Pharmacist - Facility Program Manager - Formulary - ADPAC

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Oversee local implementation of the VA National Formulary and compliance with VHA Directives, Medical Center Policy, and other regulatory requirements, ensuring timely, uniform, safe, and cost-effective medication access. Coordinate formulary management, drug protocols, decision-analysis tools, and outcome instruments; design and complete drug utilization/medication use evaluations. Develop routine reports on PADR/non-formulary request activity to monitor review quality, workload equity, and compliance with national metrics. Support CITC Program Manager and VISN staff with community PADR requests, as needed. Collaborate with Pharmacoeconomics and Procurement to support addressing drug shortages, pharmacoeconomic initiatives, and emerging safety concerns. Serve as a liaison with facility staff to support 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, ensuring accurate synchronization with VA national PBM updates and VISN/local P&T decisions. Collaborate with the ADPAC to build, test, and maintain clinical order sets, ensuring alignment with current formulary status, P&T-approved criteria for use, and evidence-based prescribing pathways; coordinate on system changes (e.g., dosage forms, order details, clinical decision support alerts) and validate downstream effects on order sets and PADR workflows. Complete PADRs and non-formulary drug reviews by independently evaluating patient-specific clinical information against evidence-based criteria for use, drug monographs, practice guidelines, and P&Tapproved restrictions. Assist with resolution of higher-level prior authorization/non-formulary requests. Provide targeted, evidence-based clinical consultation and education to prescribers and pharmacy staff on drug monographs, therapeutic alternatives, dosing, and criteria for use to support safe, effective prescribing at the point of care. Troubleshoot and resolve drug file or order set discrepancies identified through clinical PADR review, adverse events, or staff feedback, applying pharmacotherapy knowledge to assess clinical impact and coordinating corrective action. Support compliance with specialty drug regulations, clinical documentation accuracy, and reconciliation of prescriptions in the EHR. Communicate and disseminate drug and formulary updates/alerts, including clinically significant safety signals and therapeutic interchange guidance, to relevant stakeholders to support safe, efficient, standardized drug distribution and accurate EHR ordering. Maintain and apply 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/residents on medication use evaluations and projects, providing clinical teaching on formulary decision-making and evidence-based drug therapy. Provide a framework for continual clinical and operational learning for pharmacy trainees, residents, andemployees at all levels to sustain competence and improve performance. Foster a culture of lifelong learning and professional development among pharmacy staff, residents, and trainees. Maintain professional competency through ongoing review of current literature on new drugs, drug therapies, and clinical/pharmacy practice innovations, integrating this knowledge into daily practice, training, and quality improvement activities. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30am - 4:00pm. Telework: Available for Ad-HOC and maybe authorized based on the services needs. Virtual: This is not a virtual position .Functional Statement #:59603-O. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Education:(1)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. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)(2)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). Licensure: 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. 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. 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). All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 6/7/2012 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Pharmacist: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Facility Program Manager. 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 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. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the KSAs. 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. Preferred Experience: Formulary or Informatics/ADPAC experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work may involve long periods of moving, standing, pushing carts about the work unit or sitting. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting. The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, demonstrating cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy and concern for staff and patients. Must possess math skills in order to convert medications to the correct dosing. The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This positioninvolves lifting 25 pounds or less, able to visually confirm drug order correctness, and able to stand or sit for periods of 30 minutes or greater.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

You 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.