Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. *See "How You Will Be Evaluated" for additional information.

Videos

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

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the control of the policies, procedures, operations, and ongoing development of their Clinical Pharmacy section. Responsibility may include coordinating pharmacy clinics for the Veteran Affairs Detroit Healthcare System (VADHCS) in either an inpatient and/or outpatient setting and affiliated community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs).
• Serves as a clinical liaison for VADHCS to enhance all clinical pharmacy services including collaboration with local pharmacy leadership on matters related to medication usage, medication shortages/conversions, patient safety, and other pharmaceutical care issues/initiatives.
• Distributes pharmacy related information and initiatives and assists in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Functions as a clinical pharmacy specialist and maintains direct patient care activities within the service.
• Coordinates/precepts clinical rotations for both pharmacy students and residents within the service.
• Communicates effectively, tactfully, continuously, clearly, and positively with the entire scope of customers.
• Responsible for the professional and administrative management of an assigned area in pharmacy service, to include budgetary execution.
• Responsible 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

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 7:30a-4:00p/8:00a-4:30p. Schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:94388-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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:

• US 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 accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy 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 website 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.); OR,
  • Graduate 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, unrestricted, and unexpired 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 a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has or has eve had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only IAW 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.

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

Creditable Experience

• Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board.
• Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for- year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health- System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination).
• Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination.

Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following criteria must be met to qualify:

Experience: Must demonstrate one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. This experience may include, but is not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
a. Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
b. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
c. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
d. Skill in managing people or programs.

Preferred Experience: Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY1 residency or 3 years of clinical experience, completion of an ASHP accredited PGY2 residency or equivalent experience, supervisor experience managing a clinical practice.

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

Full performance level of this vacancy is GS13.

Physical Requirements: May encounter extreme temperatures, distractions, and equipment noise. Frequently handle frozen/refrigerated products, occasionally using heating equipment. Possible exposure to varied air pressure rooms. Must don/doff protective garments and use necessary equipment. Occasional use of cleaning/disinfecting products. Requires frequent use of both hands for twisting and grasping. Physical tasks include lifting 25 lbs, stretching, forward/overhead reaching, walking/standing 8-12 hours, and repeated bending for 8 hours. Kneeling to retrieve items may be needed. Must coordinate mental and muscular duties rapidly. Frequent computer use and operation of automated machinery required. Fine motor skills and excellent vision necessary for detailed tasks. Vision: near @ 13"-16" (Jaeger 1-4); far: 20/20 in one eye, 20/40 in other, depth perception, color distinction. Good hearing for communication required (hearing aid allowed). Possible exposure to infected or combative patients. Must be mature, flexible, and able to work effectively under stress, shifting priorities as needed. Works closely with others.

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.

Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Place of Employment and Job Title
• Duties(be as detailed as possible) for each job entry
• Month & Year of Start/End dates (i.e. June 2024 to April 2025)
• Indicate Full-time or Part-time (include hours worked per week) status
• References, to include contact information

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.

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. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. Current, past, or upcoming Health Professional Trainees (HPTs).
5. All other applicants.