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Summary The Chief, Pharmacy service is responsible for all aspects of pharmacy services at the medical facility by maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships demonstrating active problem resolution skills and close cooperation with other programs and services in accomplishing the medical facility mission and goals. Responsibilities Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm 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 The Chief, Pharmacy Service at the VA Central California Health Care System is responsible for the management of a highly complex and dynamic health system pharmacy service that includes 24/7 inpatient pharmacy service for the Community Living Center, medicine/surgery beds, ICU beds, lock down mental health beds, and palliative care/hospice care beds, 3 CBOCs: In Merced, Oakhurst and Visalia and an outpatient pharmacy that together with CMOP filled over 1.5 million 30 day equivalent fills on average per year for our Veterans. The Chief, Pharmacy Service, occupies a major position at this facility, reporting to the Chief of Staff office. Through his/her direct involvement in all program elements affecting VA Central California Healthcare System (VACCHCS) mission, the incumbent helps formulate and advance overall operating planning as well as serves on committees designed to facilitate top management decisions. He/she consults and participates with all members of top management in analyzing the broad implications of higher levels of authority, laws, regulations, policies, as well as professional and administrative trends. He/she analyzes their specific proposals for top management consideration and plans and initiates improvement actions on a continuing progressive basis. He/she is responsible for the overall planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and control of pharmacy programs, including traditional and clinical care areas of pharmacy practice. The specific responsibilities of this position can be described as traditional, clinical care and education and research. Responsible for budget management, determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation. Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long-term interest of the organization, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks. Responsible for compliance with all safety, regulatory and accrediting body requirements. Delegates authority to several supervisory and program levels to meet the goals of the service and staff. Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Selection of drugs, chemicals, antibiotics, biologicals, and pharmaceutical preparations used in the treatment of patients. Determines, establishes, and maintains stock levels taking into consideration market fluctuation, seasonal variations, and any applicable contracts in compliance with the VA and FAR and all other applicable procurement rules and regulations. Responsible for accurate dispensing of all prescriptions by establishing procedural quality Improvement systems and reviewing procedures both at the local pharmacies and with the Consolidated Mail Out Program (CMOP). Implements formulary changes as defined by the VISN and/or National Formulary committees. Manages a multi-million-dollar budget of more than $40 million. Develops written policies and procedures governing safe administration of drugs and biologicals. Supervises the maintenance of the formulary drug file in VISTA and all pharmacy computer applications and information systems. Complies will all mandates relating to pharmaceutical services (i.e. Joint Commission, OIG, etc.). Establishes short- and long-range goals for Pharmacy Service and provides periodic review and evaluation of these goals. Recruits and selects highly qualified individuals to supervise program objectives. Routinely appraises the Chief of Staff of any problems and cost impact of changing prescribing patterns and other recommendations for consideration by top management. Pharmacists working as a CPS, are functioning at the top of their licensure through advanced scopes of practice. Inpatient clinical services provided by CPS include rounding with internal medicine teams, surgery team, and inpatient mental health. Pharmacoeconomics and pharmacoepidemiology research. Global focus on patient education to enhance compliance and therapeutic outcomes. Participate in all pharmacy teaching and associated research activities. Ultimately responsible for all pharmacy school liaison activities and clerkship students in rotations at our facility. Maintains responsibility and oversight for the PGY1 and PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Programs including participation in resident selection activities. Precepts the residents in the PGY-1 Residency Program accredited by the American Society of Health- System Pharmacists (ASHP) per year for an Administration Rotation. Other duties as assigned by management. 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: 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. 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.) 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. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16. 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: Pharmacist (Service Chief), GS-15 Experience. In addition to the GS-14 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated KSAs. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs. Skill in managing multiple people or programs. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the missions and goals of the organization. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff. 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-15. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-15. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Education 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 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.