Videos

The incumbent promotes implementation of locally established guidelines, clinical practice guidelines, and serves as the point of contact, as needed, in specialty clinics as needed to provide comprehensive medication management services for patients on biologic medications. The incumbent is also responsible for maintaining and evaluating scopes of practice for direct reports and forwarding recommendations regarding staff clinical privileges to the Associate Chief.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Supervisory Functions:

• Oversees staff training, competency documentation, onboarding, scopes of practice, and recommendations for clinical privileges.
• Conducts quality assurance reviews; identifies medication errors, near misses, and deficiencies; and develops corrective and sustainment plans.
• Provides clinical oversight, education, and consultation for patient drug therapy, PADR adjudication, formulary management, monitoring, and outcomes.
• Manages staffing, schedules, workload shifts, program coverage, time-and-attendance changes, morale, and burnout-reduction initiatives.
• Develops policies, procedures, and long-range plans for PADR and formulary operations.
• Ensures compliance with OPPE/FPPE, VA clinical-privileging policy, and regulatory or accreditation requirements.
• Completes administrative projects and reports on time and serves on hospital, departmental, VISN, and Pharmacy & Therapeutics committees.
• Designs and implements clinical and program activities requested by the facility or VACO.
• Supports audits, records management, Medication Use Evaluations, defensible data collection, and reporting of program metrics.
• Develops business plans to expand clinical services and collaborates with pharmacy managers on cross-program impacts.
• Leads process-improvement projects and evaluates performance against national, VISN, and local measures.

PADR Adjudication and Clinical Duties:

• Review and adjudicate PADRs using clinical criteria, evidence, and provider consultation; enter approved orders and complete appeals.
• Evaluate laboratory results, diagnostic studies, and medication regimens for safety, effectiveness, dosing, interactions, and outcomes.
• Communicate recommendations to prescribers and document adverse reactions, allergies, and adherence concerns.
• Support national, VISN, and local formulary compliance.
• Provide weekly comprehensive medication management for patients receiving biologic and high-cost specialty medications.
• Manage specialty clinic visits, coordinate patient scheduling, and educate staff on cost-effective, safe treatment algorithms.
• Assist with EHRM supply favorites management.

Program Management:

• Serves on the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Subcommittee as needed and submits quarterly cost-savings reports on time.
• Evaluates annual national cost-saving initiatives, develops plans with pharmacy leadership to meet goals, and monitors progress quarterly.
• Participates in VISN formulary management and PBM committees and meetings.
• Supports electronic health record updates that facilitate medication ordering and appropriate access to formulary agents.
• Promotes and monitors compliance with established drug-therapy policies.

Education and Training:

• Provides staff with accurate orientation to program policies and procedures.
• Trains and in-services pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students, residents, and other assigned staff; serves as a preceptor in accordance with established policies.
• Trains staff to use dashboards and reports for direct patient care and program monitoring.
• Coordinates ongoing educational activities to maintain staff competency and program quality. Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required.
• Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, overdosages, and compliance for medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students; uses appropriate references to research drug information.
• Maintains current knowledge of therapeutics, disease management, and developments in pharmacy practice through literature review and continuing education.
• Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
NOTE: The position is primarily weekdays but requires availability to work any day of the week,
including weekends and holidays, as needed.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 10797F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.) (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.

Grade Determinations:
GS-13 Pharmacist (Pharmacy Supervisor)

Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) VA or Non VA Experience

• Examples of GS-12 experience includes, but is not limited to: clinical, administrative, and supervisory responsibilities, clinical knowledge and the ability to apply established criteria and evidence-based medicine are required for the adjudication of prior authorization drug requests (PADRs), along with administrative and supervisory skills for the development and oversight of strategies for meeting and monitoring cost-saving initiatives. Additionally, clinical knowledge is needed to provide comprehensive medication management (CMM) in ambulatory specialty clinics (e.g., gastroenterology, dermatology, pulmonary, rheumatology, etc.) to assist with various clinical requests including but not limited to, initial therapy selection, monitoring, adjustments, education, and compliance assessment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required, as the incumbent works closely with providers, pharmacy staff, and other medical center personnel. The position requires computer expertise, particularly in database/spreadsheet programs and data analysis, to evaluate and report program metrics. Develops a vision and goals for the program, leads future program development, and ensures compliance with national, VISN, and local policies and initiatives. Familiarity with VA rules, VA clinical direction (e.g., criteria for use), and ethical conduct is required to attain a position of clinical and administrative leadership.

AND

In addition, must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (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.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent technical judgment, without the need for readily available supervision, and comprehensive working knowledge of the most complex practices and procedures.
• Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate pharmacy staff and lead program level initiatives.

Preferred Experience: Prior supervisory experience, PGY2-HSPAL experience working with prior authorizations or a specialty program, and/or experience with Oracle systems preferred.

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.

Physical Requirements:

• The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of the position.
• The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, looking at computer screens and other digital devices throughout the day, typing, walking distances within the medical center, frequent twisting/turning, and bending/stooping.
• The incumbent must be able to perform lifting/carrying, pushing, or pulling different types of equipment such as cabinets, carts or supplies weighing at maximum 50 pounds through various terrains.
• This position routinely prepares medications that require special handling and documentation including but not limited to hazardous drug medications. Must be able to wear appropriate respiratory and other

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.