Remote Antimicrobial Stewardship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in Infectious Diseases (ID) and Antimicrobial Stewardship (ASP) provides evidence-based medication therapy management, delivers direct patient care, consults with providers, manages drug therapy per national and local policies, and ensures continuity of care across inpatient, outpatient, Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT), and telehealth settings, following patients until therapeutic goals are met.
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Duties
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Major duties include:
Clinical Duties

• Evaluate OPAT therapy at discharge and apply Home Care Standards.
• Design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans; provide direct patient and provider consultation.
• Review medication regimens for effectiveness, safety, and interactions; communicate recommendations.
• Interpret labs, identify abnormalities, and make pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic-based dose adjustments.
• Support telehealth services, including remote assessments and emergency management.
• Document clinical interventions in CPRS promptly and obtain detailed medication histories.
• Conduct drug use evaluations for national, VISN, and local initiatives.
• Optimize patient-specific therapy to improve outcomes and minimize risks; refer to physicians when needed.
• Order, analyze, and follow up on labs and diagnostic tests; adjust therapy plans accordingly.
• Monitor and report drug errors, adverse reactions, allergies, and compliance issues.
• Review prior authorization drug requests for appropriateness.
• Promote compliance with drug therapy policies and collaborate with providers to meet national, VISN, and local standards.
• Serve on committees at the medical center, VISN, or national level.

Education and Research

• Provide training and in-service education for medical, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health staff.
• Educate patients and families on medication and device use; assess comprehension and refer to multidisciplinary programs.
• Apply effective written and verbal communication in teaching.
• Assist with new employee orientation and development of new or improved pharmacy services.
• Design and conduct clinical research within scope of practice.
• Train new pharmacy staff and serve as a preceptor for students and residents.
• Manage pharmacy residency programs and maintain ASHP accreditation when responsible.
• Support and promote pharmacy team involvement in facility-based education, veteran care programs, and professional presentations.
• Participate in state, regional, and national professional organizations.

Drug Information

• Serve as an authority on drug usage, interactions, overdoses, and compliance.
• Maintain current knowledge of written and electronic drug information resources.
• Stay up-to-date on therapeutics and disease management.
• Provide timely and accurate responses to drug information requests.

Safety

• Follow all safety and environmental regulations.
• Use and maintain required personal protective equipment.
• Report all accidents or illnesses promptly.
• Identify and report unsafe workplace conditions and assist in correcting them.

Leadership and Dependability

• Provide leadership and guidance during supervisory absences and support patient care operations.
• Serve as a liaison between service line leadership, pharmacy management, medical staff, and pharmacy personnel.
• Identify opportunities to enhance pharmacy services and communicate them to supervisors.

Organizational Presentation and Regulatory Responsibilities

• Coordinate the hospital's antibiotic stewardship program with Infectious Diseases leadership.
• Represent Pharmacy Services professionally, prioritizing the needs of the Pharmacy Service and ID/ASP programs.
• Support compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g., TJC, OIG) related to patient safety and care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
Telework: Ad-hoc per agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD54174F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• 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.
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.)
  
  • 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).
• 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. 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

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:
GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements which are: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: 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; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.
Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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:

1. Education/training: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
2. Education/training: PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Infectious Diseases or + 3 years > 50% clinical experience in ID/ASP
3. Certification: BCPS, BCIDP PE
4. Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (ID/ASP) - direct patient care with scope of practice

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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking ( 8 hours); Standing ( 8 hours); Kneeling ( 1 hours): Repeated bending 4 hours; Both legs required: Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4: Specific visual requirement (specify) - DVA Correctable to 20/40; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors: Hearing (aid may be permitted)
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/.
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Accreditation Information: 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: ACPE. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) 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).
Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Note: If your school was accredited by ACPE at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACPE website, you must provide documentation