Clarification from the agency

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA Puget Sound Health Care System facility employees 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees 3. Current and Former Health Professions Trainees (HPTs)

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Functions

• Oversees inpatient pharmacy drug distribution, dispensing, automation, medication order verification, associated quality assurance/patient safety, and inpatient clinical pharmacy programs across the healthcare-system.
• Communicates the strategic vision for inpatient pharmacy services to the Chief of Pharmacy.
• Anticipates problems, develops solutions, and formulates plans to meet inpatient workload demands and patient care needs for the safe delivery of pharmaceuticals in the health-system.
• Establishes the annual budget, staffing and space requirements, and equipment-related resources to guide change to patient-driven medication needs.
• Ensures the security and integrity of controlled and non-controlled medications, compliance with DEA laws, Joint Commission standards, and VHA directives.
• Coordinates and approves inpatient pharmacy processes into the new Federal Electronic Healthcare Record system.
• Audits inpatient medication-use and distribution processes.
• Tracks and reports inpatient clinical and operational performance metrics; identifies improvement opportunities.
• Remains astute on medication safety and quality assurance best practices affecting inpatient care.
• Supervises inpatient supervisors and managers; promotes teamwork, customer service, and collaboration across service lines.
• Oversees leadership and managerial functions for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling pharmacy inpatient services.
• Maintains current functional statements, performance standards, and competencies for inpatient sections.
• Identifies opportunities for succession planning and employee growth, train managers, and supervisors in leadership functions.
• Fosters practice-based learning for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
• Advocates for continual learning and improved performance within the pharmacy team.
• Supports the VA formulary and non-formulary processes through formulary drug selections, cost-optimization, and drug conversion strategies.
• Reviews medication errors and leads Working Groups/Root Cause Analysis to formulate sustainable medication safety improvements.
• Analyzes inventory optimization and procurement strategies to reduce budgetary expenditures, streamline workflow, and improve medication safety.
• Guides inpatient clinical pharmacy programs that support the facility's Center of Excellence programs and a team-based multidisciplinary model.
• Develops and implements pharmacist Scope of Practice and protocols on prescribing guidelines and monitors effectiveness of the clinical pharmacy programs.
• Enhances and oversees after-hours pharmacy support for select VISN 20 hospitals, ensuring performance and cost-transfer accountability.
• Supports teaching and training programs for Pharmacy Residents, Doctor of Pharmacy candidates, and Pharmacy Technician students.
• Supports investigational drug dispensing in the inpatient areas, ensuring compliance with VA and FDA regulations.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am - 4pm
Compressed/Flexible:Available
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

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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

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:

GS-14, Associate Service Chief

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

Assignments: 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.

• Associate Service Chief/ Associate CMOP Director: Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential.

Demonstrated KSAs: The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level.

1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
2. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
3. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.
4. Skill in managing multiple people or programs.
5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.
6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.

Preferred Experience: Possess supervisory experience leading a complex inpatient pharmacy operation and strategic planning skills to successfully lead an inpatient pharmacy service for a large health systems pharmacy. Astute knowledge of Microsoft office tools, strong understanding of medication safety practice, application of the US Pharmacopoeia standards, federal regulatory compliance, inpatient pharmacy automated systems, and the Joint Commission accreditation standards for an inpatient pharmacy service. Prior experience in a federal hospital pharmacy or the implementation of an Electronic Healthcare Record is highly desirable.

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-14.

Physical Requirements: This work requires heavy lifting (45lbs and over), moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs), light lifting (under 15lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, standing, repeated bending, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, depth perception, ability to distinguish

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.