Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Federal employees from agencies other than the Department of VA and All US Citizens. Federal employees from agencies other than the Department of VA and U.S. Citizens applicants will be referred on separate certificates. If you are a current permanent employee of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS) a current permanent VA Nationwide employee, or a past/current/upcoming VHA HPT Graduate you should apply under the internal announcement: CBSY-12943457-26-MI.

The CPS serves as an advanced practice provider to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice. The CPS promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels. The CPS is responsible for providing evidence-based pharmaceutical care service, helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interaction with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams. Their indirect patient care activities include pharmacy benefits management, academic detailing, teaching/mentoring/precepting learners, supporting research, quality assurance, medication utilization review, and staff development.

FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: The individual scope of assigned duties will be dependent upon the CPS provider's education, training, and experience required to perform the functions of the position. Functions could include inpatient and outpatient oncology practice. All scoped providers will participate in professional practice evaluations.

Clinical Functions (25-50%) Functions as an advanced practice provider with a scope of practice to provide comprehensive medication management (CMM) for identified VAMC facilities as outlined in VHA Handbook 1109.11, Clinical Pharmacy Services.
a) Core activities outlined within a scope of practice include:
i) Executing therapeutic plans utilizing the safest and most cost-effective medication treatments
ii) Performing objective assessments necessary to ensure the patient's appropriate clinical responses to therapy
iii) Ordering, subsequent review, and action on appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor, support, and modify the patient's drug therapy
iv) Ordering and prescribing medications, vaccines, devices, and supplies to include: initiation, continuation, discontinuation, monitoring, and altering therapy
v) Prescribing or administering controlled substances may be included in the scope of practice only if the CPS is authorized by the DEA and their state licensing board to do so; CPS must also comply with the limitations and restrictions on these authorities

Pharmacy Program Management (25-50%): The Oncology CPS will be involved in the independent professional practice of pharmacy in accordance with the guidelines set forth in pharmacy service policies and procedures, VA regulations, and state and federal laws governing the practice of pharmacy. The CPS will work in conjunction with Clinical Pharmacists, Clinical Pharmacy Practitioners, other CPSs and other health care professionals to form an organized team approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical care. Activities include:
a) Completes order review and processing. This includes verifying orders to be complete and appropriate for dose, route, frequency, etc.; screens orders for incompatibilities, drug interactions, contraindications and patient allergies.
b) Maintains work flow patterns that assure timely delivery of pharmacy services, ensures accurate and timely documentation of encounters and follow up orders. May oversee technical and nonprofessional staff.
c) Completes quality check of IV HD preparations and as applicable or when needed or instructed supports logistics of delivery of product to patient.

Education (1-10%):
a) Assists in the training of pharmacy employees, pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students as assigned in coordination with the Associate Chief of Pharmacy for Quality and Education. The incumbent develops appropriate rotations and learning opportunities for pharmacists, pharmacy residents and/or pharmacy students. Precepts trainees in advanced clinical pharmacy practice areas. These learning experiences will be documented and evaluated appropriately and timely.
b) Collaborates with program managers to provide pharmacy training to promote the learning experience and improve the performance of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents and students.
c) Participates in the clinical pertinence review and professional practice evaluation (PPE) process to confirm the quality of care delivered to veterans, ensures patient safety, and identifies areas for additional education and/or process improvement.

Research/Project Management (1-10%):
a) Contributes to the quality assurance of the MVAHCS Clinical Pharmacy Service.
b) Contributes to research as assigned by Clinical Pharmacy Managers.
c) Contributes to the evaluation plan of the MVAHCS Clinical Pharmacy Service as requested by the Clinical Pharmacy Managers. This will include evaluation of both process and outcome measures.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm OR 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: If available, Ad-Hoc ONLY
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 (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.
• 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

All requirements must be met at the time of the announcement closing.

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)
• 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: (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.)
  • 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.
  • 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.

• 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.

• Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12. The GS-12 requirements include:
  • Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  • 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.
  • Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. AND
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Resume
• Transcript

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• **Highly Recommended** Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document - KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Resume/CV exceeding two-pages
• PCS Orders
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps