Pharmacy - Associate Service Chief (Inpatient Pharmacy Operations)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

The pharmacist serves as an Associate Service Chief of Inpatient Pharmacy Operations and is responsible for providing leadership, direction, organization, planning, and implementation of pharmacy programs and services at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, a 900-bed, multi-division Health Care System with specialties in Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Spinal Cord, Intensive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, and Geriatrics. This Associate Chief has 9 FTEE direct reports, including 3 Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisors, 2 Pharmacy Program Managers (Investigational Drugs & USP Compliance), 2 Floating Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Specialists, 1 Floating Inpatient Pharmacy Technician, and 1 Inpatient LEAD Pharmacy Technician. This Associate Chief has 47 FTEE second-level reports, consisting of highly trained Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Specialists and Pharmacy Technicians who are located at the Palo Alto (Acute Care) campus. We have well-established PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY-2 Psychiatric Residency programs. Particular emphasis is placed on customer satisfaction, compliance with VHA directives and regulatory agencies, and managing performance improvement initiates system wide. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: Leading Change: Ability to develop and implement the organizational vision that integrates program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Leader ensures DMS effectiveness in support of becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO). Utilizes DMS processes to improve the flow of communication involving the connections from front-line staff to the Executive Leadership team. Leader engages staff and actively supports, develops, and empowers staff in solving problems through DMS huddles. Leading People: Leaders will actively engage employees to strengthen ownership and participation in the VAPAHCS All Employee Survey (AES) Enterprise Strategy. FY 2026 focuses on Investing in People and Building a Stronger Workplace to align efforts with the facility's multi-year AES and Employee Engagement strategies. These efforts enhance organizational culture, support continuous improvement, and promote a resilient, high-performing workforce. Leaders should continue to focus on their service line to identify key opportunities from AES results that promote a culture of trust, accountability, occupational well-being, and professional growth. Action plans will be SMART-based and address AES Strategic Objectives: Strengthen co-worker relationships and communication. Promote growth and professional development through training, mentoring, and leadership programs. Support workload integration and overall occupational well-being. Enhance accountability and recognition of staff contributions. Business Acumen: Relates to assessing, analyzing, acquiring, and administering human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner that places a high priority on a culture of compliant business integrity, instills public trust, and accomplishes the organization's mission. Ensures employee performance plans are aligned with the organization's mission and goals, that employees receive constructive feedback, and that those employees are realistically appraised against clearly defined and communicated performance standards. (VA Priority - Business Transformation). Inherited delinquencies are not counted against the measure. Building Coalitions: Ability to solicit and consider feedback from internal and external stakeholders and/or customers. Coordinates with appropriate parties to maximize input from the widest range of appropriate stakeholders to facilitate an open exchange of opinions and strengthen internal and external support. Leader demonstrates positive collaboration with internal stakeholders solving systems-level problems, achieving strategic plan objectives, and enhancing the overall improvement of business and administrative operations. Results-Driven: Specific performance results are expected from the employee during the appraisal period and, where applicable, reflect key opportunities for improvement that support VISN and facility measures relevant to VHA Modernization, identified in authoritative VA reporting and analytic systems (i.e., SAIL or its components), Access, Environment of Care, or VA/VHA priorities. Leader produces specific measurable performance results and shows improvement, focusing on responsible programmatic elements and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). There should be clear, transparent alignment to relevant agency or organizational goals/objectives. Other Duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30 am - 4:00 pm or as determined by the supervisor. Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 09939-F

Requirements

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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass a 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 and evaluation

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.

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/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/09/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13043452. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes: License Resume Transcript Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50s (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Professional Certification Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days, you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference. Veterans' preference does not apply to internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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) that 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 before 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.