The Associate Chief of Operations is responsible for providing leadership, direction, coordination, organization, planning and implementation of pharmacy operations. The incumbent works independently under the Chief of Pharmacy and keeps him/her apprised of trends/problems associated with their assigned areas. The primary responsibility of the Associate Chief of Operations is to assume responsibility for the planning, coordination, management and maintenance of Medical Center's mission.

Duties

DUTIES: FUNTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE: Responsible for the professional and administrative management of the inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, which include oversight of the distributive and operational functions along with budgetary execution. Responsible to maintain effective interdepartmental relations, and to cooperate with other services to accomplish Salem VAHCS mission and goals. Develops performance standards, assures that the program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities. a) Human Resources Management a. Recruits, interviews and selects suitable personnel, in collaboration with Human Resources, in order to maintain a staff that can effectively fulfill the needs of the Pharmacy Service. b. Provides advice, counsel and instruction to individual employees, concerning both work and administrative matters. Resolves conflicts and problems referred to by technician supervisor or leads within service. Requires ability to listen effectively to properly identify problems. Provides action consistent with rules, regulations and policies. c. Responsible for ensuring appropriate disciplinary actions are pursued for performance or behavioral deficiencies. d. Ensures that appropriate Pharmacy Service coverage is accomplished in all work areas during all work hours and that dissemination of the annual vacation requests and holiday schedules comply with all union guidelines. e. Ensures that procedures, methods and work schedules for the efficient accomplishment of the pharmacy operations are effectively and fully managed. Complies with labor-management agreement for bargaining unit employees. Approves or disapproves vacation requests complying with union contracts. b) Program Management a. The Associate Chief, Operation will have responsibility for providing pharmaceutical services to the veteran patients served by this medical center and for the professional and administrative activities supporting these services. b. Formulates long and short-term goals for the section and coordinates these with the goals of the medical center. Prioritizes goals on a yearly, monthly and daily basis to produce the desired results. c. In conjunction with the Chief of Pharmacy, helps to manage and ensure optimum efficiency and effectiveness of numerous complex programs administered by the Pharmacy Service. Pharmacy programs include the following: All-Hazards Emergency Cache (AHEC) management, medication procurement, medication recalls, reverse medication distribution process, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) medication programs, pharmacy medication refrigerator and monitoring management, COVID-19 vaccine and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) medication management, pharmacy automation and database management, medication diversion and usage monitoring program, and pharmacy cleanroom management with compliance on USP797 and USP800 standards. d. Coordinates with the Pharmacy Inventory Program Manager and Pharmacoeconomic Clinical Pharmacy Specialist to estimate and justify the annual budget requirements based on quarterly monetary needs for medications, supplies, equipment and personnel. e. Interfaces with internal and external stakeholders to identify, develop, and implement appropriate cost containment opportunities and outcomes research activities. f. Organizes work to maximize the productivity within available resources. Assures that personnel are scheduled in such a way as to provide consistency of coverage and to accommodate planned leave and promote employee morale. Periodically analyzes work measurement data g. Serves on Medical Center and VISN committees as assigned. Applies knowledge, judgment and experience to guide committee decision and actions. c) Administrative a. Responsible and accountable for the professional and administrative operations of the Pharmacy. b. The incumbent complies with service policies and procedures, Medical Center Policies, VA directives, handbooks, memorandum, and applicable laws. Activities will conform to Joint Commission standards and Office of the Inspector General guidelines. c. Develops and establishes policies and procedures defining operational requirements for quality improvement, safety, regulatory compliance, or as the Chief of Pharmacy assigns. d. The incumbent is required to cooperatively resolve routine and complex problems that affect other pharmacy sections and/or other medical center services so that little or no intervention is needed for a higher-level supervisor. Work Schedule: 7:45am-4:30pm Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Requirements

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. 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 License: In 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. 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: GS14: Associate Service Chief/Associate Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) Director. Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Has extensive responsibility for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to negotiate to influence clinical and management decisions. b. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues. c. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs. d. Skill in managing multiple and diverse people or programs. e. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization. f. Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff. Preferred Experience: (1) 3+ years of Pharmacy Management experience. (2) Experience with unannounced inspections, including the Joint Commission, DEA, and Office Inspector General (OIG) inspections. (3) 3+ years of experience handling employee and labor relations issues by working with HR and the Union. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Salem VA Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, VA 24153 US
• Name: Kera Madden
• Phone: 540-982-2463 X2770
• Email: [email protected]