Pharmacy Service (Associate Chief, Inpatient Pharmacy) Detail not to exceed 120 days

VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting an Acting Associate Chief, Inpatient Pharmacy Services, NTE 120 days. Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in the healthcare system. Develops/maintains a system of internal reviews to ensure programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Responsible for all aspects of inpatient pharmacy service including utilization of resources and budget.

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

• Interviews prospective employees, makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. Incumbent is a Certified Mentor under the VA Mentorship Program.
• Recruits, develops and retains a diverse high-quality workforce to include the hiring of qualified minorities, women, and disabled candidates. Personally supports the EEO program and Special Emphasis events and encourages employees to attend and participate in EEO/diversity activities as well. Demonstrates a good faith effort to informally resolved disputes and/or EEO complaints at the earliest stage possible encouraging the use of the mediation process as appropriate.
• Performs, when necessary, duties assigned to an inpatient staff pharmacist
• Assists in the control and distribution of investigational drugs.
• Chairs the pharmacist staff meetings as assigned. Prepares agendas and the final meeting minutes.
• Plans, organizes and participates in pharmacist and technician staff development.
• Develops, measures, assesses and documents the competency and training needs of inpatient pharmacy staff
• Trains pharmacy personnel in pharmacy techniques and conducts technical courses for the purpose of keeping the staff aware of current developments within the field of pharmacy and drug therapy, and instructs personnel in the use and maintenance of technical equipment.

Work Schedule: Mondays-Fridays 7:30am-4:00pm nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 95294-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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.
• 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.
• 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: 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).

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).

GS-13s are eligible to apply but not be promoted.


Grade Determinations: Pharmacist, GS-14

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):

• Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
• Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs
• Skill in managing multiple people or programs.
• Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions pf the pharmacy staff.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part 2, Appendix G15.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending/stooping.
Grandfathering Provision: 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). 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
(3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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/.

• 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.