Summary
The supervisor is responsible for the leadership and administrative management of the assigned inpatient/outpatient area for a large full-service pharmacy operation. This Service supports a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient specialty medical programs such as intensive care, various surgical specialties, nursing home/long term care patients, telehealth, oncology, spinal cord injury, mental health, internal medicine, pain management clinic, and community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs).
This job is open to
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Federal employees - Excepted service
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Clarification from the agency
NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.
Duties
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws
Duties may include, but are not limited to:
The pharmacy supervisor will serve as a consultant for Pharmacy Service in evaluating health care delivery to patients. This includes facilitating the delivery of patient care in collaboration with other health professionals, health managers and other health care personnel. In this capacity, the supervisor operates with a broad delegation of authority to coordinate all aspects of the pharmacy service within their area of responsibility. In order to accomplish this, the incumbent will need management experience with pharmacy policy and procedures, and a broad knowledge base of the various phases of the full-spectrum pharmacy service.
The pharmacy supervisor will be responsible for ensuring the pharmacy is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting bodies, developing policies and procedures, developing functional statements, setting performance standards, evaluating performance, recommendations for appointment, recommending awards/advancements, recommending disciplinary action, counseling employees, and identifying training/educational requirements.
The pharmacy supervisor will be responsible for all day-to-day operations to ensure optimal pharmaceutical care and customer service through the assignment of duties, monitoring of performance, overseeing aggregate workload, identifying backlogs, and making staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals. The incumbent will oversee/participate in activities that may include, but are not limited to inpatient/outpatient prescription processing/dispensing, managing controlled substance distribution and accountability, consultation/counseling, training/education, telehealth care, pharmacy inventory, supply management, time/attendance management/monitoring, and budgetary oversight.
A. Administrative
1. Serves as the Pharmacy Representative in various forums and work with other sections and Services to develop programs for improvement of medication therapy management.
2. Coordinate quality assurance activities that relate to the use or outcomes of medication management. Works to design and implement outcome monitors for performance, patient satisfaction, and clinical care.
3. Develops/updates functional statements, job duties, performance standards, policies/procedures, and defines operational requirements of the section.
4. Assist in the dissemination and enforcement of guidelines established by the VISN Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) committee, local P&T committee, and sub-committees/workgroups regarding the use of formulary, non-formulary, and restricted drugs.
5. Ensures that internal policies and related medical center policies are accurate, current, and communicated to subordinates to ensure they are effective in resolving procedural problems relating to service delivery.
6. Assists in assuring that the Pharmacy Service is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, i.e., SOARS, CAP, TJC, FDA, ASHP, OIG, etc.
7. Provide written reports and/or correspondence accurately, completely, and timely. Reports/correspondences need little to no editing required before use within the Service; forwarded to other Services; or forwarded to hospital leadership.
8. Interviews candidates and recommends appointments to the appropriate approving official(s).
9. Recommend employees for advancement/promotion and award recognition to the appropriate official(s) for approval.
10. Maintain all pertinent professional and administrative records as necessary.
B. Supervisory
1. The incumbent has full line supervisory authority over personnel assigned to the section. The incumbent ensures services provided meet or exceed professional and legal standards.
2. Establishes work schedules, allocates staff as needed to provide adequate coverage, maintain workflow patterns to keep prescription waiting time within the national standard while ensuring accurate dispensing and record keeping.
3. Regularly evaluates workflow methods and independently makes changes to minimize patient-medication order turnaround time, in addition to making recommendations to the Associate Chief of Dispensing Operations relative to future needs for space, equipment, and personnel.
4. Oversee day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy equipment and automation, such as ScriptPro, Omnicell, OptiFill, FastPak, Q-Matic, etc. Utilize available reporting functions to optimize the efficiency of these systems.
5. Maintains time and attendance records and adjudicates leave requests to ensure adequate staffing coverage sustained to handle services and customer peak times.
Duties continued under Education section:
Work Schedule: Rotating Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 6:30pm
Telework: Available Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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:
GS-13 Grade Determinations:
Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12).
- Examples of GS-12 experience includes: handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; trucing health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution, OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
- Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
- Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
- Skill in managing people or programs.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Preferred Experience:
- Served in a supervisory capacity for up to 2 years.
- Demonstrated ability to implement new processes and create new programs.
- Understanding of the VA Formulary Process.
- Understanding of the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategies (REMS). Medications rules and regulations that govern them.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (8 hours); Standing (8 hours); Kneeling (1 hour); Repeated bending (4 hours); Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Specific visual requirement (DVA Correctable to 20/40); Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted)
Education
Duties continued:
6. Ensures that employees meet performance standards and competencies and identifies and addresses areas for improvement as warranted.
7. Manage affirmative action initiatives, grievances, EEO complaints and labor management issues while effectively supervising staff conduct and performance.
8. Ensure that all subordinates complete required training within established timeframes.
9. Attends staff meetings, keeps pharmacy administration informed of operational matters, and shares knowledge with staff as necessary to keep staff informed.
10. Resolve routine and complex problems that affect other sections and/or other medical center services so that little to no intervention needed from upper level management.
11. Manage section's budget, inventory, drug accountability, controlled substance oversight.
C. Clinical
1. Effectively utilizes and maintains proficiency with the Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VISTA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Composite Health Care System (CHCS), and other automated pharmacy equipment and computer software systems as operational needs dictate.
2. Promote a patient-focused, team-based multi-disciplinary model of pharmaceutical care to promote drug prescribing, medication monitoring and drug laboratory review that assures positive outcomes from medication use. Enhances current pharmacy system to place pharmacists into an environment of direct patient and prescriber contact, where pharmacists also have unrestricted access to clinical information.
3. Maintain system oversight that aids pharmacists or staff in identifying actual or potential drug-related problems at the front end of the prescription and medication order entry process. Eliminates duplication of efforts, monitors report and prevent medication errors, adverse drug events, and increases patient satisfaction.
4. Ensures that pharmacists/technicians accurately dispense, and compound medications based on patient history, medication profile review, clinical practice, and other pertinent factors. This includes, but is not limited to, data entry into the computer, screening orders for drug-drug and drug-food interactions, dosing errors, allergies, incompatibilities, contraindications, and formulary availability. Discrepancies reviewed with the provider and resolved. Once satisfied, the pharmacist will release/send the order forward for filling when assigned.
5. Manage various actions, as appropriate, for medication orders to include flagging prescriptions, managing view alerts, using the "hold medication" function, and generating unsigned discontinued orders using Service Reject.
6. Assures that pharmacists provide patient medication counseling by verifying patient understanding of the medication effects, proper medication use, expected outcomes, frequency, how to obtain refills of medication(s) and how the current prescription is processed.
7. Ensures pharmacists and technicians understand how to report, and will report, actual/potential medication errors or adverse events.
8. Works with the clinical program managers and providers to ensure staff adheres to formulary process, to promote and ensure patients receive the most cost-effective drug therapy.
9. Implement P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education.
10. Manage recall and medication shortage situations by alerting providers as needed and substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule.
D. Dispensing/Drug Distribution
1. Ensures medications dispensed accurately and in a timely manner.
2. Comply with all VHA and DEA policies and regulations to assure strict drug accountability. Ensures strict accountability of high risk, high cost drugs required to be
maintained via a perpetual inventory.
3. Confirms all pharmacy distributive functions follow local/VISN/National VHA policies/procedures to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical services in a timely fashion.
4. Guarantees pharmacists/technicians know how to select, compound, fill, and dispense a wide range of medications.
5. Ensures drugs dispensed completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulations.
6. Maintains drug storage areas and ensures adequate drug stock.
7. Supervise the operation of automated dispensing equipment, and the prepacking of medications.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: If your school was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACPE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. 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: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
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/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
Required Documents
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 (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Other (1)
- PCS Orders
- Performance Appraisal
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- 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.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/15/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12930800.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.