Summary

The Associate Chief, located at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, at the C.W Bill Young Clinical Pharmacy Service. The Associate Chief is a licensed pharmacist who assists the Chief, Pharmacy Service in the performance of all duties and responsibilities described in the Chief's functional statement, sharing responsibility for those functions and taking them over in the absence of the Chief, Pharmacy Service.

Duties

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• The Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services assists the Chief, Pharmacy Service in the daily professional and administrative operations of the clinical pharmacy services, educational programs, and the professional guidance and development of the entire professional staff.
• The Associate Chief will supervise pharmacy staff members designated under clinical services, residents, students, and trainees, and ensuring the effective utilization of all resources.
• The Chief, Pharmacy Service may delegate responsibility for managing the day-to-day clinical services or the direct supervision of any specific section, program, or activity to the Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services.
• The Associate Chief will represent Pharmacy Service in the absence of the Chief in healthcare system and community activities.
• The Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services will assist in development, and management of clinical services.
• Responsible for fostering acceptance and exercise of sound pharmacy management concepts, principles, practices, and innovations. The incumbent is responsible for providing appropriate work environment for employees to foster performance improvement.
• Responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing progressive and comprehensive clinical pharmacy services.
• Responsible for designing, developing, implementing, maintaining, and assessing educational programs carefully affiliated with academic institutions.
• Responsible for designing, developing, implementing and assessing the Bay Pines Pharmacy Residency Program.
• Responsible for the provision of pharmaceutical care and services provided by the clinical staff members. Maintains an active license for the Pharmacy Service. Assures all legal requirements for state, federal and VA are continually met within guidelines and sound pharmaceutical judgement.
• Develops and maintains effective clinical pharmacy programs that are synergistic with other healthcare system programs and are designed to maximize pharmacotherapeutic benefits from both a cost and patient outcome perspective.
• Identifies continuing education needs. Assures Pharmacy employees are properly trained and maintains records of all such trainings. Assures that new employees are properly oriented and instructed to their work areas including computer security, fire/safety, and equipment operation. Participates in self-development activities to maintain and increase professional competence, including regulations, pharmacology, therapeutics and age related treatment issues. Delivers affiliated training programs for pharmacy students, residents, externships, interns and technicians. Provides drug education that meets the needs of patients and the Medical Staff.
• Works with Deans of affiliated colleges of pharmacy to analyze plan, and develop areas where the Department of Veterans Affairs may develop, and support the educational and training needs of highly qualified health care professionals.
• Participates in reviews and applications of all Healthcare system investigational drug protocols. Provides Pharmacy representation on the Research and Development Committee and the Investigational Drug Control. Develops, implements, and/or maintains plans to assure investigational drug control and accountability (e.g. VA and FDA). Is responsible for the motivation and direction of subordinates in pharmaceutical care research and development of new drugs.
• Participates in department research programs and clinical research activities. Evaluates drug therapy protocols and collects research data related to clinical pharmacy services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Work hours are variable and may include irregular hours, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays based on mission and facility requirements.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 20246F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

EDRP Authorized: 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.Contact [redacted], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more.

Requirements

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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 identification 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. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois [redacted]; phone: [redacted], 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.

• (1) Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed.
• (2) Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-14 Associate Service Chief.

Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated 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:

• Minimum 3 years of prior experience as an Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy
• Minimum 3-5 years of supervisory experience with demonstrated progressive clinical pharmacy leadership
• Experience leading Clinical Pharmacy Practice Models within inpatient and ambulatory care settings in a complex facility
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate pharmacist-run clinics and team-based care programs
• Demonstrated experience in improving performance measures
• Demonstrated experience with oversight and knowledge managing VA Health Professional Trainees (HPTs) in a Pharmacy setting
• Advanced training or certification in healthcare leadership. Examples: CPL, HCLDP
• Lean Six Sigma training completion (yellow, green, or black belt)

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 physical demands of the work includes: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light lifting, under 15 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; pushing up to 4 hours; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required); walking, up to 4 hours; standing, 6 hours prolonged; kneeling; repeated bending; climbing, use of legs and arms; operation of vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/100 in the other; specific visual requirement, ability to read fine print on labels; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); c