Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner - Outpatient Mental Health

Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner - Outpatient Mental Health

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Phoenix, Arizona

Salary Range: $152118 - $197755 Per Year

Job Summary: 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.

Major Duties:

• 30 Day Hiring Model The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty. What Applicants Can Expect Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration. Quick Interviews & References HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager. Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer. Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions. After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing. CLINICAL TEAM LEADERSHIP: The CPS shall routinely maintain an outstanding and up-to-date clinical knowledge base with regard to medication therapy, contemporary journal articles, and contemporary pharmacy practice. Incumbent will routinely provide and support leadership and management 2 OP-MH CPS oversight as it relates to the clinical programs and clinical activities of assigned personnel. Major duties include but are not limited to: Scanning the internal and external environments to determine opportunities to enhance pharmacy services to support patient education, patient adherence, clinical outcomes, and team member growth and development. Monitor drug utilization (formulary, non-formulary, restricted) and intervene to ensure formulary adherence and optimal evidence-based clinical outcomes. Monitor the educational needs of providers, pharmacists and patients, and make recommendations to address any deficiencies. Actively participate in supporting any defined educational programs and activities. Routinely benchmark with national contemporary programs and make recommendations for clinical pharmacy service and lead program changes when directly involved in the assigned practice area. Analyze and interpret the published literature, and appropriately apply one's findings. CLINICAL AND PHARMACOECONOMIC ACTIVITIES: The CPS shall routinely provide and support pharmacoeconomic and clinical pharmacy staff activities, 3 OP-MH CPS and is directly responsible for monitoring and managing medication therapy for assigned patients. Clinical pharmacy and pharmacoeconomic activities shall be performed in accordance with the individual's approved scope of practice and shall include: Routine review of medical orders for appropriateness of the drug, dosage, schedule, duration, and directions. Objectively support adherence to the formulary and demonstrate the assertiveness and poise that is needed to handle any untoward situations. Support the review and adjudication of non-formulary medication orders consistent with departmental guidelines / policy. Routine polypharmacy reviews to identify opportunities to reduce medication and therapeutic duplications and enhance patient medication administration compliance. Routine provision of medication and therapeutic consultations for assigned patients. Routine documentation of clinical and operational activities as assigned DRUG INFORMATION SERVICES: The CPS shall be responsible for providing medication information and drug literature analysis as requested. The incumbent shall: Routinely provide medication information to providers, assigned patients, and members of the clinical pharmacy team. This activity is both formal and informal and may involve both written and oral communication. Medication information consultations generally cover all aspects of clinical pharmacotherapy, including the rational and appropriate use of drugs, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicology, and the management of drug and chemical toxicities. Evaluate and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources of clinical drug literature as needed to support clinical decisions and patient/provider education. Work Schedule: Full-time, 07:00 am - 3:30 pm or 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: May be authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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. 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. 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. 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, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, GS-13 At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12) which demonstrates the Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. KSAs described at the next lower grade level include: knowledge of professional pharmacy practice, ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff, knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security, and skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. In addition to the experience mentioned above, the candidate must also demonstrate all of 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. Preferred Experience: PGY2 in psychiatry and/or 3-5 years of psychiatric pharmacy experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs., and bending/stooping. The work may entail repetitive wrist movement while using various size syringes, vial cap removal, and typing.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/04/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12943788. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-04