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Clinical Pharmacist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

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
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$135,240 - $175,816 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
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
CAZP-13076364-26-DT
Control number
886540600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Duties

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Clinical

  • Presents drug information to patients/caregivers and healthcare professionals upon request, and special instructions to nursing staff or patient/caregiver on the storage, stability, use of medications, indications, side effects and interactions with another medications/OTC.
  • Provides professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult, complex, and unusual nature in addition to routine dispensing duties.
  • Ensures appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitors for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcomes to advise providers as appropriate.
  • Provides information to providers and other staff members on availability of new drugs, warnings on currently marketed ones, contra-indications, and incompatibility of other pharmaceuticals.
  • Delivers patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers both orally and in writing.
  • Performs chart reviews when required and makes his/her recommendations in the progress notes with proper documentation.
  • Routinely identifies customer concerns and performs the required tasks to resolve these problems in a timely manner.
  • Properly assesses outside prescriptions for proper approval, entry and dispensing for qualified Veterans to receive Care In the Community (CITC) services.
Dispensing
  • Reviews the patient's active and pending medication profile. They will review the profile for drug interactions and therapeutic duplication to determine the appropriate quantity to dispense/days supply, assess dosage ordered, and ensure labeled directions are correct and understandable.
  • Is available for verbal education and can provided written educational information from the national drug database system as well as required medication guides for designated drugs. Pharmacist can present the patient with an updated medication list. The pharmacist verifies with the patient the current list of Non-VA meds and can add or delete medications/supplies/supplements according to information provided by the patient.
  • Complies with all legal requirements concerning counseling such as indications for use, directions and proper techniques, precautions and side effects, proper storage, drug interactions, what to do about missing doses, verifying allergy information.
  • Is responsible for ensuring the work and production of the pharmacy technicians assigned to work in their area and assuring workflow is optimized to accomplish tasks. Verifying that the work and production are of current safety practices in a manner to ensure patients receive correct products and pharmaceutical care.
  • Examines all medications and affixes labels to containers identifying medications, strength, directions for use, date, and other imperative information such as cautions or what may be necessary.
  • Issues and completes written records of each prescription filled for pharmacy files.
  • Performs duties associated with the Unit Dose Medication Dispensing System and/or Automated Dispensing Equipment for proper dispensing.
Administrative
  • Assists in special assignments, reports and projects, problem solving on matters that require an overall knowledge of pharmacy, and matters affecting the operation of the pharmacy.
  • Makes recommendations to their respective Supervisor, Associate Chief or Chief, Pharmacy Service on matters concerning budget, procurement, duty assignments/workflow processes and established policies.
  • Reviews and records pharmacy stock needs and participates in the procurement of pharmacy supplies.
  • Issues and accounts for controlled substances per medical center policy and federal regulations.
  • Utilizes reporting systems for adverse drug events (VAADERS), patient safety concerns (JPSR) and disruptive behavior (DBRS).
Education
  • Counsels patients regarding their medication(s) in accordance with federal and state requirements, VA standards, and pharmacy best practices. This would include oral counseling and providing written information. Provides documentation of all counseling in appropriate records.
  • Teaches staff, patients, and healthcare trainees on a wide range of medical subjects. Teaching may be in regularly scheduled classes or may include presenting lectures, preparing hand-outs, giving demonstrations, newsletters, or other means available.
  • Provides accurate and thorough drug information to the pharmacy and clinical staff in a timely manner.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, tour varies between the hours of 7:00am-4:45pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 10519F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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.
  • 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.) (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
    • -OR-
    • 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). (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED)
  • 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.

Grade Determinations:
GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist
Education or Experience:
In addition to the Basic Requirements above, candidates must meet one of the following:
  • 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) VA or Non VA Experience -OR-
  • Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
AND
In addition, must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):
  • Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  • Ability to 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.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the outpatient pharmacy in Peoria, IL, where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required. In some cases, dealing with anti-neoplasticdrugs may expose the incumbent to hazardous and toxic agents. The incumbent works with drugs/chemicals and must exercise precautions to avoid accidental contact to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of interview.

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

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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

Danielle Taylor
Phone
217-554-4508
Email
Danielle.Taylor2@va.gov
Address
Danville VA Medical Center
1900 East Main Street
Danville, IL 61832
US

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