Summary

This position is located within the Pharmacy Service at the Birmingham VA Health Care System (Huntsville Clinic). Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPP) are assigned to individual Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in the primary care clinics. This position will support the Close to Me Program which specializes in Oncology. As workload increases, this position will transition from PACT duties into mainly an Oncology care position and may cover other subspecialties as assigned.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. The primary responsibility is coordination and provision of medication management to patients at the Birmingham VA Health Care System and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy;
• 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;
• ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.

Care may be provided through traditional clinic appointments or other modalities including, but not limited to, telehealth, videotelehealth, and shared medical appointments. Responsible for providing direct patient care and consultative care in complex patients needing therapy as outlined in the scope of practice. Responsible for serving as an integral member of the pharmacy team including evaluation of current programs and identification of gaps in patient care. Responsible for practicing in conjunction with available tools (PharmD Tool, Population Management Dashboards, Secure Messaging, Tele-health, etc.) Responsible for practicing in a manner that enhances access to care, clinical outcomes, and cost-effective therapy. Responsible for providing cross-coverage to pharmacy areas outside of usual assignment and schedule when necessary for patient care and appropriate competencies are in place (i.e., Anticoagulation, subspecialty area, etc.).

NOTE: Initially, the selected candidate will serve as a PACT pharmacist, with some coverage of oncology patients. As the oncology workload grows, it will transition to a full oncology position.

FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES:

A. Clinical--Direct Patient Care that requires a Scope of Practice

1. Responsible for providing direct patient-care medication management performed with the efficiency and depth of an experienced clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) in ambulatory care related conditions per approved scope of practice
2. Designs, implements, monitors, and evaluates patient-specific pharmacotherapy plans to achieve defined outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Implements or recommends corrective actions to providers and documents in CPRS as appropriate for areas including but not limited to the following:
• Appropriate laboratory monitoring parameters.
• Drug-drug interactions and co morbidities.
• Duplication of therapy.
• Medication side effects.
• Appropriate dosing regimens.
• Absence of an essential medication.
• Drug allergies.
• Occurrence of adverse events.
3. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.
4. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e. changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements.

B. Clinical-Indirect Patient Care Activities

1. Coordinates and/or performs medication reconciliation for ambulatory care patients with scheduled face-to-face or telehealth appointments as related to medication management and/or transitions of care where required.
2. Provides formulary management support through consult review and team collaboration.
3. Provides e-consult support to various services for medication recommendations, Skilled Nursing Home transitions, etc.
4. Identifies patients via population management dashboards who may benefit from Comprehensive Medication Management Services.

C. Education & Research

1. The pharmacist serves as adjunct instructor to approved schools of pharmacy. Individually precepts Doctor of Pharmacy advanced practice students and pharmacy residents.
2. The pharmacist provides lectures and educational material to medical students and residents, nurses, physicians, and other related healthcare professionals and trainees.
3. The pharmacist serves as pharmacy liaison for drug research activities for the medical center and associated clinics.

Work Schedule

8 hr shift between 6a and 6p with rotating Weekend, Holiday, Evening and Night hours

Telework

AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Requirements Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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. 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 identification 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). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/23/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience:

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: . OR, 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 or Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program that meets the educational requirement and can 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.

Additional Special Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate orally to individuals and groups of people in person while at conferences, via video-conferencing and during teleconferences
• Ability to communicate in writing for a variety of purposes including the preparation of reports and analysis, publications, and newsletters
• Ability to organize projects of broad scope and objective without the use of established methods and procedures
• Knowledge of VA National Center for Patient Safety reporting systems
• Knowledge of pharmacy automated dispensing devices and equipment
• Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Knowledge of pharmacy information systems.

Preferred experience:

1. 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.
2. The preferred candidate will have completed a PGY2 Residency in Oncology and/or hold Oncology Board Certification. Additional preference will be given to those who have direct patient care experience in oncology under a scope of practice, as well as experience providing comprehensive medication management within PACT under a scope of practice.

References:

VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G-15 and FS 58687F

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13

Physical Requirements:

Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include, but are not limited to: significant computer work/typing, prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.

Additional information

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.