Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (PACT) (GS-13)

Summary

This position serves as a PACT Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) at Edward Hines, Jr. Hospital, located at 5000 S 5th Ave, Hines, IL, and the Oak Lawn Community Based Outpatient Clinic, located at 10201 S Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, within the Pharmacy Service. The CPP provides patient-centered comprehensive medication management in outpatient primary care, collaborating with patients and healthcare providers to optimize medication use and health outcomes.

Duties

The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) functions as a mid-level practitioner to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Direct and Indirect Patient Care: Develops, implements, monitors, and adjusts individualized medication-therapy plans in collaboration with patients, prescribers, and the interdisciplinary care team. Orders, reviews, and interprets clinical measurements, laboratory results, diagnostic studies, medication histories, and prescription-monitoring data to support safe and effective treatment decisions. Initiates, modifies, continues, or discontinues medications, vaccines, devices, and supplies within the approved scope of practice, including urgent and high-risk situations. Provides comprehensive medication management through in-person and virtual encounters, completes timely follow-up, and coordinates medication reconciliation and transitions of care. Evaluates therapeutic effectiveness, safety, adherence, interactions, contraindications, adverse reactions, and medication errors; reports concerns and communicates recommendations or alternatives to the care team. Educates patients using individualized counseling and motivational interviewing, confirms understanding, and refers complex or unstable patients for higher-level care when appropriate. Documents care plans, interventions, findings, and outcomes in the electronic health record and other required systems in accordance with applicable policies and productivity expectations. Evaluates formulary, non-formulary, restricted, and high-cost medication requests and supports drug-use criteria that promote clinically appropriate, safe, effective, and cost-conscious care. Develops and communicates medication-use criteria, clinical findings, and recommendations to healthcare providers and practitioner groups as needed. Medication Dispensing and Distribution: Processes electronic medication orders and verifies patient information, medication, dose, route, frequency, allergies, interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority. Identifies and resolves prescribing, dispensing, pharmacotherapy, and formulary issues and documents interventions within required timeframes. Assists with coordinating pharmacy technicians and volunteers involved in preparing, labeling, dispensing, manufacturing, and delivering medications and supplies. Dispenses controlled substances accurately and in accordance with current policies and procedures. Does not verify, check, or release any prescription or medication order that the practitioner personally prescribed. Education and Training: Precepts students and PGY-1/PGY-2 residents while maintaining ASHP-aligned qualifications. Promotes pharmacy practice and educates teams on PACT and CPP processes. Develops and delivers training for healthcare professionals. Supports policy compliance and improvements to clinical pharmacy services. Presents or publishes project and research results when possible. Provides advanced pharmacotherapy education, drug information, and literature reviews. Completes mandatory training and maintains required documentation. Follows infection-control, safety, environmental, recycling, and hazardous-medication procedures. Complies with environmental laws and supports waste reduction, conservation, and continuous improvement. Administrative and Technical Support: Collaborates on drug-use improvement programs and medication-use evaluations. Tracks cost reductions and cost avoidance. Manages the formulary and promotes appropriate medication use. Supports quality improvement through criteria development, data collection, and evaluation. Completes assigned duties and required systems training on time. Supervises clinical technical support, including automated dispensing and BCMA systems. Provides age-appropriate care based on patient needs and service policies. Serves on interdisciplinary committees and workgroups as a subject-matter expert. Participates in professional practice evaluations and peer review as assigned. Perform other related duties as assigned. Driving Requirement: Please be aware that this position requires an anticipated driving schedule of two days per week to the Oak Lawn CBOC. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01186F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

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. 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.) (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) -OR- 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). (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED) 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. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) VA or Non VA Experience Examples of GS-12 experience includes, but is not limited to: handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations; designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring, and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing best evidence, 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; performing physical assessments; evaluating a provider's orders as to appropriateness based on patient medication profiles; inputting information into the Electronic Health Record; verifying orders entered by healthcare providers as needed; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. The individual must understand current practice standards from ASHP, Joint Commission, VA PBM Guidance, VHA Directives, VHA Handbooks, Hospital Policy and Procedures, EPRP, Quality Measures, and/or other professional standards and advise the organization and the department of their impact on patient care. AND In addition, must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (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. Preferred Experience: PGY1 or PGY2 residency, and/or equivalent work experience, board certification relevant to position (e.g. BCACP, BCPS). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the outpatient pharmacy in Decatur, IL, where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required. In some cases, dealing with anti-neoplastic drugs may expose the incumbent to hazardous and toxic agents. The incumbent works with drugs/chemicals and must exercise precautions to avoid accidental contact to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of interview.

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 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.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

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.

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 11/09/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13104114. 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.

Other information

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.