Pharmacist - Facility Program Manager - Formulary - ADPAC

Veterans Health Administration • Salt Lake City, UT

7h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Pharmacist serves as the Facility Program Manager for the Formulary and ADPAC program. The position oversees local implementation of the VA National Formulary and compliance with VHA directives, medical center policy, and other regulatory requirements to ensure timely, uniform, safe, and cost-effective medication access. It coordinates formulary management, drug protocols, decision-analysis tools, and outcome instruments, and designs and completes drug utilization and medication use evaluations.

The position partners with the ADPAC to maintain and update the local EHR drug file, synchronize it with VA national PBM updates and VISN/local P&T decisions, and build, test, and maintain clinical order sets. It reviews patient-specific prior authorization and non-formulary requests, provides clinical consultation and education, addresses drug file and order set discrepancies, and supports specialty drug regulation compliance and accurate EHR documentation. The role also communicates formulary and drug safety updates, supports drug shortage and pharmacoeconomic initiatives, identifies cost and resource optimization opportunities, and precepts pharmacy trainees while promoting continuing learning and professional development.

This is a federal VA position with a Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. schedule. Ad hoc telework may be available depending on service needs; the position is not virtual. Relocation/recruitment incentives are authorized, and the position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (subject to eligibility and approval).

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification, including required examinations.
• A 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.
• For GS-12 qualification, either one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, in addition to basic requirements.
• For GS-13 qualification, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade in addition to GS-12 requirements.
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice; ability to communicate orally and in writing with patients and healthcare staff; knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards concerning drug distribution, control, and pharmacy security; and skill in monitoring drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and diagnostic parameters.
• For the Facility Program Manager level: ability to communicate 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; expert knowledge of a specialized clinical pharmacy or pharmacy area; and advanced skill in monitoring drug therapy outcomes.
• Ability to perform the position's activities without restriction, including the described physical demands.
• Must meet VA pre-employment, background/security, physical examination, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements; selected employees serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• For EDRP consideration, meet applicable VHA eligibility requirements and submit an application within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Nice To Haves

• Formulary experience.
• Informatics/ADPAC experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee local implementation of the VA National Formulary and compliance with VHA directives, medical center policy, and other regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate formulary management, drug protocols, decision-analysis tools, and outcome instruments; design and complete drug utilization and medication use evaluations.
• Develop routine reports on PADR and non-formulary request activity to monitor review quality, workload equity, and compliance with national metrics.
• Support the CITC Program Manager and VISN staff with community PADR requests as needed.
• Collaborate with Pharmacoeconomics and Procurement on drug shortages, pharmacoeconomic initiatives, and emerging safety concerns; liaise with facility staff on optimal substitution during shortages.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, eliminate waste, and optimize resource use.
• Partner with the ADPAC to maintain and update the local EHR drug file and synchronize it with VA national PBM updates and VISN/local P&T decisions.
• Collaborate with the ADPAC to build, test, and maintain clinical order sets aligned with formulary status, P&T-approved criteria for use, and evidence-based prescribing pathways; coordinate system changes and validate downstream effects on order sets and PADR workflows.
• Complete PADRs and non-formulary drug reviews by evaluating patient-specific clinical information against evidence-based criteria, drug monographs, practice guidelines, and P&T-approved restrictions.
• Assist with resolution of higher-level prior authorization and non-formulary requests.
• Provide evidence-based clinical consultation and education to prescribers and pharmacy staff on drug monographs, therapeutic alternatives, dosing, and criteria for use.
• Troubleshoot and resolve drug file or order set discrepancies identified through clinical PADR review, adverse events, or staff feedback, coordinating corrective action.
• Support compliance with specialty drug regulations, clinical documentation accuracy, and prescription reconciliation in the EHR.
• Communicate and disseminate drug and formulary updates and alerts, including clinically significant safety signals and therapeutic interchange guidance.
• Maintain current clinical knowledge of drug therapies, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and emerging evidence to inform PADR decisions, order set design, and formulary recommendations.
• Precept formulary-related rotations and mentor pharmacy students and residents on medication use evaluations and projects.
• Provide ongoing clinical and operational learning for pharmacy trainees, residents, and employees, and foster professional development among pharmacy staff.
• Review current literature on new drugs, therapies, and pharmacy practice innovations and integrate knowledge into practice, training, and quality improvement activities.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits eligibility depends on position type and other factors.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Relocation/recruitment incentives are authorized.

What This Job Offers

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