Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: (a) 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
• (b) 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
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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: Associate Chief of Pharmacy - GS-14
• Experience
• In addition to the GS-13 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• At the GS14 level - Associate Chief of Pharmacy must meet the following: Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility
• Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief
• Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies
• Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget
• Makes selections - assigns personnel - and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential
• The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level
• 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 mission and goals of the organization
• *6
• Ability to plan - organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff
• Preferred Experience: Post-graduate Year One - Post-graduate Year 2 Pharmacy Residencies and/or prior supervisory experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS14
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds) - light carrying (under 15 pounds) - reaching above shoulder - walking (up to 2 hours) - standing (up to 2 hours) - repeatedly bending (up to 1 hour) - ability to distinguish basic colors - and the ability to distinguish shades of color 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 and sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• The Associate Chief - Operations oversees pharmacy operations which provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care to inpatient and outpatient sections on a 24-hour basis throughout the year
• The Associate Chief - Operations has full-time responsibility for supervising the operations of the pharmacy
• Within this basic framework - the Associate Chief assumes the following routine duties and responsibilities: Assists in maintaining close liaison with clinical and administrative services while assisting in the overall responsibility to monitor all medical center and outpatient clinic programs and reporting to the Chief - Pharmacy Service potential service and resource requirements
• Works with Chief - Pharmacy Service - applies knowledge of administrative and managerial techniques to guide and control complex - multi-level activities at a variety of sites - plans organization changes - coordinates with other services - and makes effective use of available resources in achieving established goals
• Effectively defines problems and seeks workable solutions to problems using Lean Management principles and external reviews to improve facilities and services
• Assists the Chief - Pharmacy Service in providing leadership and vision to promote the advancement of pharmaceutical care and services at the Medical Center - affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics without onsite pharmacies
• Oversees the performance appraisal system and meets established deadlines for submitting appraisals to Human Resources Management and for recognizing those employees who will receive awards based upon their performance ratings
• Assists in the maintenance of an effective personnel program to ensure competency in the profession of pharmacy and awareness on topics related to employment such as equal opportunity - ethics - safety - training opportunities and tuition support - and career development
• Effectively organizes - directs - manages - supervises - and controls all inpatient and outpatient activities - plans short- and long-range objectives - solves problems - and achieves results within budgetary and staffing constraints
• Oversees all outpatient and inpatient extension programs ensuring safe cost-effective medication delivery
• (Clinical Contact Center - Domiciliary - State Veterans Home - Office of integrated Veteran Care - etc.) Assist in effectively developing annual budget information and effective fund control accountability throughout the fiscal year
• This includes advanced accounting principles applied to trend drug budget growth and methods to manage the budget in a fiscally responsible manner
• Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget
• Manages effective quality assurance and performance improvement programs through close coordination with the Quality Assurance Service
• Develops and maintains guidelines - audit systems - criteria - etc. - to determine trends - produce data - and monitor performance of the sections and staff activities for management Participates in the development of guidelines - audit systems - and data gathering to enhance safety and efficacy of drug therapy decisions and cost objectives
• Maintains strict security over all medications in the pharmacies at all sites - as well as in any medication storage areas within the hospitals
• Maintains the security of the pharmacy - making sure that only pharmacy employees have access
• Provides oversight and evaluation of all new automation initiatives within Pharmacy Service and coordinates these projects with other affected services in the medical center
• Responsible for the supervision - issuance - and safe storage of controlled substances - and the maintenance of required records and reports
• Actively maintains the assigned management areas in a continual state of readiness for all inspections - surveys - etc. - such that the facility will fully meet expectations of accrediting and surveying organizations
• Maintains the facility's Pharmaceutical Cache and its contents in full compliance and readiness regarding all applicable VA regulations - policies - and directives
• Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Monday through Friday - subject to change based on the needs of the service
• Telework: Ad Hoc basic Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 580-01349F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Demetrius.Roberts@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized