Associate Chief Pharmacy Service

About the role

The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) is seeking a highly motivated and experienced pharmacist to serve as the Associate Chief of Inpatient Pharmacy. This leadership role is responsible for managing inpatient pharmacy operations at a 120-bed tertiary care facility, which includes acute medical/surgical, psychiatric, and long-term care services.

The Associate Chief plays a critical role in ensuring safe, effective, and efficient medication use across the continuum of inpatient care.

What you will do

• The Associate Chief of Pharmacy, Inpatient Pharmacy, provides leadership and oversight for inpatient pharmacy operations at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System.
• Duties include, but are not limited to: Plans, directs, and evaluates inpatient pharmacy services and maintains responsibility for the clinical, operational, and administrative functions of the inpatient pharmacy.
• Manages 24-hour, 7-day-a-week inpatient pharmacy operations, including medication distribution, intravenous admixture services, unit-dose dispensing, automated dispensing cabinets, controlled substances, oncology services, and sterile compounding.
• Supervises the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor, Supervisory CSP/USP Program Manager, clinical pharmacy specialists, pharmacy technicians, and trainees.
• Develops work schedules, assigns duties, evaluates staffing requirements, and makes emergency staffing assignments to maintain safe and effective pharmacy coverage.
• Establishes employee performance standards; conducts performance evaluations; assesses competencies; and supports employee training, coaching, development, and accountability.
• Participates in personnel management activities, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, employee development, and recommendations regarding promotion, recognition, corrective action, and disciplinary action.
• Ensures timely and accurate medication preparation and distribution and promotes compliance with applicable laws, regulations, VA policies, accreditation requirements, and professional standards.
• Oversees sterile compounding operations and associated quality assurance activities, including environmental and personnel monitoring.
• Oversees inpatient clinical pharmacy programs, including parenteral nutrition, pharmacokinetics, renal dose adjustment, anticoagulation, oncology, medication security and storage, repackaging, and automated medication distribution.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to resolve medication-related concerns and provide recommendations regarding medication selection, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, formulary requirements, and therapeutic alternatives.
• Develops, implements, evaluates, and revises policies, procedures, clinical programs, and operational processes to improve medication safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes.
• Monitors workload, expenditures, staffing, inventory, and resource utilization to ensure appropriate accountability and support effective pharmacy operations.
• Ensures appropriate storage, security, inventory, inspection, and documentation of controlled substances and medications throughout assigned patient-care areas.
• Leads or participates in medication safety, quality assurance, performance improvement, drug-use evaluation, and regulatory-readiness activities.
• Provides orientation, education, and training to pharmacy personnel, residents, students, interns, and other healthcare staff regarding inpatient pharmacy services, medication systems, and applicable procedures.
• Supports pharmacy residency and experiential-training programs and serves as a professional and administrative pharmacy resource.
• Participates in medical center committees and interdisciplinary workgroups related to medication management, patient safety, pharmacy operations, and quality improvement Assumes designated responsibilities of the Chief of Pharmacy Service during absences and assists other areas of Pharmacy Service when operationally necessary.
• Work Schedule Full-time, Monday-Friday.
• May include occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays based on operational needs.
• Takes on call on a rotational basis.
• Preferred Experience/Qualifications Pharmacy operations leadership or management experience Board certification (e.g., BCPS, BCCCP) Experience with VA pharmacy systems and automation (e.g., Pyxis, BCMA) Strong leadership, communication, and team-building skills Experience with investigational drug, sterile compounding oversight, and quality assurance programs Knowledge of age-specific care for adult and geriatric populations

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: *** 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: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) PCS Orders Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.