Clarification from the agency

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

Research

• Analyzes research protocols for potential adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, or contraindications; identifies any drug-related problems that may affect the patient or contribute to the need for utilization of health care resources (i.e., hospitalization, clinic visits, and additional drug therapies).
• Maintains a file of investigational drug protocols, correspondence with the FDA, drug source, local investigator, other involved authorities, and assuring that VA Form 10-1086 an Informed Consent Form, (i.e. the Agreement to Participated in Research by or Under the Direction of Veterans Affairs), has been obtained prior to dispensing.
• Maintains a log of all transactions involving receipt, dispensing, and disposition of unused stocks of investigational drugs.
• Ensures summaries of basic information regarding investigational drugs, approved for use, are distributed to the using patient care areas prior to dispensing the investigational drug.
• Provides formal and informal investigational drug information training and services to all levels of hospital staff, patients, and providers. Interacts directly with patients by evaluating patient's ability to understand medication instruction, providing oral and written counseling as appropriate on their drug therapy as per research protocol.
• Coordinates the investigational drug program with Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System's Pharmacy Service, Research Service, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research and Development (R&D), the principal investigator or his designee, and all approved research affiliations.
• Assist investigators and the Medical Center's Institutional Review Board in evaluating research protocols by serving as the pharmacy representative for the Institutional (IRB) Investigation Review Board and Research & Development Committee (R&D)
• Analyzes new research protocols to identify necessary operational adjustments to support the protocol and collaborates with the Inpatient Operations team.

Clinical Practice

• Functions in the role of an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist as assigned.
• Reviews and evaluates non-formulary and restricted medications for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable.
• Actively reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings.
• Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosage, and adherence to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information.
• Maintains a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. Documents recommendations and interventions in patient record system in a timely and professional manner as appropriate.
• Reviews patient medications, allergies, laboratory results and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication related problems.
• Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.
• Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient adherence issues. Documents are found according to Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System's procedures.
• Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies.
• Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, retional, and local initiatives.
• Counsel patients on proper use of medications including investigational medications when necessary.
• Collaborate with members of an inpatient team to manage the medication therapies of selected patients according to best evidence and as outlined in Veterans Health Administration and Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System Clinical Practice Guidelines.
• Reviews literature regarding efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of medication for projects as assigned
• Serves on medical center and/or regional committees as requested

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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

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: 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. 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: 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.
English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C 7402(d), and 7407(d).


Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-13 Facility Program Manager
EXPERIENCE. In addition to GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level (GS-12)AND
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES (KSAs). 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.

NOTE: GS-12 Requirements
Education/Experience. 1 year of equivalent experience to next lower grade level (GS-11) OR OR completion of an ACPE- accredited Pharm. D. program.AND demonstrated the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 lbs., reaching above shoulder, straight pulling, pushing, use of fingers, walking 2 hours, standing 4-6 hours; simple grasping, sitting 8 hours, fine manipulation 8 hours, hearing, aid permitted.

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:

• License
• Resume / CV
• 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.

• License
• Resume / CV
• Professional Certification
• 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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