Facility Program Manager, Weight Management

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This individual is responsible for providing leadership, direction, organization, planning, and implementation of the Weight Management (WM) program which promotes appropriate WM medication usage throughout the Phoenix Veterans Administration Health Care System (PVAHCS). This individual is a licensed pharmacist with in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in managing chronic disease states, including weight management and obesity. 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. 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.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• 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.
• 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.
• Facility Program Manager GS-13. Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes.
• Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs.
• Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages 6 single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities.
• The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs.

Responsibilities

• Participates in the development and enforcement of Pharmacy and Health System policies and procedures, specifically for the use of Weight Management (WM) medications and to ensure rational use of these agents without compromising the overall quality of patient care.
• Assists Chief of Pharmacy by preparing for and participating in VISN, OIG, Joint Commission, and other regulatory agency audits/reviews of PVAHCS WM program.
• Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy.
• Initiates requests for appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic studies when needed for monitoring drug therapy.
• Attend monthly and/or as needed clinical pharmacy meetings.
• Maintains all pertinent professional and administrative records as necessary.
• Educates patients, family members, or caregivers on the proper use and storage of medications through daily interactions and the use of discharge interviews and documents these interactions in the medical record. Printed educational material should be provided to the patient, family member, or caregiver as appropriate.
• Participates fully in providing timely verbal and written feedback, evaluations, and documentation of pharmacy residents utilizing PharmAcademic software.
• Participates in the development of administrative and clinical pharmacy research protocols, activities, or projects which may ultimately serve to upgrade the quality of patient care by the VA Healthcare System.
• Participates in the appropriate, effective, and safe use of pharmaceuticals by contributing to criteria development, data collection and drug use evaluation and other quality improvement activities as assigned.
• Work will be performed in an independent manner with minimal supervision under the guidance of the Chief of Pharmacy, Associate Chief of Pharmacy, Ambulatory Care & Education and/or Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor as appropriate.
• Maintains conduct, attitude, and practice consistent with the Healthcare System's mission and vision goals as well as the Pharmacy's professional code of ethics.
• Interacts with coworkers in a way that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment.
• Works and communicates effectively with others while remaining courteous, tactful, and understanding when interacting with others, even in potentially difficult or volatile situations.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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