Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

Functions.

• Assures proper operation of prescription processing, prescription filling, controlled substances, and medication disposition to the patient in the outpatient pharmacy. Assures proper outpatient substance distribution process including the accurate maintenance of all records associated with controlled drug accountability. Assures proper security of all drugs, supplies, and equipment for the outpatient program.
• Manages the Outpatient Distributive Pharmacy Section program to ensure medications are dispensed in a safe and efficient manner. Ensures outpatient orders are processed in a timely manner consistent with The Joint Commission standards, VA requirements and federal and state laws impacting Pharmacy Service throughout the hospital.
• Monitors workflow and methods, making recommendations to pharmacy management relative to proper
• utilization of personnel, equipment, and space. Ensures maintenance of adequate inventory of medications and supplies.
• Ensures maintenance of outpatient ordering and dispensing records in accordance with all applicable laws and standards
• Ensures Compliance with PADR processing including compliance with criteria for use and tracking and trending related data.

Staffing

• Responsible for staffing outpatient pharmacy in collaboration with the Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor.

Administration.

• Activities include, but are not limited to, first-line coordination and oversight of Care in the Community, the Pharmacy Clinical Contact Center and PADR processing as well as medication order verification and dispensing activities.
• Works in conjunction with pharmacy management to ensure that pharmacists and technicians meet performance standards by completing competencies and identifies areas for improvement in the outpatient section.
• Develops and maintains policies and procedures defining operational requirements. Responsible for the security of the assigned areas, particularly as it relates to controlled substances.
• Works with pharmacy management to adjust staffing and personnel assignments based on daily workload and demand. Advises on space and equipment needs.

Clinical.

• Verifies physician orders are complete and appropriate for dose, route, and frequency.
• Screens orders for incompatibilities, patient allergies, and drug interactions.
• Recommends formulary alternatives and completes non-formulary Consults. Serves as the subject matter expert for PADRs.
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicating relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of patients both orally and in writing. Monitoring to include prospective review and intervention in:

1. Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen.
2. Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen.
3. Appropriateness of the route and method of administration.
4. Degree or patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen.
5. Drug-drug, drug-food, drug laboratory, or drug disease interactions.
6. Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicity, or adverse effects.

Reports and Quality Assurance.

• Routinely monitors performance and quality of services and works with pharmacy management to initiate corrective/improvement measures.
• Ensures optimal utilization of Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VISTA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) computer systems as well as other automated pharmacy equipment and computer software systems.
• On an ongoing basis reviews Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbooks/Directives, USP 797, USP 800, The Joint Commission, OIG, DEA, EPA, and all other pharmacy-related regulatory standards and assesses if standards are being met.

Education/Training.

• Maintains basic knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the areas of practice. Continues to educate self on new developments in pharmacy practice and drug therapy by reading pharmacy and medical literature and participating in continuing education programs.
• Responsible for orientation, recurring training, and competencies related to outpatient for pharmacists, residents, technicians, students, and volunteers.
• Assists with and participates in pharmacist and technical staff development activities.
• Identifies continuing education needs of staff working in the outpatient pharmacy area through continuous performance and competency assessment.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 586-01442F.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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 dentification 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

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.

NOTE: 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).

Grade Determinations:
Grade 13 Level:
(a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience at the GS-12 level include: 1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice; 2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff; 3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security; 4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

AND,

(b) At the GS-13 level, Pharmacist-Facility Program Managers must meet the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
• Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:

• Outpatient Pharmacy, Clinical Contact Center and Care in the Community experience preferred.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center.
2. Current permanent VHA employees.
2. All other VA employees

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:

• Proof of 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.
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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.

Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility):
Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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)
• License
• CV/Resume
• Proof of 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.
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• 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.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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