Clarification from the agency

Federal Employees - Excepted Service. Current Excepted Service federal employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Preferred Experience: 3 years preferred experience as an outpatient manager or 6 years as an outpatient pharmacist

The incumbent serves as supervisor for the outpatient pharmacy. The supervisor directly manages activities of the outpatient pharmacy which includes staffing the outpatient as needed from dispensing, verifying, and processing orders. He/she supervises pharmacy technicians, outpatient clinical staff pharmacists, and clinical pharmacy specialists. He/she will be responsible for any tasks or duties assigned by the Outpatient Associate Chief of Operations.

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Clinical:

1. Provides consultation to other practitioners regarding pharmaceutical services and drug information. Helps Pharmacy staff, when required, in obtaining needed information to solve problems.
2. Helps and supports Pharmacy staff in counseling patients with problems regarding medications and VA policies in obtaining medications, in addition to basic patient counseling. Medication counseling utilizes the Indian Health Service model of open-ended questions.
3. Serves as drug therapeutic consultant to the medical and nursing staff. This function includes educating fellow Primary Care Team members in aspects of rational, cost-effective drug therapy prescribing and new therapeutic agents.
4. If assigned, reviews non-formulary drug requests (NFDRs), serving as a consultant to staff pharmacists in this function. Critical review based on sound literature and clinical experience is performed. Approval or
   disapproval is based on the above, keeping in mind cost-containment issues without compromising patient care. Quality patient care is always emphasized.
5. Performs drug use evaluation. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used.
6. Supports enrollment of patients into the Audible Prescription Program for blind veterans including review of consults to evaluate eligibility.
7. Coordinates the pharmacy-based activities of the C2 Rewrite Program for patients on stable doses of Schedule II opioids.
8. Will support any vaccination efforts as assigned.
9. Will properly cross train all staff in the various duties that are essential to successfully provide pharmacy service to the veterans as well as to the clinic staff.
10. Will provide remote support to other CBOCs

Education:

1. Uses and ensures proper orientation of new employees, students, residents, volunteers, and visitors.
2. Acts as clinical supervisor for pharmacy students or technician trainees.
3. If assigned, precepts residents per RPD's requirement/criteria in precepting residents.
4. Identifies appropriate opportunities for staff continuing education/ development and training with respect to Pharmacy Service and personal goals. Including support/staffing for decentralized or other clinical roles for
   staff pharmacists.

Administration/ Supervision:

1. Prepares daily work assignments for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Prepares a working schedule for all staff. Post or provides access to work assignments/schedules for the staff to view.
2. Runs performance reports at least monthly and goes over with staff on expectations on improvement or acknowledge better than average performance.
3. Runs administrative reports e.g. pending report, finishing report, as well as other reports that would identify need for improvements or deviating from compliance per VHA directives. Runs reports and shares with staff on a routine basis to ensure compliance.
4. Resolves drug distribution problems and conflicts arising in the Outpatient Pharmacy or anything related to outpatient. This includes establishing priorities and deadlines while coordinating efficient staff activities.
5. Investigates, documents, and resolves medication dispensing and computer data entry errors. Counsels those individuals involved in a constructive manner.

Research:

1. Participates with investigators, clinical pharmacists and/or hematology/oncology pharmacists in the planning and implementation of protocol drug studies in Ambulatory Care. Serves as backup research
   pharmacist for drug studies involving outpatient medications.
2. Participates in the data collection and analysis of studies conducted in Ambulatory Care/Primary Care, especially those involving Pharmacy Service investigators. Delivers prepared IV medications to the appropriate ward or other location after check by the pharmacist.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri: 8:00am to 4:30pm

Telework: Not eligible for Telework

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 04484-F

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact ???????V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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 identification 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:

1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

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

3. Education:

1. 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.)
2. Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 2 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 InternetBased Test (TOEFL iBT).

4. 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 licens e 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.

Grandfathering Provision: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
3. If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-13 Clinical Pharmacist

• Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
  1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or
  2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):
  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.

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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.