Summary The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To manage all Compounded Sterile and Non-Sterile Products and Hazardous Drug (HD) operations for VA North Texas Healthcare System. This includes compliance oversight of all pharmacists, technicians, trainees, and other supportive personnel involved in sterile and non-sterile compounding and/or hazardous drug management. Responsibilities Duties include but not limited to: Develops and implements appropriate procedures, oversees, and assures facility compliance with USP Chapters 795, 797, and 800 and other applicable laws, regulations, and standards, ensuring competency of personnel, and assuring environmental control of all compounding areas. Reviews sterile and non-sterile compounding policies and procedures at minimum every 2 years or more frequently as needed and recommends updates. Communicates updates and provides training as needed to affected employees. Directs and oversees activities of all assigned operational, technical and professional personnel, with a particular emphasis on assuring that all USP Chapter 795, 797 and 800 CSP compliance requirements are met in Compounding and Hazardous Drug Management due to their inherent high-risk status in regard to the care of our patients. Maintenance of all required processes and documentation for completely meeting USP Chapters 795, 797, and 800 are a primary focus of this position. This includes assigned drug distribution-associated recordkeeping, competency assessments, documentation logs, personnel and process testing reporting for USP Chapters 795, 797, 800 report processing and monitoring including reports of all testing from all contractors and laboratories on facilities, CSPs, and/or components. Accurately interprets, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification of outpatient prescription orders, inpatient orders, and clinic orders as required per policy. Dispense medications to patients and/or other healthcare professionals post final verification by a pharmacist as required per policy. Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards, Pharmacy Law, VHA Directives, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements. Successfully complete assignments and maintain annual competencies to IV sterile preparations according to USP standards Performs essential role in preparation, compounding, dispensing, and distribution of hazardous medications within designated sterile compounding areas using appropriate aseptic techniques according to policy and procedures. Interprets orders appropriately and performs accurate product selection, dosage calculations and compounding of agents in an aseptic and effective manner, utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge in chemotherapy. Maintain a clean and organized work environment, ensuring that all items are stored in their designated places. Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships and rapport with facility providers, nursing, Pharmacy Service personnel, and other departments as needed. Serves as a source to resolve questions and problems affecting hospital staff members and patients. Complies with all VA, Medical Center, and pharmacy regulations, directives, policies, and procedures. Participate in performance improvement initiatives for Pharmacy Service Participates in glove fingertip and media fill testing, maintain competencies passing didactic practical skill assessment initially and annually thereafter. Operates and maintains working knowledge of position-specific equipment including Omnicell devices, vertical and horizontal laminar flow hoods, and all disposable supplies needed to compound sterile products. Inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and pharmaceutical elegance prior to final verification, and then delivers prepared products to the wards, clinics, or other designated areas. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:00AM-5:30PM 8-hour work tour per day. Tour to be discussed with selected candidate. Hours and tours may be adjusted as needed to include weekends/holidays to meet patient care needs. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54439-F 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. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States 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.) Education: 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. (Must submit a copy of Transcripts) (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) 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. 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). 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: Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience such as: 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 and skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light carrying, under 15 pounds Straight pulling (4 hours) Reaching above shoulder Walking (4 hours) Repeated bending (4 hours) Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Pulling hand over hand (4 hours) Pushing ( 4hours) Use of fingers Standing (4 hours) Both legs required Hearing (aid permitted) *Working closely with others 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). 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/. 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 has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Additional Information 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.
