Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Summary
The Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is a licensed pharmacist who manages and provides administrative, clinical, and programmatic oversight for the lnvestigational Drug Service within Pharmacy Service to ensure achievement of related educational and research goals and applicable performance measures. The Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is accountable for coordinating research related Pharmacy activities for all approved research studies involving investigational studies.
Duties
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will provide professional consultation to VA medical facility management.
- The duties for the Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) include (but are not limited to): CLINICAL- 1.
- Provides consultation to prescribers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals concerning the usage, administration, contraindications, precautions, and interactions of drugs used in research protocols. 2.
- Evaluates information provided to research participants regarding the effects, usage, risks, precautions, and special instructions for drugs used in research studies. 3.
- Considers the age specific requirements of adult and geriatric
- Veterans, including the need for dose adjustment, presence of comorbidities, ability to understand and retain instructions, hearing and visual impairments, and any other conditions relevant to the age of the Veteran when assessing and providing Veteran care. 4.
- Calculates and dispenses medication dosages and adjusts as necessary. 5.
- From a verbal or written Veteran presentation of signs, symptoms, laboratory tests and diagnoses, recognizes and lists important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values, which may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen.
- ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT- 1.
- Provides the necessary technical knowledge and assistance as required to support the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations.
- Research CPS will also be expected to willingly exchange ideas, assist and provide support as a "team player'' with the pharmacy staff and actively seek and maintain face-to-face contact in the usual work areas with other members of
- Coordinates pharmacy services for animal research labs, including procurement, distribution, and monitoring of all controlled substances used in animal labs in the medical center, and procurement of other approved drugs by request. 3.
- Prepares an itemized estimate of charges for drugs, supplies, and Research Pharmacy Services for new protocol and grant submissions and oversees preparation of quarterly invoices for purchases and services for all active protocols.
- MEDICATION DISPENSING AND DISTRIBUTION: 1.
- Ensures required approvals and documents are in place prior to dispensing (e.g., R&D Committee approval, consent form, order from authorized prescriber). 2.
- Maintains records of receipt, dispensing, and disposal of investigational drugs according to VHA regulations. 3.
- Maintains a signature tracking log for pick-up of locally dispensed research drugs. 4.
- Verifies all newly enrolled subjects have a signed informed consent form prior to dispensing the investigational medications to the subject.
- EDUCATION AND TRAINING- 1.
- Conducts meetings with the principal investigator or their staff members to coordinate the initiation of new studies or implementation of protocol amendments. 2.
- Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents. 3.
- Provides education to staff and trainees regarding research policies and procedures. 4.
- In cooperation with administrators, clinical pharmacists and other personnel as needed, develops and coordinates educational programs for the staff to meet predefined educational needs relating to investigational drugs and new studies as they become active.
- RESEARCH AND QUALITY- 1.
- Encourages and supports research and education missions. 2.
- Contributes to the body of knowledge by supporting the research and quality improvement initiatives of the Pharmacy Service, Pharmacy Residency Program, and other practitioners within the facility and/or network.
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service).
- Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
- Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid
- Federal holidays per year)
- Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
- Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
- Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
- Functional Statement #: 598-01530-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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.
- 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
- 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.
Required Documents
- Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information:
- Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week. 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. SF-50, Notification of Personnel
- Action (if applicable for
- Eligibility): Most recent
- SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- Examples of appropriate
- SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
- 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-50's (current/former
- Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License CV/Resume Performance Appraisal Resume
- SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
About this role
The Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist position and is based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is a licensed pharmacist who manages and provides administrative, clinical, and programmatic oversight for the lnvestigational Drug Service within Pharmacy Service to ensure achievement of related educational and research goals and applicable performance measures.
Day to day, the work involves total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will provide professional consultation to VA medical facility management. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for United States citizenship, an active, unrestricted license or required registration, and a valid driver's license. Be prepared for a pre-employment drug screening as part of the hiring process. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist position in Little Rock, Arkansas, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
Competitiveness for this Research Clinical Pharmacy Specialist role depends mainly on how closely applicants match the stated qualifications. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.
