Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to: 1) Current, Permanent Employees of VA Loma Linda; 2) Current, Permanent Employees of Department of Veterans Affairs; Past/Current/Upcoming Trainee Graduates; 3) Current, Permanent Employees of other Federal Agencies. If you do not meet one of the hiring paths above, please apply to CBSX-12922496-26-MC NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major duties of the Supervisory Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Inpatient) include but are not limited to:

• Supervises Inpatient pharmacists, pharmacy residents, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff assigned to the Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Section.
• Maintains, monitors, and corrects problems of workflow within assignment with the objective to ensure that medications are available for administration as outlined by VA policy.
• Effectively organizes workload, directs the Inpatient Pharmacy section activities, plans short-, intermediate- and long-term objectives, solves problems, resolves staff and customer service issues
• Contributes to the control and utilization of Pharmacy Service resources and operates the Pharmacy Programs within allocated budgets and personnel ceilings
• Assists in the preparation of budgets, assures appropriate utilization of space and equipment in the Pharmacy Service and maintains accurate accountability of drugs and medical supplies within pharmacy cost centers.
• Manages an effective quality assurance, quality control (QA/QC) and Performance Improvement (PI) program for Pharmacy Service and reports them on a periodic basis or as requested to the Service Chief.
• Conducts site inspections on a quarterly basis in areas that have investigational medications in accordance with VA regulations and Medical Center policy.
• Perform the functions of Clinical Pharmacists and lower-level staff to fulfill the mission of the Pharmacy Service when needed or assigned.
• Provides a wide range of pharmaceutical services associated with the care of patients in an institutional setting.
• Responsible for developing and overseeing patient care activities by the Inpatient Pharmacy Section in the medical center using innovative methods of healthcare delivery.
• The incumbent identifies, plans, and provides training and continuing education of pharmacy staff (pharmacists, technicians, students, and volunteers) needed for the performance of their duties.
• Prepares and presents educational lectures, drug information (including but not limited to drug utilization evaluations (DUE); formulary issues; drug monographs; literature search, analysis, summaries; etc.) to a variety of disciplines in the Medical center.

Work Schedule: 0730-1600, variable, possible weekends
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• Education: Applicants must possess one of the following:
  • 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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must possess the following grade requirements.

GS-13 Pharmacy Supervisor: Applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). In addition, applicants must meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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

Preferred Experience: Two years supervisory experience with at least one year of inpatient experience preferred. PGY1 or PGY2 Graduates with administration residency/focus highly encouraged to apply.

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: Employees are typically expected to work forty hours per week. This may include days, evenings, nights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (for example, preparing IV admixtures, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). This may require lifting and carrying light loads, including boxes, equipment, unit-dose cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (for example, to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job.

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.