Pharmacist - Facility Program Manager

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is open to current, permanent Sheridan VA Health Care System Employees, and all other Federal Employees. "If you do not meet any of the eligibilities, please consider applying to our Public announcement CBSU-13050263-26-CJ"

Care in the Community Program Management

• Responsible for the program management of all aspects of the Care in the Community (CITC) program, including establishing standardization of processes, serving as liaison across the local and VISN departments for Care in the Community, and establishing ongoing training for the service and VA providers.
• Responsible for the oversight of CITC prescription eligibility, processes for nonformulary requests and follow-up, maintenance of CPRS records surrounding CITC-specific issues which includes scanning prescription hardcopies and relevant notes and consults, coordination of CITC efforts across the entire service, development or maintenance of plans to promote therapeutic appropriateness and safety, and assures medications are dispensed to patients in a timely fashion consistent with VA requirements and Federal and State laws impacting pharmacy service.
• Works with supervisors, pharmacists, and technicians to ensure continuity of care for all Care in the Community prescriptions.

Anticoagulation

• Collaborates with the Anticoagulation Service Program Manager (ASPM), who manages daily clinic workload and represents the anticoagulation and thrombosis service to facility-wide, internal, and external stakeholders.
• Participates in anticoagulation data collection when possible and engages in quality assurance activities as required to ensure the appropriate and safe use of antithrombotic medications
• Assists providers with evidence-based medication selection by offering written and/or verbal consultations, ensuring that all prescriptions and actions meet proper eligibility criteria and comply with National Formulary and Non-Formulary procedures. This includes adherence to all national directives, VISN-19 guidelines, local policies, and standard operating procedures

.Education/Teaching/Training

• Directly involved in the training or support of pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, medical students, psychology interns, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate. Assists in training new employees in duties and responsibilities.
• Responsible for the self-development, mandatory training, and education necessary to maintain licensure, stay current with the practice of pharmacy and VHA, FDA, DEA, Joint Commission standards, and meet facility training requirements.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and consultation to staff through the Medical Center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics as appropriate.

Outpatient Pharmacy Support

• Counsels' patients appropriately regarding their medication and documents this in the notes section of CPRS. Utilize pharmacy information systems to answer patient and facility staff questions related to status of their medication, completion date, package tracking, etc.
• Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information and provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.
• Verifies electronic orders entered by the physician for accuracy while performing a prospective drug utilization evaluation considering drug-drug interactions, drug-allergy contraindications, drug-disease interactions, and dosage form. Assure doses are within acceptable limits (including evaluation of FDA recommended doses) and use professional judgment in determining quantity and day supply.

Program Evaluation

• Assists in quality improvement and research initiatives and adds to the body of knowledge by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services.

Other Significant Responsibilities

• Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as appointed or assigned by the immediate supervisor or Chief of the pharmacy service. Responsibilities will include representing Pharmacy on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System, actively participating in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations, and representing the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees.
• Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees.

Additional Role and Responsibilities

• Additional roles and responsibilities may be assigned as determined by the Chief, Pharmacy Service.

Work Schedule: 8am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 525000
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 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.
• 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.
  • 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.
• Grandfathering Provision: 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Grade Determinations:
GS-13 Pharmacist - Facility Program Manager.

• Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrates Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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: PGY1 pharmacy residency or equivalent (3 years in practice area)

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: This position provides services for patients and their families. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently
perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, manual dexterity. Must possess math skills in order to convert medications to the correct dosing. This position may require reaching above shoulder-level height and requires potentially
moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). This position requires long periods of sitting, standing and walking. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

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
• 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.

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
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• 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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