Licensed Pharmacist(Associate Service Chief) - Operations

Veterans Health Administration•North Chicago, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Chief of Pharmacy is a licensed pharmacist who co-manages the Pharmacy Department with the Chief of Pharmacy, excluding clinical pharmacy services and student and residency programs. The role plans, directs, and coordinates pharmacy operations to provide comprehensive, high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC). It oversees pharmacy staff outside the clinical division and ensures effective use of resources, while representing the department in healthcare system, community, committee, board, and task-force activities at local, VISN, and national levels. The position is responsible for pharmacy program management, including ensuring compliance with state, federal, VA, DoW, FDA, and other applicable requirements; managing personnel and addressing employee concerns; overseeing drug control, accountability, and security; serving as the primary FHCC pharmacy contact for VA and VHA Pharmacy Services program offices; overseeing the pharmacy budget; and setting staff access limits for confidential patient information in the Federal EHR and legacy systems. The Associate Chief directly supervises pharmacy operational and support leaders and sections, facilitates personnel actions with Human Resources, and continually evaluates inpatient and outpatient pharmacy activities. These include intravenous admixture, unit-dose medication management, outpatient prescription processing, medication counseling, and CMOP support. The role also identifies and supports staff training and continuing education, ensures new employees are oriented to their work areas and relevant safety, security, and equipment procedures, maintains professional competence, and provides drug education for patients and medical staff. The work schedule is 0700–1530. Telework is ad hoc; the position is not virtual. Relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized. The role is a GS-14 position in the Excepted Service and requires a one- or two-year trial period.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT, to meet the education requirement.
Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration when required for licensure.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13, including coordinating multiple pharmacy service programs in a medical facility, serving as acting service chief, developing internal reviews for performance and regulatory compliance, managing pharmacy resources and budgets, and selecting, assigning, and mentoring personnel.
Demonstrated skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing about complex clinical and technical issues.
Skill in using regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.
Skill in managing multiple and diverse people or programs.
Skill in using available resources to support organizational mission and goals.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct pharmacy staff functions.
Pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use.
Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete online onboarding and required application documentation.
Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment upon its completion.
Provide required transcripts; foreign education used for qualification requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

PGY-2 Health Systems Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency.
Management experience.

Responsibilities

Co-manage Pharmacy Department operations with the Chief of Pharmacy, excluding clinical pharmacy services and student and residency programs.
Plan, direct, and coordinate pharmacy operations to provide comprehensive, high-quality pharmaceutical care.
Supervise pharmacy staff outside the clinical division and ensure effective utilization of resources.
Represent the Pharmacy Department in healthcare system and community activities and on committees, boards, and task forces at local, VISN, and national levels.
Analyze committee actions and recommendations and develop implementation plans for top management.
Ensure pharmacy services meet applicable state, federal, VA, DoW, FDA, and other regulatory requirements.
Maintain an effective personnel management program, including employee development, training opportunities, tuition support, and individual development plans.
Supervise and review personnel evaluations prepared by subordinate supervisors and address employee complaints and grievances.
Ensure drug control, accountability, and security comply with department policies and applicable regulations.
Serve as the primary FHCC pharmacy contact for VA and VHA Pharmacy Services program offices.
Oversee pharmacy budget activities and establish staff access limits for confidential and sensitive patient information in the Federal EHR and legacy systems.
Directly supervise the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor, Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor, Pharmacy Procurement Supervisor, Controlled Substance Pharmacy Program Manager, Medication Safety Pharmacy Program Manager, Pharmacy Automation Technicians, and Pharmacy Informatics Section, including the Pharmacy Informatics Solutions Expert/Ticket Manager.
Facilitate personnel management activities such as hiring, promotion, and disciplinary actions, collaborating with Human Resource Management Service.
Review and evaluate inpatient and outpatient pharmacy activities, including intravenous admixture, unit-dose medication management, outpatient prescription processing, medication counseling, and CMOP support.
Maintain timeliness and accuracy and support pharmacy programs through computerization and automation.
Identify continuing education needs, ensure employees are trained, and maintain training records.
Ensure new employees are oriented and instructed in their work areas, including computer security, fire and safety, and equipment operation.
Participate in self-development activities to maintain and increase professional competence.
Provide drug education for patients and medical staff.