Chief of Pharmacy

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below The Chief of Pharmacy functions administratively under the Associate Medical Center Director with planning, directing, and coordinating comprehensive pharmaceutical care services, so that all resources and program activities are available to successfully achieve the service and medical center mission.

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: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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. 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.) 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. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION. GS-15 Grade Requirements: Experience: In addition to the GS-14 requirements, you must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. The Pharmacy Service Chief functions include, but are not limited to: being responsible for all aspects of pharmacy services at a medical facility by maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships demonstrating active problem resolution skills and close cooperation with other programs and services in accomplishing the medical facility mission and goals. Working with budget management, determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation. Formulating objectives and priorities and implementing plans consistent with the long term interest of the organization, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks. Ensuring compliance with all safety, regulatory, and accrediting body requirements. Delegating authority to several supervisory and program levels to meet the goals of the service and staff. Ensuring orientation and training programs are established to ensure staff development, oversees academic affiliations, and participates in medical facility, VISN, National, other external governmental agencies, and professional associations. You must fully demonstrate the following GS-14 KSAs: 1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals. 2. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues. 3. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs. 4. Skill in managing multiple and diverse people or programs. 5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the missions and goals of the organization. 6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff AND At the GS-15 level, Chiefs of Pharmacy must meet the following: Individuals are assigned as Chief of Pharmacy at Complexity Levels 2 or 3 and must meet the criteria noted in 2a and b below. a. Must meet all of the following requirements: (1) Manages a complex medical center based pharmacy program that is defined as having multiple practice settings (e.g. hospital ambulatory care, long-term care, behavior 9 health care) that require Joint Commission review as separate standards. (2) In addition to the medical center pharmacy, has responsibility for pharmacy services at one or more of the following: CBOCs, Rural Health Program, domiciliary, or provides dispensing and/or clinical services to State Veterans Home. (3) Presence of advanced clinical pharmacy programs that include pharmacist(s) that have approved scopes of practice with prescriptive privileges. (4) Pharmacy provides clinical pharmacist services to three (3) or more specialty areas such as, but not limited to, hemodialysis, oncology, operating room or an emergency department. b. In addition to the requirements listed in 2a above, must meet at least two of the following: (1) An ASHP Accredited Pharmacy Residency Program. (2) A Research Program that is accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). (3) Actively involved in committees or advisory/work groups at the VISN and/or National level. (4) An ongoing pharmacy student rotation in both the intermediate and advanced practice experience settings. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work is performed within the pharmacy and the medical center, and at times may require travel. The incumbent observes safety precautions while working with a variety of equipment. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions (e.g., risk exposure to caustic agents, flammable liquids when unpacking supplies or cleaning equipment). The incumbent works with drugs and chemicals in which care must be taken in the event accidental contact is made to the skin, eyes and lungs. Incumbent follows guidelines for preparation, handling and administration of hazardous drugs and disposal of all pharmaceutical waste in compliance with medical center policy.