Staff Pharmacist (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

About the role

Provides pharmaceutical care in ICE facilities, including dispensing medications, counseling patients, managing inventory, repackaging drugs, answering staff inquiries, supporting formulary management, maintaining records, ensuring compliance, participating in audits, and assisting with emergency care. Reports to Supervisory Lead Pharmacist.

This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

What you will do

• Reviews individual prescriptions and determines the name of the drug, strength, and dosage of drugs to be dispensed.
• Adjusts prescription instructions and drug quantities to correspond to strengths and dosage forms stocked at the medical clinic.
• Correlates instructions on the prescription with pharmacy policy limitations and notes such on the prescription.
• Types accurate and concise labels that precisely convey provider's instructions to the patients.
• Fills prescriptions by obtaining the correct drug stock, counting the correct amount of medication, placing the medication in smaller containers, and affixing the prescription label and all appropriate auxiliary labels.
• Counsels patients on the appropriate use of medication(s), utilizing the patient's native language if possible, or medication information handouts in the patient's native language if available.
• Based on the substantive knowledge and familiarity with a wide range of a articles stocked in the pharmacy, screens all prescriptions upon receipt concerning availability of drug & dosage prescribed.
• If drug requested is not on formulary, discusses therapeutic options with the provider, suggesting drugs listed in the program formulary where possible.
• If a non-formulary drug is deemed necessary, assists the provider in filling out a non-formulary request form and obtaining approval where necessary.
• Answers routine inquiries from doctors, nurses, & other staff on the availability of specific items, e.g., drugs in stock, new drugs on order, & dosage forms available in the pharmacy.
• Answers questions concerning drug reactions, drug interactions, new drugs, etc. Optional: may practice as a clinical pharmacist if a collaborative practice agreement is approved.
• Packages bulk drugs (liquids, tablets, capsules, ointments & creams, etc.) into specific quantities and various sized containers.
• Operates tablet and capsule counting machines and labeling machines for the purpose of repackaging drugs.
• Records all prepacking information including lot number, expiration date, manufacturer, current date, and initials.
• Fills all requisitioned items from other areas of the clinic.
• If the medication is not available in the requested quantity, makes necessary computations to provide the order in a different unit of measure.
• Packages bulk drugs (liquids, tablets, capsules, ointments & creams, etc.) into specific quantities and various sized containers.
• Places orders for supplies from appropriate sources and tracks supply usage to minimize out of stock items or excess inventories.
• Receives pharmaceutical supplies & checks receipts against requisitions.
• Checks for shortage, breakage, deterioration & expiration dates.
• Discrepancies found are reported to the supplier.
• Inspects stock to determine frequency of re-ordering drug items, maintenance of current pricing & proper stock rotation.
• Withdraws outdated drugs, determines proper disposition (destruction or credit returns) & prepares necessary paperwork to initiate proper action.
• Is responsible for general orderliness, cleanliness & maintenance of pharmacy equipment.
• Types narrative & tabular material such as correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, forms & labels.
• Types from clean copy, rough draft or handwritten notes without errors or corrections when required, & in accordance with the established format.
• On a daily basis checks the medicine cabinet & all areas of the clinic where night pharmacy service is available.
• Responsible for refilling any missing pharmacy drug or supply item used during the night or weekend.
• Inspects & logs the temperature of areas where pharmaceuticals are stored.
• Answers telephone & takes messages for the pharmacy in a courteous professional manner and drives a GSA vehicle when necessary.
• Responsible for creating & maintaining file folders for upcoming Fiscal Year files & other miscellaneous files.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisory staff.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: B.S. or Pharm. D. degree from a program that is accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.

For positions involving patient care, candidates must have a permanent, full, and unrestricted license from a State Board of Pharmacy to practice pharmacy in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Expertise in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and all management aspects related to the practice of pharmacy in a clinic/infirmary setting. Possesses necessary skills for operating general office technology including Microsoft Office Product. Possess knowledge of grammar, spelling & punctuation to identify and correct errors to ensure accurate copy.

Possesses knowledge of and is competent in understanding and communicating pharmaceutical nomenclature including generic, chemical & trade names, Latin abbreviations, dosage forms, drug strengths, formulations & English-Metric equivalents. Competent in data entry and ability to work with & analyze numbers, including bookkeeping & basic accounting skills.

Competent in the use of office machines including photocopiers, calculators, and personal computers. Competent in the application of computer programs to facilitate management operations in a clinic environment. Possesses ability to work efficiently, accurately & organized in a fast paced environment.

Maintains CPR/BLS certification.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Documents you must provide

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position.
• A complete application includes: U.
• Public Health Service Officers Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
• (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license.
• (If applicable) Additional professional certificates.
• (If applicable) Three professional references.
• (i.e., name, title and contact information) Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training.
• (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") You may provide a civilian resume in addition to the USPHS Promotion CV to capture all relevant work experience.
• A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF). *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER).
• (Place under "Performance Appraisal") For IHSC USPHS officers only, a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement.
• Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement.
• If you do not, please submit a memo attesting to no AP in the Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement section in the documents section of application.
• New Call to Active Duty Cover letter/Letter of Interest.
• Please include location preference here.
• (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license.
• (If applicable) Additional professional certificates.
• (If applicable) Three professional references (i.e., name, title, and contact information) CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training.
• (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") U.S. Public Health Service - Appointment Board Decision Letter/Email or a screenshot of AES dashboard to the United States Public Health Service

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process.

To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

Additional information

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Office of the Deputy Associate Director, Clinical Services Division, Medical Services Unit, Pharmacy Program. This is a non-supervisory position.

The incumbent will report directly to the Supervisory Lead Pharmacist. This is a non-supervisory position. As the Pharmacist, the incumbent is responsible to adhere to policies and procedures as stated in the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) Pharmaceutical Services and Medication Management Directives and Guides.

IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of over 1650 authorized positions, including U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff.

The IHSC provides on-site direct patient care to ICE detainees at 17 detention facilities throughout the country and manages the provision of off-site medical care for detainees housed in approximately 217 additional Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) facilities.

IHSC provides medical services to more than 171,000 detained aliens housed in the 17 detention facilities and oversees compliance with health-related standards for over 266,000 detained aliens in the 217 non-IHSC staffed facilities. The IHSC also provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea.

DHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: DHS ICE ERO HHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: DHHS USPHS CC SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Pharmacist works under the direction of the Supervisory Lead Pharmacist. Accepts supervisory responsibilities in an acting role as assigned by the Supervisory Lead Pharmacist.