Summary

Pharmacy Program Manager - Informatics Solutions and Ticket Manager

The Program Manager for Pharmacy Informatics Solutions and Ticket Manager is responsible for Pharmacy automated data processing and management information systems and will serve as a subject matter expert on electronic health record (EHR) issues, workflows and mitigations.

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Informatics:

1. Performs analytical and evaluative work associated with program activities of the Pharmacy Service. Organizes and develops information upon which Pharmacy Service leadership can make effective data-driven decisions to anticipate and meet pharmaceutical needs of customers and goals of the facility and network. Responsible for coordination, development, and implementation of all pertinent information applications to support clinical practice, administration, educational development, and the computerized medical record in the Pharmacy Service.

2. Serves as a subject matter expert on Pharmacy processing applications and the ability to place and manage all work orders/tickets associated with the EHR. Work order/ticket scope will include those directly under the Pharmacy Service as well as domains related to medication safety and medication ordering with downstream impact to Pharmacy. Responsible for receiving and triaging reports of Pharmacy-related EHR issues and routing to the appropriate pathway for resolution. Manages all work orders/tickets placed for Pharmacy-related EHR issues and tracks/traces through to completion. Captures and reports out work order/ticket data and metrics.

3. Serves as a subject matter expert on joint federal Pharmacy systems operations at a local, VISN, and national level.

4. Provides administrative, technical, analytical, and automated data processing (ADP) support to the Pharmacy Service. Participates in Pharmacy Service information management decisions, policy and procedure design, and compiles/submits ADP information as requested.

5. Collaborates to make changes to Pharmacy operating systems to meet evolving and complex computerized initiatives (e.g., EHR, Pharmacy automation equipment, Bar Code Medication Administration [BCMA]) and Pharmacy Service needs. Serves as the coordinator to ensure that Pharmacy systems are fully integrated, operational, and resources are utilized effectively and efficiently to meet objectives. Performs testing, evaluation, and quality assurance as appropriate.

6. Serves as the liaison between Pharmacy Service and OI&T, Health Systems Informatics, BioMed, and other ADP points of contact from other service lines for Pharmacy Informatics-related issues.

7. Collaborates with Clinical Application Coordinators (CACs), Health Informatics staff, Pharmacy Service staff, and other healthcare staff either independently or through multidisciplinary teams to develop, implement, and maintain medication quick orders, order sets, order menus, clinical decision support systems (CDSS) menus, clinical reminders, clinical reminder order checks, notes, templates, consults, etc., in the EHR.

8. Serves as the coordinator for the implementation and verification of new Pharmacy operating system packages, program development, enhancement, troubleshooting, and problem prevention related to Pharmacy Service. Serves as the liaison to other service lines on informatics issues related to the Pharmacy Service.

9. Participates in testing of Pharmacy software patch and enhancement releases to ensure proper functionality of the system and coordinates installation and maintenance.

10. Responsible for Pharmacy drug file maintenance at a facility level in collaboration with the PBM national drug file team. Actively manages the EHR ordering menus to guide intuitive, safe, effective, and cost-conscious ordering of pharmaceutical products consistent with the VA National Formulary, Pharmacoeconomic strategies, and local, VISN, and national initiatives. Remains actively involved in the local formulary conversions, cost-savings/cost-avoidance initiatives, therapeutic substitutions, and other projects as assigned.

11. Responsible for maintaining Pharmacy Service computer programs which involve updating Pharmacy database files (e.g., Pharmacy staff user profiles, provider user profiles, allergies, drug interactions, etc.). Collaborates with facility Credentialing & Privileging (C&P) Service, facility Business Office staff, and service line ADPACs to establish provider user profiles for controlled substance and noncontrolled substance medication and supply prescribing, DEA number, CSA number, NPI number, CIP approval periods, etc.

12. Responsible for developing and maintaining Pharmacy Service contingency plans relating to automated data processing (ADP), information resource management (IRM), medical information system (MIS) programs, and Pharmacy automation and operations in collaboration with Pharmacy Service leadership team members and staff.

Work Schedule

Telework: Not available

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 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

All requirements must be met by the close date of this announcement, 09/08/2026.

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. 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 InternetBased 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.
• 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-13 Facility Program Manager

Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. The GS-12 requirements include:

1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.

2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.

3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.

4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

AND

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:

a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.

b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.

c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.

d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.

e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: 1 year or more pharmacy informatics experience with a focused clinical pharmacy practice in a hospital pharmacy setting. Previous experience with Oracle Health (Cerner) electronic health record. Informatics Pharmacy education or equivalent.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

Important: A transcript must be submitted with 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.

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.

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.

Benefits

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