Clarification from the agency

This is an internal announcement and is limited to current permanent employees of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS), and past/current/upcoming VHA HPT Graduates. 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 Informatics Pharmacist Program Manager is a licensed pharmacist, preferably with a Pharm.D. or equivalent with additional post-graduate training focused on pharmacy informatics. The program manager will be responsible for collaborating with multiple disciplines across the facility and the VISN to effectively implement strategies to generate, process, and advise others on data collection and presentation in all pharmacy areas which include clinical, distributive, customer service, economic, and administrative data. A major component of the program manager position requires investigating and solving complex automation, computer program and/or data related problems, either independently or in conjunction with people of various medical and information management backgrounds. The program manager promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels. Program management responsibilities include managing all aspects of the Informatics-Data Analytics program at the MVAHCS, including but not limited to policy development, quality resources and coordination of educating staff to optimize operational efficiencies and patient outcomes.

FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:

A. Facility Program Management (25-90%): The incumbent will provide informatics support for Pharmacy Service within MVAHCS. Activities include:
1. Responsible for developing, organizing, coordinating and managing pharmacy functions related to automation systems, data analytics, and maintaining software packages and pharmacy applications within the EHR.
2. Plans coordinates, develops and implements activities related to pharmacy informatics programs in support of Quality Assurance initiatives within the facility and has an expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the program area. 3. Assists in assuring that pharmacy informatics programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (i.e. Joint Commission, FDA, ASHP, OIG etc.).

B. Informatics Program Management (5-25%): The incumbent will be involved in the independent professional practice of pharmacy in accordance with the guidelines set forth in pharmacy service policies and procedures, VA Regulations, and federal laws governing the practice of pharmacy. The incumbent will work in conjunction with other pharmacy staff and other health care professionals to form an organized team approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical care. Activities include:
1. Maintains workflow patterns that assure timely delivery of pharmacy services, ensures accurate and timely documentation of work, which may include encounters and follow up orders. May oversee technical and nonprofessional staff.
2. Coordinates the collection, analysis, and evaluation of data to achieve optimal utilization of available resources. Serves as a resource for data extraction and analytics to support Pharmacy Service. In addition, collaborates with local Minneapolis VA informaticists to provide data analytics support for the facility.
3. Supports pharmacy services through the development of new tools that improve workflow or accomplish a stated goal. Maintains familiarity with all pharmacy operations impacted by applications employed and proposes operational changes when automation provides the opportunity to gain efficiency. Maintains familiarity with commercial software available on the market and recommends use of commercial software that will solve operational problems.

C. Education (1-10%):
1. Assists in training pharmacy employees, pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students as assigned to the practice area in coordination with the Associate Chief of Pharmacy for Quality and Education. Develops/assists in developing appropriate rotations and learning opportunities for pharmacists, pharmacy residents and/or pharmacy students. Precepts trainees in advanced clinical pharmacy practice areas. These learning experiences will be documented and evaluated appropriately and timely.

D. Research/Project Management (1-10%):
1. Participates in projects as assigned and as they relate to the program area, demonstrating effective project management skills. When necessary, obtains proper approval from direct supervisor, regulatory bodies such as the Research and Development Committee, the Institutional Review Board, and other committees.
2. Assists staff and trainees on project planning, execution, data analysis, presentation, and manuscript preparation and submission when applicable.
3. Integrates research protocol criteria and study medication use into applicable outpatient or inpatient procedures.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 07:30am - 4:00pm OR 08:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: If available, Ad-Hoc ONLY
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 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 may 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

All requirements must be met at the time of the announcement closing.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• 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.
  • Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed.

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.

1. Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment.

• 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.

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 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

• Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12. The GS-12 requirements include:
  • Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  • Communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
  • Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
  • Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. AND
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
  • Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
  • Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
  • Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
  • Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Creditable Experience:
(1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board.
(2) Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for- year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health- System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination).
(3) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination.
(4) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacist employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Preferred Experience: Highly desirable candidates will have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) in informatics and working with programs and data analytics specific to pharmacy and clinical practice; advanced PharmD; PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency; PGY-2 specialty residency or equivalent experience in the specialty applicable to this position.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.