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 posting is limited to: Current permanent Alaska VA HCS and associated clinics employees only.

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Functions:

• Participates in VISN and national level advisory workgroups and represents AVAHA Pharmacy service on boards, workgroups, committees within the facility, VISN, National and community partners.
• Establishes and maintain policies and procedures for all aspects of pharmacy operations.
• Ensures controlled substances are regulated in accordance to station policy, VA and DEA regulation.
• Functions as the key point of contact representing the AVAHS pharmacy to effectively collaborate with healthcare professionals, patients, administrative staff, and professional staff.
• Effectively collaborates with academic affiliates to support and maintain intermediate and advanced practice experience rotations for pharmacy students.
• Functions as the maximum authority of management and pharmaco-economics to be able to assure appropriate pharmacy distributive services and to promote rational drug therapy.
• Functions as subject matter expert as it pertains to pharmacy medical center or service procedures/standards for implementation.
• Participates in medical center management discussions, decisions, and policy making.
• Consults and advises the executive team on all matters relating to the service line.

Education:

• Develops continuing education programs for staff to provide knowledge and skills necessary to maintain and improve their performance.
• Encourages and promotes staff to participate in available continuing education programs and professional growth opportunities. Utilizes tuition reimbursement funds, when available to promote education of staff.
• Ensures that the continuing education needs of all pharmacy staff are identified based on area of performance.
• Ensures both formal and informal structures and their implications on the operation, management, and productivity of patient care programs are in place.
• Maintains affiliation with various Colleges of Pharmacy and technician training institutes and providing rotations and clinical teaching sites for pharmacy and technician students as applicable.
• AVAHS pharmacy provides one Post Graduate Year-1 (PGY-1) residency program.
• Encourages and supports service-related efforts to publish and present at professional meetings. Identifies potential candidates for positions of higher responsibility and plans/assists in developmental experiences.

Program Management:

• Responsible for establishing and promoting an atmosphere of unity through cooperation and the integration of clinical and administrative roles.
• Patient and staff satisfaction; and strong communication channels between the service lines, implement, and support new patient care programs, evaluate, and ensure quality care, optimum reimbursement to the medical center, and enhancement of educational activities without compromising VA missions and goals.
• Ensure that accountability for documentation of workload and special services is accomplished and follows established guidelines and policies.
• Implements effective and efficient policies and procedures to assure those Veteran patients and other eligible beneficiaries are furnished effective medication and medical supplies for diagnosis and treatment appropriate for their medical conditions in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Establishes and maintains procedures, methods and schedules for the accurate and appropriate selection, compounding, packaging, and dispensing of all therapeutic and diagnostic agents and other supplies.
• Responsible for specifications for both quality and source of procurement. Maintains responsibility for establishing and maintaining stick levels while efficiently utilizing the available budget and assuring timely procurement of pharmaceuticals.
• Prepares projections and justifications, for budgetary, personnel, equipment, and space requirements for the Pharmacy Service in accordance with the changing goals and services.
• Establishes, develops, and administers a pharmacy quality management program to ensure that the service line is operated in a manner consistent with regulatory compliance requirements.
• Responsible for coordinating the reporting of pharmacy quality improvement activities through the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff and other committees aligned within the governing body.
• Responsible for interviewing applicants and for approving appointments, advancements, and/or promotions. Responsible for the supervision and administration of all personnel management programs/ systems.
• Establishes short- and long-range service goals to meet the needs and objectives of the local facility and VHA.

Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM, Monday - Friday
Compressed:Available
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 463-50493-F
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 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.
• 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. 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 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.

Grade Determinations:
GS-15, Pharmacist (Service Chief)

Experience. In addition to the GS-14 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level, and the specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*).
1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
2. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
3. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.
4. Skill in managing multiple people or programs.
*5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the missions and goals of the organization.
*6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.

Assignment: Service Chief. Responsible for all aspects of pharmacy services at a medical facility by maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships demonstrating active problem resolution skills and close cooperation with other programs and services in accomplishing the medical facility mission and goals. Responsible for budget management, determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation. Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long term interest of the organization, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks. Responsible for compliance with all safety, regulatory, and accrediting body requirements. Delegates authority to several supervisory and program levels to meet the goals of the service and staff. Ensures orientation and training programs are established to ensure staff development, oversees academic affiliations, and participates in medical facility, VISN, National, other external governmental agencies, and professional associations.

Preferred Experience: Prior VA Pharmacy supervisory experience.

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-15.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.), moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, standing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, and near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4. Environmental factors include dry atmospheric conditions, constant noise, working closely with others, and working alone.

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.