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 serves as co-manager of the Pharmacy Department with the Chief of Pharmacy. The role covers the department’s operational responsibilities, excluding clinical pharmacy services and student and residency programs. The Associate Chief participates in planning, directing, and coordinating pharmacy operations to provide comprehensive, high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients served by the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC).

The position manages pharmacy operations, supervises pharmacy staff outside the clinical division, and oversees effective use of resources. It represents the Pharmacy Department in healthcare-system and community activities and on committees, boards, and task forces at local, VISN, and national levels. The Associate Chief reviews committee recommendations, assesses their impact, and develops implementation plans for senior management.

The role is responsible for pharmaceutical care and services, compliance with applicable state, federal, VA, DoW, and FDA requirements, personnel management, drug control and security, pharmacy budgets, and access limits for staff using confidential patient information in the Federal EHR and legacy systems. It also represents FHCC pharmacy as the primary contact for VA and VHA Pharmacy Services program offices.

The Associate Chief has direct supervisory responsibility for several pharmacy supervisors and program managers, pharmacy automation technicians, and the Pharmacy Informatics Section. The position oversees hiring, promotion, disciplinary actions, and collaboration with Human Resources; reviews inpatient and outpatient pharmacy activities; and ensures staff orientation, training, continuing education, and patient and medical-staff drug education.

The work schedule is 0700–1530. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. The full performance level and selection grade are GS-14.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or a Pharm.D.; alternatively, a foreign pharmacy graduate 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 current registration if required for licensure.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to GS-13, including coordinating multiple pharmacy programs in a medical facility, serving as Acting Service Chief, maintaining internal reviews for performance and 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 selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment urinalysis for illegal drug use.
• Meet background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Provide required education transcripts; foreign education must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency when used to meet qualification requirements.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Co-manage the Pharmacy Department with the Chief of Pharmacy, excluding clinical pharmacy services and student and residency programs.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate pharmacy operations and pharmaceutical care services.
• Manage pharmacy operations, supervise staff outside the clinical division, and ensure effective use 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 formulate implementation plans for top management.
• Ensure pharmaceutical services comply with state, federal, VA, DoW, and FDA legal and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain pharmacy personnel-management programs, including training opportunities, tuition support, and individual development plans.
• Supervise subordinate supervisors and review their personnel evaluations; address employee complaints and grievances.
• Oversee drug control, accountability, and security in accordance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Serve as the primary FHCC pharmacy contact for VA and VHA Pharmacy Services program offices.
• Oversee pharmacy budget activities.
• Establish pharmacy 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.
• Facilitate personnel-management activities such as hiring, promotion, and disciplinary actions, collaborating with Human Resources 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 receive required training, and maintain training records.
• Ensure new employees receive orientation and instruction, including computer security, fire and safety, and equipment operation.
• Participate in professional self-development to maintain and increase competence in regulations, pharmacology, therapeutics, and age-related treatment issues.
• Provide drug education for patients and medical staff.
• Serve as Acting Service Chief in the Service Chief’s absence, as described among the specialized experience qualifications.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree