Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration will go to current, permanent employees of JDDVAMC. Second area of consideration will go to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Third area of consideration will go to other Federal employees. Fourth area of consideration will go to Veterans. Final consideration will go to public applicants.

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VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed below, the incumbent must also be able to perform clinical and staff pharmacist duties. The incumbent will not require a scope of practice.

Administrative:

• Responsible for the day to day operations of the assigned Pharmacy area.
• Assign work based on priorities.
• Responsible for accurate daily record of time and attendance, issue and completing performance appraisals, coaching, rounding, disciplinary actions.
• Provide advice, counsel and instruction to subordinates concerning technical and administrative matters.
• Responsible for all performance improvement activities.
• Reviews and responds to current budget forecasts.
• Assists the Chief and other pharmacy supervisors in establishing and accomplishing the pharmacy mission and goals.
• Collects, analyzes and acts upon workload statistics, quality assurance data, and productivity and workload reports.
• Works to implement principles of lean management system and quality control efforts.
• Ensure all supply requisitions are properly prepared and submitted timely.
• Will enforce processes to ensure that dated or soon to expire drugs are periodically checked, securely stored and returned to manufacturer when outdated. Coordinates and responds to drug recalls as needed.
• Assists Chief of Pharmacy with the proper handling of controlled substances n accordance with station policy, VA, State, VHA and DEA regulations.
• Performs, when necessary, all duties assigned to staff pharmacists.
• Assists in the safe handling and distribution of investigational drugs. Approves and reconciles orders in IFCAP, Drug Accountability and other fiscal programs requiring action.
• Participates in the annual drug inventory.
• Assists Chief of Pharmacy and other Pharmacy managers in developing new clinical programs to ensure maintenance of appropriate quality patient care.
• Provides quality assurance assessments and medication usage evaluations via performance improvement and quality assurance programs.
• Provides administrative coverage for the Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor or other Pharmacy manager during absences.
• Provides oversight and/or coordinates subordinates' documentation of medication error, adverse drug reaction and allergy and drug interaction incidents.
• Responsible for the dispensing and security of all medications issued from the Inpatient Pharmacy. Ensures drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with VAMC, USP, VHA, OIC, Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals, and State and Federal rules and regulations.

• Manages and implements an effective continuous quality assessment and improvement program for the Inpatient Pharmacy Service.
• Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long term interest of the organization, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks.
• Promotes sound and economical personnel management reviews, identifies duties and responsibilities and justifies personnel needs that are based on current programs and workload requirements.
• Coordinates efforts in maintaining appropriate records and in meeting the timely submission of all reports, such as AMIS, CDR, staffing guidelines, and other required information related to Pharmacy operations.
• Provides input to the Equal Employment/Affirmative Action Plans and contributes to the development of the Upward Mobility and Career Development programs.
• Identifies and implements a performance improvement program consistent with Joint Commission, VACO and other relevant quality management standards.
• Effectively develops and manages the pharmaceutical budget. Formulates budgetary plans and forecasts. Implements corrective operational actions to address budget variances.

• Provides training and education to health care providers and support staff regarding medication use and/or preparation.
• Conducts training as needed that align with established procedures and job instruction sheets.
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy training program.
• Keeps abreast of new developments in pharmacy practice and drug therapy and participating in continuing education programs.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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:

a) Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)

b) Education:
(1) 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.)(2) 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).

c) 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.

d) 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.

e) Physical Requirements. Must be able to distinguish basic colors with ability to distinguish shades of color. Requires routine standing, bending and stooping/squatting. This position will require the candidate to read computer screens and other documents for extended period of times, up to 4 to 5 hours consecutively. The job entails working closely with others and at times, alone. The work environment is inside a pharmacy. May need to handle frozen and refrigerated products. Twisting and grasping of bottles, vials or syringes can occur. Must be able to don and work with protective garments and equipment as necessary.

f) English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

a) 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.

b) Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-13
(a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
(b) Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Pharmacy Supervisor: Responsible for the professional and administrative management of an assigned area in pharmacy service, to include budgetary execution. Such individuals have responsibilities for supervising multiple pharmacists and technicians. Develops performance standards, assures that the program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities. Develops policies and procedures relative to their assigned area. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
3. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
4. Skill in managing people or programs. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA

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, résumé, 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.