Pharmacist - Program Manager (Information Technology and Automation)
What you'd do
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Major duties
The incumbent serves as the Pharmacy Information Technology and Automation Program Manager, providing leadership, coordination, and oversight of all pharmacy information systems, data analytics, automation platforms, and technology-enabled workflows. The position is responsible for optimizing the use of the Oracle Cerner Electronic Health Record (EHR), automated medication distribution systems, and associated software applications to improve clinical care, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and organizational performance. FUNCTIONS OR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY A. Pharmacy Informatics, Automation, and Systems Management Serves as the Pharmacy Service lead for informatics and system optimization, with primary responsibility for the effective use of the Oracle Cerner EHR and pharmacy-related applications. Designs and maintains efficient, standardized workflows within electronic systems to improve safety, consistency, and user experience. Provides oversight of automated medication distribution systems (e.g., Omnicell), including user access, system configuration, medication database integrity, and regulatory compliance. Ensures accurate maintenance and alignment of medication files, formulary data, and system interfaces supporting medication distribution and inventory systems. Manages system access and security for pharmacy applications, including role-based access, user provisioning, and compliance with privacy and information security requirements. Identifies and implements system-based solutions to improve workflow efficiency, standardization, and operational reliability. Provides training and develops resources to support effective system use and workflow adoption by pharmacy staff. B. Data Analytics, Reporting, and Decision Support Leads development and maintenance of pharmacy data analytics and reporting systems supporting operational and strategic decision-making. Designs and manages dashboards and data visualization tools (e.g., Power Bl) to monitor workload, access, utilization, quality metrics, and financial performance. Partners with pharmacy leadership to define and refine key performance indicators aligned with facility, VISN, and national priorities. Collects, validates, and integrates data from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and reliability of reporting. C. Program Leadership, Governance, and Change Management Provides program-level leadership for pharmacy informatics, automation, and data initiatives, aligning efforts with Pharmacy Service, facility, VISN, and national priorities. Leads change management for system implementations, workflow redesign, and performance improvement initiatives to ensure effective adoption and sustainability. Aligns system design, workflow expectations, and performance metrics to support effective and transparent operations. Serves as a preceptor and educator for pharmacy residents and learners, contributing to residency training, experiential learning, and professional development programs within Pharmacy Service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Telework: Ad-hoc only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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 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. 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. Facility Program Manager - GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 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. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. 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. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the KSAs identified in subparagraph 3b(3)(b)1 above.??????? Preferred Experience: Pharmacy informatics or healthcare technology, leadership, optimization of the electronic health record and clinical decision support, medication-use and operational workflow improvement, data analytics and reporting, automation, project management, collaberation with clinical and operational stakeholders. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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