Associate Service Chief, Pharmacy Operations

• Program Management
  • Plans coordinates and implements all Pharmacy Service operational and distributive programs. Effectively anticipates problems develops solutions and formulates plans to meet workload demands and patient needs.
  • Exhibits flexibility and adaptability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and accommodate to all types of situations. Works well with all levels and types of individuals.
  • Serve on major administrative medical center committees (e.g. VISN Pharmacy Procurement Work Group). Collaborates with other health care practitioners to plan and implement programs and processes which provide optimum drug therapy for patients. Effectively communicates both orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
  • Ensure compliance with all VHA DEA and other federal procurement regulations regarding prescription drugs and controlled substances accountability and security.
  • Responsible for oversight of inventory management systems in both inpatient and outpatient settings and coordinating annual wall-to-wall drug inventory.
• Administrative/Supervision
  • Supervises all pharmacy staff associated with Pharmacy Distributive Operations (ex. inpatient/outpatient of all campuses). Allocates staff as needed to provide adequate coverage. Maintains time and attendance records and approves leave. Responsible for performance-based interviewing and selection of pharmacists and technicians.
  • Develop employee performance standards. Conducts performance evaluations in a timely manner and counsels employees when appropriate.
  • Develop policies and procedures defining operational and clinical requirements.
  • Promotes interdisciplinary teamwork cooperation and customer service to provide high quality pharmaceutical care services to all patients.
  • Ensure assigned administrative projects and reports are completed in a timely fashion.
  • Ensure that all employees complete mandatory annual training as well as section- Specific training as needed. Proper orientation of all new employees is conducted and documented.
• Clinical
  • Provides high quality age-specific pharmaceutical care to all veteran patients. Supports the development of a continuum of care model for veteran patients.
  • Promotes the rational and safe use of drugs by providing unbiased drug information drug monitoring and usage evaluation services and drug consultations.
  • Counsels patients on the proper use and expected outcomes of drugs.
• Research
  • Encourages and assists with the development and implementation of pharmacy based research that focuses on pharmaceutical care issues.

The Associate Chief Pharmacy Operations may be asked to perform duties not listed on the description and management may change this functional description at any time according to agency needs.


Work Schedule: This is an associate Chief position for a 24 hour service so the shifts will be variable based on coverage needs.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD10295-F
Telework: Ad Hoc

• 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 drivers 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 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.

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. 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).
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• 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. 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: 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.)
  • Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 1 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.
  • Note: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct professional incompetence or substandard care or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct professional incompetence or substandard care are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f)). Effective November 30 1999 this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license registration or certification.
  • 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.
  • Failure to Obtain 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.
• 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:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Qualifying GS-13 grade level experience includes but is not limited to:

• 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. AND;

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
• Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.
• Skill in managing multiple people or programs.
• Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.
• Ability to plan organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff.

Preferred Experience: VA supervisory and VA inpatient and outpatient experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the full performance level GS-14.

Physical Requirements: There may be some walking standing sitting bending and carrying of light items.