Lead Pharmacist provides and leads full-scope pharmacy services at an IHSC detention facility, with over 50% clinical duties. Serves as local pharmaceutical SME, dispenses medications, provides patient counseling and medication therapy consultation, manages inventory and controlled substances, supports QA activities, committees, and required training. This position is only open to current USPHS officers.
USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Leads the provision of all on-site pharmaceutical services at the specified detention facility with >50% of time spent on clinical tasks. Pharmaceutical program leadership includes setting the goals, objectives, and direction for the pharmacy program at the assigned facility and leading a team of 1-3 contractor pharmacists and/or pharmacy technicians.
Plan and organize their own work, ensure equitably balanced workload among the on-site pharmacy staff members, provide instruction and orientation to pharmacy staff, set and adjust short-term priorities, prepare schedules for completion of work, and provide guidance and mentorship to interdisciplinary junior staff to develop clinical judgement, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
Dispense prescription drug orders in accordance with agency formulary and policy and procedures. Provide direct patient care services, including management of acute or chronic conditions, for selected patients when medications are the primary method of treatment. Exercises independent judgment in reviewing patient prescription orders for appropriateness, including drug-drug, drug-disease, and drug-allergy contraindications and precautions.
Judgmental failure could seriously affect the health status of one or more individuals. Provides pharmaceutical care services, including drug information, medication therapy consultation, and advice to other health professionals on complex patient problems, at the highest level of independence; utilizes extensive knowledge base and flexibility to adapt to unusual circumstances requiring variations in approach, and in the presence of incomplete or conflicting data.
Provide medication counseling and information services directly to patients to ensure that they understand their medications, how to take them, and appropriate outcomes of their drug therapies. Manages pharmaceutical inventory, including maintaining appropriate quantities and temperature requirements and replenishing after-hours and emergency stock, in accordance with IHSC policies and procedures.
Conducts monthly inventories of all controlled substances and pharmaceutical sharps (e.g. pre-filled syringes). Inspect all clinic areas where pharmaceuticals are stored. Collaborates with contacts within the Department on a routine basis to coordinate medical care services for patients, as well as to develop and implement processes to improve public and population health.
Participates in ongoing quality assurance and performance improvement activities including audits, chart reviews, and development of review criteria. Participates as an active member in one or more institutional committees which may include Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Infection Prevention, Critical Care, or others as designated.
On a monthly basis, reports pharmacy workload and expense information, including accomplishments, problems and measures taken for resolution, meetings attended, and facilities visited to the local H.S.A, the respective Regional Chief Pharmacist, and the IHSC Chief Pharmacist. Provides temporary duty (TDY) coverage to IHSC staffed facilities and special missions as needed.
All staff must be available for an entire month, or two 16-day periods, each year to support the IHSC TDY On-Call (ITOS) Program. Completes all required agency training. Performs other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: B.S. degree in Pharmacy and eight years of professional experience as a pharmacist or PharmD. degree and two years of professional experience as a pharmacist. Degree must be from a program that is accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
Candidates must have a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Expertise in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and all management aspects related to the practice of pharmacy in a clinic/infirmary setting. Possesses necessary skills for operating general office technology including Microsoft Office products.
Possess knowledge of grammar, spelling & punctuation to identify and correct errors to ensure accurate copy. Possesses knowledge of and is competent in understanding and communicating pharmaceutical nomenclature including generic, chemical & trade names, Latin abbreviations, dosage forms, drug strengths, formulations & English-Metric equivalents. Competent in data entry and ability to work with & analyze numbers, including bookkeeping & basic accounting skills.
Competent in the use of office machines including photocopiers, calculators, and personal computers. Competent in the application of computer programs to facilitate management operations in a clinic environment. Maintains CPR/BLS certification Possesses ability to work efficiently, accurately & organize in a fast-paced environment.
This position is with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
The posted pay range is $1 – $150000/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-16.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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