other clinics or in the pharmacies as needed.
• Ensures timely completion of all position pre-requisites and requirements established by PVAHCS, VISN 22, and VHA (e.g., documentation of licensure, education hours, mandatory training, unsigned notes).

• Assists in designing and completing research studies involving clinical pharmacist functions, quality assurance, drug use evaluations, or pharmacotherapy.
• Participates in collaborative research studies involving drug therapy with other services.

• Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable.
• Functions independently under scope of practice as defined by the medical center. This includes but is not limited to the following: Initiating, modifying or discontinuing medication therapy, ordering labs and other tests to help determine efficacy or toxicity of medications, designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing best evidence or VHA and/or PAVAHCS published guidelines.
• Is actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Documents clinical interventions accurately in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate.
• Performs all other duties as assigned

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.

• 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.

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:
  • 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.

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: 3+ years clinical pharmacy practitioner and/or clinical pharmacy supervisor experience and/or completion of PGY2 HSPAL residency.


Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Pharmacy Supervisor-Clinical GS-13

Experience: At least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) which demonstrates the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. KSAs described at the next lower grade level include: knowledge of professional pharmacy practice, ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff, knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security, and skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

In addition to the experience mentioned above, the candidate must also demonstrate all of 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.

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-13.


Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs., and bending/stooping. The work may entail repetitive wrist movement while using various size syringes, vial cap removal, and typing.

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.

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

1. Current permanent employees of the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System (NAVAHCS).
2. Current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration.
3. All other current permanent employees of the Veteran Affairs.
4. Current permanent employees of other Federal agencies.