Associate Chief of Pharmacy - Clinical Program Manager

The incumbent is considered the Pharmacy Supervisor who has full responsibility for the pharmacy planning, implementing, and supervising of the assigned Clinical Pharmacy Program area and staff. This position is a working supervisor dedicating approximately 25% of his/her time as a practicing Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner within assigned scope of practice (SOP).

Scope of Practice

The individual scope of practice will be dependent upon the incumbent's education, training, and experience required to perform the functions of the position. All VHA pharmacists with a SOP that includes prescriptive authority must participate in a professional practice evaluation program.

Functions:

I. Supervisory Duties:

1. Serves as the Pharmacy Supervisor for the assigned Clinical Pharmacy Program staff.
2. Coordinates, supervises, and provides the safe and rational drug therapy management and monitoring to the patients receiving clinical care from Pharmacy Service, including but not limited to inpatients, outpatients, primary care, and specialty care within Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center.
3. In collaboration with the Chief, Pharmacy Service establishes work schedules and allocates staff as needed to provide adequate Clinical Pharmacy Program coverage. Notifies the Chief and designated pharmacy timekeeper of any changes in time and attendance records of the Clinical Pharmacy Program staff to ensure accurate accountability.
4. Assesses workload shifts throughout the day, identifying backlogs and makes staffing adjustments as needed to meet patient care needs and organizational goals. Works collaboratively with Chief, Pharmacy Service and the other Pharmacy Service Leadership Supervisors to ensure continuity of patient care.
5. Develops and establishes policies and procedures defining the clinical/professional and administrative operational requirements for the assigned Clinical Pharmacy Program drug therapy and monitoring.
6. Ensures assigned administrative projects and reports are submitted in a timely fashion.
7. Assists in assuring that the Clinical Pharmacy Program is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, i.e., Joint Commission for Accreditation, National Patient Safety Goals, FDA, ASHP, etc.
8. Coordinates the ongoing Clinical Pharmacy Program educational activities designed to maintain the competency and quality of the pharmacy staff and patient care program, respectively, within the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center.
9. Provision of leadership in scholarly activities and professional service culminating in recognition of Pharmacy Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs as the leaders in the provision of pharmaceutical care to our patients.
10. Supervisory work, at a minimum, includes responsibility for planning and scheduling work; assigning work to employees; accepting, amending, or rejecting completed work; assuring that production and accuracy requirements are met; appraising performance and recommending performance standards and ratings; approving leave; and effecting disciplinary measures. Additionally, the duties of a supervisor typically Include prioritizing and scheduling work and finding ways to improve the quality and/or quantity of the work directed.
11. The supervisor must be able to: 1. engage in systems thinking through understanding the drug use process and the consequences of actions on other parts of the system by linking process, procedures and outcomes; 2. have a clear understanding of processes, procedures, methods and standards of clinical practice and the VHA; 3. understand current practice standards (ASHP, Joint Commission, or other professional standards) and advise the organization of their impact upon patient care; 4. think and act innovatively, look beyond current reality to forecast future directions and trends; 5.challenge traditional assumptions and solve system problems creatively, and 6, be resourceful and willing to take risks in proposing solutions to system related problems.
12. The supervisor will provide education to internal and external customers on pharmacotherapy designed to positively impact on patient outcome. The supervisor will develop and provide an environment that fosters the education and training of appropriate staff. These activities require highly effective teaching, verbal and written communication skills.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws
Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday, 0800-1630
Telework: This is not a telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:09991F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives are not authorized.
EDRP Authorized: 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) and 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 are ineligible to apply. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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.
  • OR
  • Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program if you are 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.

Grade Determinations:

• Specialized Experience, GS-14: In addition to the GS-14 requirements, you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-13. This experience may include, but not be limited to: Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Has extensive responsibility for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential.
• AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the specialized experience described above, you must be able to demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  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.

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-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is performed within the pharmacy and the medical center, and at times may require travel. The incumbent observes safety precautions while working with a variety of equipment. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions (e.g., risk exposure to caustic agents, flammable liquids when unpacking supplies or cleaning equipment). The incumbent works with drugs and chemicals in which care must be taken in the event accidental contact is made to the skin, eyes and lungs. Incumbent follows guidelines for preparation, handling and administration of hazardous drugs and disposal of all pharmaceutical waste in compliance with medical center policy.

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.