Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist)

Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Lancaster, Texas

Salary Range: $142375 - $185089 Per Year

Job Summary: A GS-13 Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist/Program Specialist-Quality Assurance) works in a VA Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP), a highly automated mail outpatient pharmacy that handles medication assessment and verification of prescription orders transmitted electronically from host sites and prepared for shipment. The primary function of this position is to design, implement, assess, monitor, and document the quality of services provided.

Major Duties:

• Duties include, but are not limited to: Produces reports to CMOP management, local, committees and the National CMOP Program to support exceptional organizational performance. Uses advanced quality and analytical techniques to process internal and external data and make recommendations for improvement. Develops and effectively utilizes knowledge of SQL database structures to write custom queries and obtain information in support of local and national CMOP program needs. Develops and maintains a working knowledge of databases and the pertinent CMOP local and central databases. Develops and maintains systems to effectively extract, analyze, store, and trend data and provide detailed and summary reports to management in a timely manner. Investigates and responds to errors reported through the National CMOP Web Application, telephone reports from host sites, and internal error reporting systems. Effectively determines the most likely cause of the error, classifies such errors in accordance with local and national guidelines, makes recommendations to avoid recurrence, and reports all findings through local management and review systems. Upon discovery, immediately reports to the Director through appropriate supervisory channels, any issues posing significant or imminent risks to patient safety. Responsible for local, national, and custom quality assurance reports on a scheduled or ad hoc basis. Produces reports for CMOP management which provide identification and analysis of trends in order to optimize medication dispensing safety. Independently identifies and investigates opportunities to improve patient safety and makes recommendations or initiates actions as required. Conducts routine audits for compliance with established patient safety standards. Serves as Subject Matter Expert (SME) to management and staff on performance improvement methodologies and techniques to improve organizational performance. Assists in project execution as needed. Monitors performance of the automated dispensing equipment, communicates issues, progress and status to Supervisory Pharmacist to ensure optimal performance, safety, and workflow. Analyzes throughput efficiency and system operations data and recommends changes based on performance improvement criteria. Initiates and leads performance improvement initiatives involving dispensing systems and conducts routine audits to monitor for compliance with procedure. Makes recommendations for and participates in the development and testing/refinement of new automated systems and technology in an effort to enhance throughput and/or accuracy of assigned area. Coordinates continuous survey readiness activities, including but not limited to: standards applicability discussions with The Joint Commission (TJC), coordination of local survey readiness with the national CMOP program, continued monitoring of TJC resources for changes in standards which impact CMOP, and completion of all accreditation process requirements in a timely manner. Responsible for coordinating drug product issues among the participating CMOP customer facilities, including cost, quality and quantity objectives. Ensures timely and accurate communication with host sites regarding product availability, NDF changes, costs, and product recalls. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:00am - 2:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 70080A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: A. United States Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. B. 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.) 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). (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). C. 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. (1) Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. (2) Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. D. Grandfathering Provision All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. E. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. F. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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 12/22/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12849343. 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: 2025-12-22