Summary

The Controlled Substance (CS) Pharmacy Program Manager functions under the general supervision of the Associate Chief of Pharmacy Operations in providing direct oversight and accountability of controlled substances, Schedules II-V, used in the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center Inpatient and Outpatient Pharmacies, the Drug Dependence Treatment Clinic (DDTC), and accompanying community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) that store and/or dispense controlled substances.

Duties

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PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/ADMINISTRATIVE:

Responsible for the oversight and accountability of all Schedule II through Schedule V controlled substances.

Responsible for the timely completion of all reports, projects, and initiatives pertaining to controlled substance management.

Responsible for developing and maintaining controlled substance competencies and required training for Pharmacy Service staff.

Develops and maintains a cooperative working relationship with other departments such that the overall activities and scope of the CS program are carried out efficiently.

CLINICAL FUNCTIONS:

Monitors trends in the treatment of patients with controlled substances in the various functional areas of the hospital and reports apparent emerging trends to the Associate Chief of Pharmacy Operations for follow-up action.

Serves as a resource to the professional staff of the hospital in determining equivalent doses of various controlled substances.

DISTRIBUTIVE FUNCTIONS:

Reviews computerized controlled substance transactions performed daily to determine possible diversionary activity and takes appropriate follow-up action when such activity is detected.

Monitors ordering, dispensing, administration, destruction, wasting, etc. patterns to detect patterns indicating possible diversion and reports such patterns to the Associate Chief of Pharmacy Operations.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT:

Designs, implements, and maintains a system of ongoing audits which monitor controlled substance distribution and use in all areas managed by the CS program.

Ensures all controlled substance returns/destructions are processed within appropriate timeframe.

Monitors performance of Pharmacy Service staff when completing controlled substance transactions and reports problems and/or concerns

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH:

Provides initial introduction to controlled substance handling for all new pharmacists and technicians during the orientation portion of their training.

Provides in-services to all staff on policies and procedures related to the handling and use of controlled substances.

Responsible for providing hospital staff with accurate, comprehensive information regarding the use and handling of controlled substances.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm

Telework: AD-HOC

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 10233F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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

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.

English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

OR,

Foreign Education: Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program if you are 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). (CERTIFICATION REQUIRED)

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. (LICENSE REQUIRED)

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).

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following:

GS-13 Grade Determinations: Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager) Control Substance Program Manager

Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) or equivalent, which is directly related to the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Control Substance Program Manager) position? The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Control Substance Program Manager) functions include: oversight and accountability of all schedule II through schedule V controlled substances; ordering, prescribing, administration, returns, waste, and disposal; responsible for timely completion of all reports, projects, and initiatives pertaining to controlled substance management; compiles and stores pertinent controlled substance paper and electronic records; assist in gathering, coordinating, and reporting of data from various functional area when requested and assist with internal audits as required etc.

AND,

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrated the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):

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

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

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

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

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

Facility Program Manager: Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs. Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities. The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs.

Preferred Experience: Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL); PGY2 Pharmacy Residency and/or at least 2 years experience managing inpatient/outpatient controlled substance programs.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

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

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.

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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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.