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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30 Day Hiring Model

The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty.

What Applicants Can Expect

• Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration.
• Quick Interviews & References

HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.

• Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.
• Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions.

After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

Clinical
(1) Plans and provides patient related clinical pharmacy services in assigned clinics.
(2) Functions under a scope of practice consistent with skills, training, and education, and consistent with the pharmaceutical care needs inambulatory care.
(3) Functions within defined scope of practice and therapy guidelines to achieve therapeutic goals in patients with endocrine conditions and as otherwise assigned.
(4) Effectively addresses patients who have not achieved therapeutic goals because of poor adherence to prescribed regimen, adverse effects, polypharmacy, and/or suboptimal medicine regimen.
(5) Achieves therapeutic goals by monitoring response to prescribed therapy via appropriate history, physical and laboratory monitors, as well as prescription refill evidence and feedback from patient.
(6) Orders appropriate laboratory tests at appropriate times as necessary to determine response to prescribed therapy.
(7) Reviews patient profile for appropriateness, duplication, drug/drug and drug/food interactions, incompatibilities, or other drug related problems, and either makes appropriate changes to patient's medications or recommends change to the provider who is seeing the patient.
(8) Takes responsible and appropriate actions to promote optimum, most cost effective, drug therapy to patients under their care.
(9) Performs medication reconciliation of patient's profiles and medications being taken, and updates medication profile as necessary.
(10) Renews prescriptions for maintenance medications as needed and issues new prescriptions as appropriate and within scope of practice.

Diabetes Technology
(1) Functions under a scope of practice to manage patients on insulin pumps in collaboration with Endocrinology providers.
(2) Oversees continuous glucose monitor updates, processes, supplies, and order sets at the Phoenix VA Health Care System.
(3) Point of contact for diabetic software platforms and liaison between company representatives to troubleshoot technology issues.

Education
(1) Precepts Pharmacy residents and students as assigned.
(2) Provides in-service education programs to pharmacists, nurses, medical students, and other health care professionals. (3) Completes training as necessary for becoming more knowledgeable in areas of clinical pharmacy, research, or quality improvement projects.

Quality Assurance
(1) Designs, develops, and participates in programs to evaluate the quality and/or impact of clinical pharmacy services in ambulatory care area.
(2) Participates in Medication Use Evaluation program, specifically:
a. Designs or develops Medication Use Evaluation criteria based on published guidelines and/or criteria.
b. Assists in developing method for baseline and follow-up data collection.
c. Evaluates data to determine performance and to identify areas for improvement.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Telework: May be authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
• Language: Be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• Licensure: Possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the U.S. (i.e. Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
• Education: Be a 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

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-13

Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, you must possess one-year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Equivalent experience to the next lower grade level (GS-12) may include:

• 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.

AND

You must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's):

1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
5. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: includes completion of PGY2 in Ambulatory Care and/or 3+ years of experience managing Endocrine-related conditions.

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: Incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving walking and standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending and stooping. Although the incumbent is assigned to a specific location, it must be understood that as an employee of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, the possibility exists for reassignment to a different unit in accordance with good management practices.

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.