Clarification from the agency

Current, permanent Veterans Health Administration employees may apply to this job announcement. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Pharmacist, Associate Service Chief serves as the supervisor to Pharmacy Clinical Programs staff and a large role in the Residency Program. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Chief, Pharmacy Service. Responsible for overseeing all clinical operations of the pharmacy service and participating in assessing, designing, teaching evaluating, and coordinating the training and educational programs involving clinical pharmacy personnel; acts as a resource in training techniques and methodologies to ensure successful training and evaluation of the program; and actively contributes towards policy development, quality assurance, cost effectiveness, and patient outcomes.

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Aids in the selection and assignment of personnel and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential.
• Develops and maintains effective clinical pharmacy programs from a cost and patient outcome perspective
• Collaborates with Chief, Pharmacy Service, Associate Chief, Pharmacy Service (Operations) and other pharmacy leaders to ensure policy adherence, regulatory compliance and coordinated interdisciplinary practice.
• Develops and maintains effective compliance programs, including monitoring of metrics to ensure survey readiness and continues adherence to standards.
• Ensures orientation and training programs are established to ensure staff development, and provides orientation, guidance, direction, and training to pharmacy personnel in their areas of their responsibility
• Organizes, develops, expands, and manages all clinical pharmacy programs.
• Serves as an advisor for matters pertaining to the enhancement of clinical programs.
• Provides the capability of a specialist in the areas of drug information, pharmacotherapy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacoeconomics.
• Assesses and analyzes clinical problems identified by Chief of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Supervisory staff and QA monitors to determine if they can be resolved by educational/training programs.
• Serves as a Preceptor to Pharmacy Residents and pharmacy students.
• Develops, maintains and oversees an effective performance appraisal plan for all employees within the Service in regards to clinical practices.
• As needed, prepares prescriptions, IV admixtures, inpatient orders, and controlled substance orders accurately, timely and in accordance with policy and procedure.
• As needed, evaluates provider orders/prescriptions as to appropriateness and verifies electronic order.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00am- 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000 / Pharmacist Associate Service Chief
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

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

Grade Determinations: GS-13 Pharmacist (Associate Service Chief)

Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements (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.) must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Ability to negotiate to influence clinical and management decisions.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
• Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.
• Skill in managing multiple people or programs.
• Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.

Preferred Experience: Leading and managing multiple clinical pharmacy programs, developing and improving clinical services, and guiding staff through quality, regulatory, and performance initiatives. Advance clinical experience, interpersonal skills, and proven ability to collaborate across disciplines to achieve organizational goals.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds for short periods of time. Sitting, standing and walking up to 8 hours per shift includes reaching above shoulders and repeated bending 4 hours per shift. Use of fingers and both hands and near vision is required.

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.