Associate Service Chief - Pharmacy Service

Clarification from the agency

Please be advised this vacancy is opened to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees and current/past/upcoming VHA Healthcare Professional Trainee (HPT) Graduates. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Functions as an Associate to the Chief of Pharmacy, responsible for coordinating multiple programs within the pharmacy service, including planning, directing, evaluating, and coordinating comprehensive Pharmacy services such as inpatient operations and inpatient clinical pharmacy. The incompent may also provide oversight of other program areas as defined by the Chief of Pharmacy within the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS). This position ensures operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and optimal resource utilization across assigned program areas, and serves as a key advisor and resource to Pharmacy Service Leadership and the Medical Center executive team.

Executive & Administrative Leadership:

• Serves as a resource to the Chief of Pharmacy, Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff, and Medical Center Director on matter related to pharmacy operations, policy, and practice.
• Represents Pharmacy Service on advisory teams, boards, and committees at the Medical Center, Health System Area (HSA), regional (VISN) and national levels as needed.
• Serves as Acting Chief of Pharmacy in the absence of the Service Chief, assuming full responsibility for the functions and activities of all Sections and Divisions of the Pharmacy Service during that time.
• Ensures optimum efficiency and effectiveness of numerous, complex, and integrated programs administered or overseen by Pharmacy Service.

Inpatient Pharmacy Operations Management:

• Plans, directs, and coordinates day-to-day inpatient clinical and pharmacy operations, including medication distribution, sterile and non-sterile compounding, controlled substance management, automated dispensing systems, and 24/7 staffing coverage.
• Established and monitors performance metrics, workflow standards, and turnaround-time benchmarks for inpatient dispensing and clinical services.
• Ensure compliance with USP <795>, <797>, <800>, Joint commission standards, VHA directives, other applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Oversees medication safety initiatives, including error reporting, root cause analysis, and implementation of process improvements to reduce adverse drug events.
• Coordinates inventory management, drug procurement, formulary compliance, and shortage mitigations strategies with the procurement supervisor for inpatient units.???????

Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Program Oversight:

• Directs and evaluates inpatient clinical pharmacy services, including pharmacist participation in interdisciplinary rounds, anticoagulation management, antimicrobial stewardship, pain management, renal/hepatic dosing, in addition to other inpatient clinical pharmacy areas.
• Directly assists clinicians in rational drug selection by providing written and/or verbal consultation.
• ??Verifies provider prescriptions/orders for completeness and appropriateness; screens for compatibility, patient allergies, dose adjustments, contraindications, and drug interactions.
• Assures all prescription and orders meet proper eligibility criteria on aa patient specific basis, and the national formulary, prior authorization, criteria for use, treatment algorithms, and clinical guidelines are followed.
• Promotes expansion of clinical initiatives within the inpatient setting.

Resource & Personnel Management:

• Manages and optimally uses all resources entrusted to the Pharmacy Service to include budget, personnel, equipment, and space.
• Identified when additional resources (staffing, equipment, space) are needed and navigates the request/approval process after obtaining Chief of Pharmacy approval.
• Identifies staff continuing education and competency needs; develops and provides training opportunities to continually build and sustain practice skills.
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates pharmacy staff performance; participates in hiring, disciplinary actions, and professional development processes as delegated.
• Fosters a culture of safety, accounability, teamwork, and continuous quality improvement within the Pharmacy Service.
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, Employees may be required to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays and/or compressed, tours on rotating schedule. The hours may vary per the needs of the service and will rotate, on a fair and equitable basis, to include weekends and holidays.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 80357F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHAV08ORLCCOE@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be 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

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15.
• 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. All applicants must possess a 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.Associate Service Chief GS-14:

• Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Associate Service Chief/ Associate CMOP Director. 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. Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. (NOTE: Associate Service Chief/ Associate CMOP Director positions should be graded one grade below the grade of the Chief of Pharmacy Service or CMOP Director.)
• Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level.
  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 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.

References: 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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical of the occupation. May be required to wear personal protective equipment to undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. The incumbent must satisfactorily complete a pre-employment physical to include moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), light carrying 15 lbs or less, straight pulling, reaching above the shoulder with the use of both hands and fingers, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors, which is required for this position

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Resume over 2 pages
• 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.
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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