Clinical Pharmacy Specialist-Oncology

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist-Oncology

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Charleston, South Carolina

Salary Range: $145044 - $188559 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 (one to five 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:

• This position is located in the Pharmacy section at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. A pharmacist in this assignment is responsible for covering in the Hematology and Oncology Clinic, Oral Chemotherapy clinic and Chemotherapy Clinic or any of the specialized areas of pharmacy related to Oncology. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provides clinical coverage in the hematology/oncology clinic and other clinics as assigned. Medication Management: Operates independently under a defined scope of practice to initiate, change, and discontinue prescription and OTC medications in an outpatient clinical pharmacy practice setting. In collaboration with the appropriate provider, provides additional advanced medication services outside of defined clinical scope without need for provider co-signature and excluding controlled substances Offers expert knowledge and advance skills in pharmacology, therapeutics, drug interactions, and medication safety. Reviews clinic patient profiles for appropriate drug therapy, adherence issues, drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, medication safety, unnecessary polypharmacy, and dosage adjustments for special considerations such as renal/hepatic insufficiency. Obtains patient medication histories and counsels patients and/or relatives on medications as requested by providers or for patients emailed in pharmacist run clinics. Incorporates pharmacoeconomic considerations into clinical practice to promote cost-effective and evidenced-based drug therapy, considering but not limited to drug selection, dosage form, administration frequency, duration of therapy, monitoring, and efficacy. Ensures adherence with the VA formulary and P&T Committee drug therapy & policy recommendations. Recommends alternative medications 11s needed and completes automatic therapeutic substitutions when appropriate. Verifies computer prescriptions or orders (with provider order entry) for patients in his/her assigned clinic area or other areas as assigned. Reviews and interprets physician orders for accuracy eligibility, availability and therapeutic appropriateness. Provide professional guidance on admixtures or related matters to medical and nursing staff. Participates with the pharmacy management in formulation and implementation of policies and procedures to assure accurate compounding and dispensing of all therapeutic and diagnostic agents and other supplies furnished by Pharmacy Service to beneficiaries through the various inpatient and outpatient functional areas. Precepts pharmacy students, PGY-1 and PGY-2 pharmacy residents. Participates in the education and training of new employees or employees introduced to selected practice areas. Assumes an ownership role for administrative activities related to advanced practice setting, including reviewing consults in a timely manner, accurately closing encounters, independently resolving provider and patient care issues, and assuring appropriate coverage for clinical services. Responsible for keeping abreast of changes in the Pharmacy Service (i.e. formulary additions and deletions, interdepartmental memoranda, relevant station memoranda, and policies & procedures) as well as changes in clinical practice standards and guidelines. Incorporates departmental and standards of care into clinical practice where needed. Maintains an expert understanding of all regulatory standards specific to clinical practice area, including but not limited to VA, DEA, IG, SOARS, ASHP, and Joint Commission regulations. Takes initiative to identify issues and implement changes to ensure compliance, including developing or updating policies, providing in service education, and completing inspections when needed. Demonstrates a concerned, compassionate and helpful attitude to enhance a positive image of the Medical Center and the VA system in interactions with patients, relatives, staff members, and other individuals dealing with the Medical Center. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30AM-4:00PM or 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60503F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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. Grade Determinations: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. At the GS-12 grade level, the clinical pharmacist handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. Pharmacists at the GS-12 level must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 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. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Additionally, applicants 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. Preferred Experience: GS-13 Preferred Experience: Board certification (BCPS or BCOP) in Oncology Pharmacy or PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency in Oncology. Three years experience in Hematology/Oncology involving the planning and implementation of antineoplastic drug and antiemetic drug regimens, monitoring and follow up of chemotherapy, fluid, electrolytes, pain control and other cancer supportive care medications, current prescribing privileges in the oncology setting. 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

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 03/13/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12894242. 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: 2026-03-13