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Pharmacist (Associate Service Chief Outpatient Pharmacy)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/17/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 17, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$178,457 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBTB-12998916-26-JMC
Control number
875628600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to VHA Employees Nationwide.

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Duties

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The Associate Chief is responsible for providing supervision, professional, administrative, and clinical leadership and guidance to multiple, diverse programs at the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System.

  • The ACCE is responsible for providing pharmaceutical services to outpatient Veterans served by CAVHCS and for the professional and administrative activities supporting these services.
  • Supervises program managers, supervisors, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, administrative staff, pharmacy residents, volunteers, on-the-job trainees, and pharmacy technician students. Performs or delegates an entire range of personnel functions for the Pharmacy staff
  • Serves on Medical Center, VISN, university and national committees assigned by the Chief and/or CAVHCS leadership. Applies knowledge, judgment, and experience to guide committee decision and actions.
  • Develops and maintains effective procedures for outpatient pharmacy oversight, including filling, shipping, productivity, community care prescriptions, interpretation and implementation of national program office guidance, serving as a liaison between Pharmacy and other services, and acting as an SME for outpatient practice topics.
  • Teaches and guides supervisory staff in solving problems, adapting to procedural changes, and implementing new technological changes. Provides oversight and evaluation of new automation initiatives within the Pharmacy Service and coordinates these projects with other affected services in the Medical Center.
  • Develops and maintains effective, high quality pharmacy programs designed to maximize pharmacotherapeutic benefits from patient outcomes and cost perspectives
  • Recommends program changes to enhance patient care programs, documents cost savings and maintains or improves quality of care.
  • Ensures the adherence and education of the national medication formulary as determined by VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management. Provides a wide range of drug information and advice to the professional staff, including written and verbal information on therapeutic agents.
  • Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives.
  • Participates in the execution of all CAVHCS pharmacist training programs (e.g. IPPE, APPE, PGY1/PGY2 residencies), including intimate knowledge of accreditation requirements. Works with program directors, managers and supervisors to promote learning experiences and improve performance levels of Pharmacy personnel.
  • Promotes the development and implementation of pharmacy-based research, providing leadership and assistance to research activities in Pharmacy.
  • Supervises projects required by pharmacy residents and students.
  • All other Duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Subject to change based on agency needs.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 62030F
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHAV07EDRPFACCo@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Requirements

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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

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.
  • 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.)
  • 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. *Must provide copy of licensure in application packet*
  • Physical Requirements: Details outlined below.
  • Grandfathering Provision: 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).
  • 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: To qualify for the GS-14 grade level, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience may include, but is not limited, to the following: 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: Outpatient Pharmacy Experience, Supervisory Experience.

In addition, candidates must meet the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's):
  • Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
  • 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 and diverse 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.
Reference: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the GS-14 grade level.

Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary in nature. Work requires moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling. The employee will be required to sit at a computer monitor for long periods of time in order to complete the duties of the position. Pre-employment physical examination will be required.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Juan Cruz
Phone
(860) 938-7296
Email
juan.cruz1@va.gov
Address
Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery
215 Perry Hill Road
Montgomery, AL 36109
US

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