Skip to content
HealthJobsFinderUSAHealthJobsFinderUSA home

Pharmacist - Associate Chief of Staff Performance and Improvement

Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs

PermanentFull-time
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Salary
$171,882 – $223,449/yr
Pay grade
GS 15
Openings
—
Posted
Jun 11, 2026
Closes
Closes in 11 days

Summary

The Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Performance and Improvement (P&I) is responsible for the overall direction, leadership and operational management of the performance and improvement programs at The Phoenix VAHCS. S/he will have the accountability for providing the leadership over the areas of clinical performance, regulatory and accreditation, and performance improvement.

The position can be filled by any one of multiple occupations. This announcement is for a Pharmacist.



Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Participating in leadership meetings including CEB/MEB, Performance and Improvement Operations, and others as determined.
  • Responsibility for meeting all clinical performance measures and monitors relating to the performance and improvement such as: EPRP, SAIL, customer satisfaction, and assisting the medical center when possible in meeting all others.
  • Help improve clinical service line efficiency by reducing cancellations, improving timeliness, reducing overtime.
  • Help expand outpatient care by: achieving timely patient evaluation by assuring new and established patients are seen within established timeframes, achieving optimal resource (space, professional and administrative staff) utilization to maximize service utilization.
  • Collaborating with Medical Center leadership in identifying strategic opportunities and initiatives.
  • Serving on medical center, VISN and VA national committees and workgroups related to performance issues and initiatives.
  • The incumbent will determine goals, priorities and direction for the Service and clinic operations and will be responsible for assigning duties to staff within the realm of Performance and Improvement for the clinics.
  • Responsible for the development of position descriptions and competencies for the direct report staff, along with the development and completion of performance standards and appraisals.
  • Address grievances, apply disciplinary policies, and nominate incentive awards in all matters concerning Performance and Improvement staff members under the supervision of the Service administration.
  • The incumbent will develop and maintain continuing programs in the areas of organizational improvement, continuing education, and other quality improvement activities.
  • The ACOS for Performance and Improvement works collaboratively with other Service Chiefs, supervisory staff, and frontline staff in other departments and sections to effect organizational improvement and participates in national and VISN organizational activities as called upon.

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


Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
  • 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).
  • 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
  • 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:GS-15
  • Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-14) or equivalent. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: serving as a National or VISN Program Manager managing national or VISN level programs collaborating with other Federal agencies; serving as an Associate Chief or Associate CMOP Director coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility; serving as a Service Chief at a Facility Complexity Level 2 or 3 medical facility maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships.
  • Demonstrated KSAs. The following knowledge skills and abilities must be met:
    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 and diverse people or programs.
    5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.
    6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.
Preferred Experience: Seasoned clinician who demonstrates extensive and progressive leadership experience both as a clinician and an administrator.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.


Physical Requirements: Most work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts and the work is generally sedentary. The position will require some physical effort such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, typing, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, books, or reports that do not require special physical demands.

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/.

Requirements

  • 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.

Apply for this role

Applications are handled on the official USAJOBS site — we never sit between you and the employer. You'll find full duties, qualifications and the application form there.

Apply on USAJOBS

Similar open jobs

Explore more

Source: USAJOBS / U.S. Office of Personnel Management. HealthJobsFinderUSA is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.

← Back to all jobs