Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Alexandria, Louisiana

Salary Range: $137738 - $179062 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major Duties:

• The Pharmacist will serve as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) for the assigned primary care area. Also, performs as a Staff Pharmacist with clinical pharmacy duties with full professional authority, knowledge, and judgment, operating as a generalist with advanced level of responsibility and experience in all aspects of total Pharmacy operation. Will be active in such areas as Outpatient Pharmacy, Inpatient Pharmacy, Automated Drug Distribution Systems, Long Term Care and Home ­Based Primary Care reviews, consultation, procurement, stock control, prepackaging and storage. The CPS is assigned special reports, projects, and problem matters, requiring an overall or specialized knowledge of the trends, problems, and other matters affecting the total Pharmacy operation. Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy, with special emphasis on medications used in treatment of the assigned patients. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contract therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs, with a special emphasis in medications used in referred patients. Establishes and expands the patient database through interpreting the drug history, medical history, physical examination, and ongoing patient specific monitoring of therapy, with documentation in the formal patient medical record. Monitors and assesses therapeutic and adverse effects of drug therapy (including drug interactions) through selection and evaluation of physical and laboratory parameters. Under appropriate supervision by a physician and with approved clinical privileges assumes authority to direct therapy, order lab tests as indicated for appropriate patient monitoring. Provides consultation on selection of appropriate therapeutic regimens as a follow-up of non-therapeutic drug concentrations obtained from ambulatory care and inpatients. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the broad area of advanced pharmacotherapy, with special emphasis on Pharmacotherapy. Evaluates the risk-benefit ratio of various therapeutic alternatives, develops a therapeutic plan utilizing the most efficacious, least toxic and most economical pharmacological treatment modalities available, and communicates these plans to the patients' physician. Manages the medication programs of patients by writing verbal orders for appropriate medications, diagnostic studies, etc., in the patients' medical records, in consultation with the responsible physician. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday (subject to change based on facility needs) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 502-00177-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact raja.kadeem@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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/. (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. 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: GS13 In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level. 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: 2 years of a Pharmacy License is preferred. References: 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: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. The Pharmacy can be an exceptionally stressful work environment. Good mental and emotional health is required in order to function at an optimum level. Work areas can be high stress environments, due to volume of workload, which must be accomplished. Patients may sometimes be difficult. The position requires a high level of conduct, appearance, and general courteous manner which facilitates dealing with patients, physicians, and nurses in an effective way.

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 12/16/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12844890. 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: 2025-12-16