Pharmacist Position

This position is located within the US Department of Health and Human Services, Pharmacy Department, and is responsible for providing pharmaceutical services to patients in a hospital or health center setting.

• Select, procure, prepare, and dispense medications, ensuring proper interpretation of prescriptions and review of patient medical records for safety, appropriateness, and effectiveness of drug therapy.
• Counsel patients on the use, storage, cautions, and side effects of medications dispensed, and interview patients to ascertain past medical and medication history.
• Participate in facility initiatives, attend meetings, conduct authorized outpatient clinics, document clinical activities, and provide pharmaceutical services to focus on therapeutic drug monitoring and analysis of medical regimens.
• Provide formal and informal education and in-services to medical staff, pharmacy, nursing staff, and patients and their families, as well as training for pharmacy students and orientation to nurses and medical providers.
• Collaborate with other health professionals to develop treatment protocols, standards of practice, and policies, and participate in quality assurance and performance activities.

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Measles and Rubella immunization is required for selectees born after 1957, and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service healthcare facilities.
• COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty.
• The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements.
• On-call hours or standby duty may be required.
• Weekends and/or evenings hours may be required.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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, religious, spiritual, community, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part-time experience.

The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an available flexibility wherein applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration with 9 months of applying may be deemed tentatively qualified.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

Individual Occupation Requirements:

Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied.

Education:

A doctoral degree in Pharmacy that is recognized by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Licensure:

Applicants must be licensed to practice pharmacy in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Experience:

Applicant's qualifications background must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary to perform the work of the position. Pharmacy work requires knowledge of the use, clinical effects, and composition of medications, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties.

Qualifying professional pharmacy experience may involve, but is not limited to:

• Dispensing medications prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and providing information to health practitioners and patients about proper usage of medications and side effects;
• Evaluating medication use patterns and outcomes for patients in hospitals or managed care organizations;
• Performing administrative, consultative, or staff advisory work for a medical facility's pharmacy program;
• Planning, monitoring, and evaluating medication programs or regimens;
• Establishing medication-handling procedures for the storage and preservation of medications;
• Researching medical literature and/or clinical medication information to provide accurate responses to inquiries; and/or
• Maintaining all medication records required by law.

Basic Requirements for the GS-11 (or equivalent) Grade Level:

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, Ph.D., Pharm.D., or equivalent doctoral degree.

Basic Requirements for the GS-12 (or equivalent) Grade Level:

In addition to the requirements for the GS-11 (or equivalent) level, applicants must have a minimum of one year of professional pharmacy experience. Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

• Collaborate with physicians to discuss potential incompatibility issues with patient prescriptions;
• Maintain accurate inventory of medications;
• Offer information to assist patients in understanding how to properly take their prescribed medications;
• Work with the pharmaceutical staff to maintain a clean, customer-friendly workplace;
• Assist patients in solving problems, such as identifying old medication or finding an over-the-counter solution to minor health issues.

Time In Grade:

Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.