Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist)

Summary The Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) works independently at the highest level of clinical practice within Ambulatory Care areas within CTVHCS as an integral part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. They serve as a mid-level provider with an advanced scope of practice functioning to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for comprehensive medication therapy management services within their practice area. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: A. Clinical Practice The Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will: i. Promote the appropriate, economical, safe, and effective use of medication therapy through maintaining independent Ambulatory Care clinical pharmacy practice sites. Practice sites may include but are not limited to: Anticoagulation Management Clinics Primary Care/PACT Clinics Specialty Care Clinics Mental Health ii. Maintain collaborative and comprehensive medication therapy management clinics and services in designated areas of practice, under a scope of practice. This shall include physical assessment, ordering lab tests necessary to manage medication therapy, referring patients to appropriate health care providers as needed, performing patient triage functions, and independently initiating, adjusting, and discontinuing medications. iii. Deliver direct care to patients through a variety of modalities which may include but are not limited to: Face-to-Face care, telephone, video/telemedicine, e-consults, shared medical appointments, drop-in group medical appointments, group education classes and/or secured messaging interactions. iv. Document encounters and clinical decisions in electronic health record (EHR) progress notes. v. Respond to alerts sent by other members of the health care team. vi. Maintain a collaborative case management relationship with interdisciplinary team within designated practice areas. The CPS will provide appropriate independent medication changes including initiation, adjustment and discontinuation for patients seen and evaluated then presented to the CPS and deemed to be within the CPS scope of practice for disease state management. vii. Provide medication extensions for chronic disease states within the CPS scope of practice when prescribing provider is not available. viii. Critically review restricted drug requests (RDR) or prior authorization drug requests (PADR) according to criteria for use for appropriateness, safety, cost-effectiveness and utilizing evidence-based decision-making. ix. Provide professional consultative services related to their designated area of practice to other health care providers. Professional consultative services include, but are not limited to, extensive drug information services, formulary management and medication recommendations. x. Work independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team within the CPS practice site to help achieve positive patient centric outcomes, such as SAIL, PDSI, or other population health measures. xi. Solve complex drug related problems or clinical patient care issues; coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. xii. Function independently in day-to-day clinical and administrative duties associated with the position, consulting with higher level provider in clinical setting and pharmacy supervisors only when required. In general, uses a high degree of professional judgment to solve complex problems which routinely arise throughout the workday. xiii. Keep abreast of advances and changes in clinical practice by participating in programs that provide continuing education and training. B. Educational Activities: i. Supervise and train pharmacist residents and Doctor of Pharmacy students on rotation in practice setting. ii. May serve as professional mentor to pharmacist residents. iii. May serve as a mentor in the development and conduct of resident projects including development of project questions, methodology, project approval to include application to IRB (if applicable) and assisting with presentation and manuscript. C. Research: i. May actively participate in research or quality improvement (QI) project activities. ii. May assist in research or QI project efforts by other health care professionals. iii. May provide professional and technical assistance to research investigators or QI project leaders when needed. D. Administrative Functions: i. Assist in Medication Usage Evaluation which monitors the usage of medications in their practice setting. ii. Assist in medication cost containment activities within their practice setting. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Telework May Be Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 674-55742-F/Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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. Qualifications Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) b. 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: View phone number on click.appcast.io, or through their Web site at: (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). c. 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. (1) Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. (2) Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. d. Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. f. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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). Grade Determinations: GS-13 (a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. 1. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Completion of a PGY2 in Pain Management or three years working in a pain management setting Active DEA license certification Training or work experience in a VHA pain management setting Preceptor certification or experience working with pharmacy interns and residents BCPS/BCACP/BCPMP certification (if eligible) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Hearing (aid may be permitted) Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: If your school was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACPE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. 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: View phone number on click.appcast.io, or through their Web site at: Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. 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: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.