SummaryThe Associate Chief of Operations manages the Pharmacy operations at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, which is comprised of three medical centers located in Temple, Waco, and Austin, and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC's). The health care system provides a full range of services including medical, surgical, psychiatric, and rehabilitation with inpatient medical/surgical hospital beds, a hospice unit, and community living center (CLC) beds.
DutiesHelp
Major duties include, but are not limited to:Clinical:- Develops and manages effective pharmaceutical programs which focus on patient outcomes.
- Develops and manages effective drug usage criteria for approval by the Pharmacy & Therapeutic Committee, (P&T), which help insure quality patient care in a cost-effective manner.
- Plans, implements, and reviews specialized pharmacy services, which support specialty and subspecialty programs in medicine, surgery, psychiatry, neurology, rehabilitative medicine, and geriatrics.
- Provide ongoing quality assurance monitoring of pharmacy programs so problems are identified and necessary improvement implemented to improve therapeutic outcomes, minimize patient risk, and produce maximum patient care efficiencies.
Education:- Collaborates with Deans and facilities of affiliated schools of pharmacy, medicine, and other health care education programs to enhance utilization of clinical resources and teaching/learning environments as well as specialized personnel resources to support educational programs.
- Serves as a resource for the Medical Center and affiliated institutions in the field of pharmacology and clinical and administrative pharmacy practice with appropriate academic appointments supporting these affiliations.
- Maintains comprehensive pharmacy practice models acceptable to the State Board of Pharmacy, educational institutions, and accrediting bodies for the Center to serve as an approved preceptor for residents, fellows, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technology students.
Administrative/Supervisory:- Manages a complex 24-hour, 7-day/week service employing pharmacy program managers, clinical pharmacy specialists, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and support personnel. Utilizes sound personnel practices and innovative human resource management techniques in the selection, training, team building, and supervision of the professional and technical workforce. Delegates authority through several supervisory levels to meet the goals of the service and the professional and technical workforce.
- Formulates policy and procedure in the design and implementation of pharmaceutical care to both provide service and maintain efficiency and economy.
- Applies fiscal management methods in forecasting and administering the pharmacy budget, tracking trending expenditures, and allocating resources within the service to respond to a variety of workload demands across the four-division center.
- Provides accurate clinical costs and usage data for the Medication Use Committee's deliberations in the overall management of medication use in the center.
- Plans, coordinates, and implements a comprehensive program of quality assurance utilizing TQI principles in support of the medical staff in assuring the appropriateness of drug therapy for our patients. Prepares for and participates in external accrediting agency reviews through service quality assurance and alignment of functions in support of patient care activities throughout the medical center.
- Supports management in all areas of delegated responsibility including EEO, Risk Management, Management Efficiency, CQI, ADP Security, etc.
Research:- Develops and maintains an active investigational drug program in support of medical and pharmacy research, affiliations and clinical care missions. Research activities are divided between basic science projects, clinical applications, and health systems research.
Patient Safety:- The incumbent will be responsible for promoting a culture of safety and will fully cooperate in efforts to improve patient safety and eradicate potential events including the reporting of events resulting in actual or potential injury to a patient. Incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of the reporting procedures involving safety issues relating to patients.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 0800-1630. Weekends/Holidays possible.
Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework available only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
RequirementsHelp
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.
QualificationsBasic Requirements:
- Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
- 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. 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.)
- (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. 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.
- 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- (1) 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.
- (2) 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.
- (3) 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.
- Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
- 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:
GS-14- Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
- Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. . For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
- Associate Service Chief. 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. (NOTE: Associate Service Chief positions should be graded one grade below the grade of the Chief of Pharmacy Service.)
- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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.
- Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.
Preferred Experience:- >3 years experience as a first line (or higher) level supervisor
- Knowledge and experience of both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations
- Supervision of a multi-site operational program
- Experience working on facility, VISN, or national committees
- Extensive knowledge of VA productivity standards, pharmacy directives, labor mapping, and reports
- Knowledge and experience with pharmacy automation, procurement regulations/policies, USP 797/800 requirements, and patient safety programs (JC NPSG, JPSR reviews, VADERS, etc.)
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-14.
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing up to 45 pounds.
EducationIMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Accreditation Information: Baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Note: If your school was accredited by 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.
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 informationReceiving 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.
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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.
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