Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Inventory Program Manager

Veterans Health Administration • Mather AFB, CA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Inventory Manager provides leadership, direction, coordination, clinical guidance, organization, planning, and implementation of pharmaceutical procurement throughout the VA Northern California Healthcare System. The role manages medication, supply, and IV-fluid procurement and inventory; monitors pharmacy expenditures; coordinates responses to recalls, shortages, and backorders; and oversees purchase-card use and reconciliation. It also supports pharmacy operations, regulatory compliance, reporting, research activities, and safe handling and use of investigational drugs.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc only, and the position is not virtual. The full performance level is GS-13, and the selected grade is GS-13. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA eligibility and approval; the potential award is up to $200,000 over one to five years. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; qualifying foreign graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the required examinations.
• Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain registration if required for licensure.
• For the GS-13 grade determination, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, in addition to GS-12 requirements.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the program area.
• Ability to solve problems and coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in the program area or area of clinical expertise.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or pharmacy specialty.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Complete the required background/security investigation and online onboarding process; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Management experience with inventory and contracting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate pharmaceutical procurement and inventory activities, including receiving, stocking, inventory maintenance, setting ordering levels, rotating stock, borrowing, returns, and destruction.
• Monitor and regularly report pharmacy expenditures, identifying significant changes and the drugs, therapeutic classes, supplies, or other factors contributing to them.
• Maintain competency in purchase-card duties and coordinate action plans with stakeholders and pharmacy staff for drug recalls, shortages, and backorders.
• Maintain proficiency in software and online resources used for purchasing, inventory, pharmaceutical care, medication distribution, drug accountability, controlled substances, and related financial and government systems.
• Ensure cardholders and approving officials complete mandatory training and use purchase cards appropriately; establish cards within delegated authority and cancel cards when employees separate or transfer.
• Ensure purchase-card reconciliations and approvals are completed within required timeframes, including before a cardholder takes leave or leaves the service; verify appropriate market research and documentation.
• Certify procurements as legal and appropriate and certify reconciled payment charges in IFCAP within 10 days of receipt from the cardholder.
• Improve the productivity and efficiency of assigned personnel and Pharmacy Service processes to support pharmaceutical care.
• Communicate necessary information to employees and maintain close communication with Section Supervisors regarding procurement, drug use, accountability, and budgets.
• Ensure implementation of pharmacy action items related to facility Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee functions and activities.
• Support compliance with Joint Commission medication management standards and regulatory and quality standards for the practice area.
• Ensure accurate, valid, and timely submission of pharmacy workload, performance improvement, operations, drug-utilization, data, and other program reports.
• Participate in developing research project protocols and facilitate appropriate distribution of information about investigational drugs to involved personnel.
• Enforce procedures for handling, storing, recording, and dispensing investigational drugs and for relevant patient monitoring, as appropriate.
• Participate in developing drug-utilization evaluation criteria, data collection, trend reports, and other quality-assurance activities to support safe and appropriate drug use.

Benefits

• Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to program approval and eligibility requirements.
• Federal employee benefits package for the employee and family; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type and agency rules.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior