Pharmacist (Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor)

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor is responsible for the professional and administrative management of Inpatient Pharmacy operations at the Seattle Division. The position manages and supervises all phases of operations, including assigning duties, developing performance standards, conducting performance appraisals, recommending awards and disciplinary action when appropriate, and identifying continuing education and training needs. The supervisor coordinates resources, schedules, and inpatient clinical services with the Inpatient Clinical Supervisor.

Inpatient Pharmacy programs include discharge prescription services, unit dose drug distribution, IV admixture and chemotherapy admixture services, controlled-substance and high-cost drug accountability, drug information, TPN and antimicrobial consulting, pharmacokinetic monitoring, research drug control, substance abuse treatment, spinal cord injury treatment services, support for the Bone Marrow Transplantation Service, and maintenance of a VHA All-Hazards Emergency Drug Cache.

The role promotes patient-focused, team-based pharmaceutical care and medication counseling; oversees pharmacist, resident, student, technician, and volunteer training; assigns staff and manages workload; advances quality assurance and controlled-substance accountability; supports pharmacy research; and manages procedures, equipment, automation, and downtime plans. The position is onsite and is not eligible for telework or virtual work. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with occasional holidays and weekends.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for noncitizens when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under applicable law.
• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required for licensure.
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, in addition to GS-12 requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
• Skill in managing people or programs.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Must complete background/security investigation, online onboarding, and application documentation requirements; acceptable identification is required for pre-employment processing.
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated continuation certification requirement.
• Physical capacity for heavy lifting over 45 pounds; moderate carrying of 15–44 pounds; reaching above the shoulder; finger use and use of both hands; walking up to 8 hours; standing up to 6 hours; repeated bending up to 2 hours; specified near and far vision, depth perception, color and shade distinction, hearing (hearing aid may be permitted), and mental and emotional stability.
• Submit an unofficial college transcript showing the required degree or program, including school name, applicant name, completion or conferral date, and degree or certificate type. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• One year of supervisory experience in inpatient pharmacy operations is preferred.
• In lieu of one year of inpatient pharmacy supervisory experience, successful completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY-2 Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency, or equivalent leadership/administrative pharmacy residency training, will be considered as meeting the preferred supervisory or leadership experience requirement.

Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise all phases of Inpatient Pharmacy operations, including duty assignments, performance standards and appraisals, recommendations for awards or disciplinary action, and identification of training needs.
• Coordinate resources, schedules, and inpatient clinical services with the Inpatient Clinical Supervisor.
• Promote patient-focused, multidisciplinary pharmaceutical care, including medication prescribing support, monitoring, laboratory review, and responsibility for the quality of patients’ medication care.
• Ensure pharmacists counsel patients and verify their understanding of medications, proper use, expected outcomes, refill access, and prescription processing.
• Work with the Inpatient Pharmacy Clinical Supervisor to ensure adherence to the formulary process and cost-effective drug therapy.
• Conduct online training for new pharmacists, residents, pharmacy students, technicians, technician students, and volunteers; assess competencies and identify further training needs.
• Support staff development by presenting information at staff meetings and helping develop written standard operating procedures; promote continual learning and innovative thinking.
• Maintain the facility affiliate position with the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and precept pharmacy residents and Doctor of Pharmacy students.
• Assign pharmacists to wards and Central Pharmacy according to staffing, workload, and performance agreements; monitor workload and backlogs and adjust staffing as needed.
• Promote Equal Employment Opportunity principles and base employee decisions on individual qualifications and performance.
• Incorporate continuous quality improvement into Inpatient Pharmacy operations; develop quality assurance criteria, evaluate care quality, and report results to Pharmacy Managers and Staff.
• Promote controlled-substance accountability and security, ensure compliance with dispensing and narcotic policies, and promptly inform Pharmacy Managers of unresolved or suspicious discrepancies.
• Serve as backup to the Investigational Drug Coordinator for Inpatient Pharmacy studies and assist other pharmacists in that role.
• Encourage and assist with pharmacy-based research focused on pharmaceutical care; use quality improvement tools and data to make patient-focused improvements with front-line staff involvement.
• Develop and maintain procedures and quality surveillance for repackaging and bar-coding operations.
• Oversee day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy equipment and automation, including IV and unit dose BCMA packaging equipment, automated medication cart-fill equipment, automated dispensing cabinets, and ScriptPro automation.
• Work with pharmacy supervisors and staff to identify rework and waste and develop solutions to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve patient care.
• Assist the Pharmacy ADPAC and Pharmacy leadership in developing emergency backup plans for VistA, network, telephone, or automation downtime.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type, and applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.
• Eligible selected applicants may request credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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