Pharmacy Technician

Summary The Pharmacy Technicians at this level will be required to demonstrate independent technical judgement successfully and consistently (without the need for ready supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex and difficult practices and procedures for pharmacy technicians. This will require an expanded scope with significant complexity, difficulty, and range in the area's narcotic accountability, automation, compounding, and procurement. Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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 dentification 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). 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. Education or Experience. None required. For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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-08: Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Preferred Experience: Minimum 1 year of inpatient pharmacy experience Minimum 1 year of USP 797 and or USP 800 sterile compounding experience Minimum of 6 months of outpatient pharmacy dispensing experience Minimum 1 year of pharmacy automation experience to include automation dispensing cabinets, automated tablet packager and outpatient dispensing automation (i.e.., Parata, ScriptPro, Omnicell). Minimum 1 year-controlled substance management technician experience. 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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds Light; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling ( 3 hours); Pushing (3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking ( 8 hours); Standing ( 8 hours); Kneeling ( 1 hours); Repeated bending (1 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) Continuation of Major Duties Section: 13. Work directly with automation companies' technical and clinical support to troubleshoot and resolve automation issues and maximize utilization of the automation equipment. 14. Serve as a technical advisor and trainer to other pharmacy staff in the operation, calibration, and maintenance of automated pharmacy equipment. 15. Minor troubleshooting and entering work orders/IT ticket for any other pieces of equipment necessary for the efficiency of the pharmacy. Controlled Substances Possess a thorough knowledge of principles relating to controlled substances, and the requirements of medical center policy and federal and state regulations that apply to these drugs. Monitor and maintain appropriate controlled substance stock par levels to balance patient care needs with inventory management best practices. Accurately conduct prime vendor ordering of controlled substances. Remove outdated/expired and unusable controlled substances from medication distribution and process for destruction with appropriate documentation. Prepare DEA and VA Forms for the proper destruction of non-usable controlled substances. Receive new and returned controlled substance stock into inventory and ensure the accuracy of electronic and hardcopy records as required by VHA, DEA, and STVHCS policy. Maintain appropriate security and storage of controlled substances according to manufacturer recommendations. Participate in 72-hour vault inventory and monthly unannounced inventories utilizing appropriate inventory and accountability software. Maintain an ongoing perpetual inventory of all controlled substances, utilizing automation and software systems as appropriate, to include maintenance of controlled substance records and forms for a period dictated by federal regulation. Interact with the Controlled Substance Coordinator in monthly inspections and reconciling/resolving discrepancies. Monitor controlled substance accountability records, pre-defined surveillance reports, written controlled substance records, and individual patient records to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends. Maintain a working knowledge of the VISTA Controlled Substance Package and all automation and accountability software. Inform supervisors immediately of any suspected loss of controlled substances. Assure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances. Utilize vault automation and software systems to maintain electronic perpetual inventory recordkeeping. Conduct all vault transactions utilizing appropriate software and automation to maintain closed-loop accountability of controlled substances throughout facility automated dispensing cabinets. Conduct daily and routine review of automated reports to ensure the security of controlled substances and identify any areas of misuse or potential discrepancies. Non-Hazardous and Hazardous Compounding Ensures compliance with all policies and procedures relating to IV preparation, including USP 797/800, VA Handbooks, all station memorandums/service level SOPs, and Joint Commission Standards. Knowledge and ability to perform compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Maintains competencies with chemotherapy preparation ensuring all policies and procedures are followed including, aseptic technique, safe handling, and appropriate chemotherapy documentation with each admixture. Assists in the training of staff for IV product preparation, including documentation of training. Assists in data collection for quality improvement projects. Analyzes workload and presentation of data to pharmacy management relating to IV preparation, including presentations to promote efficiencies in IV preparation. Monitors inventory of parenteral drugs, compounding drugs and chemicals, and supplies necessary for preparation of compounded products. Fills IV orders with accuracy and in a timely manner. Major Duties continue in Education Section: 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/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Continuation of Major Duties Section: Procurement Inventory and replenish automated equipment. Ensure that adequate off-line inventory levels of medication for automation are maintained. Add medications and supplies to pharmacy inventory and ward stock areas by rotating stock and stocking items in appropriate locations within a reasonable time after receipt. Remove expired and recalled medications from stock and follow facility policy and procedures for disposal. Assist in maintaining pharmaceutical ordering, storage, maintaining stock levels, rotation of stock, supplies, and outdated medications. Monitor drug stock levels in automated equipment, maintain an appropriate level of stock to provide optimal patient care without excess stock. Assure that stock is in-date and stored according to recommendations of manufacturer and USP standards. Assist with ordering non-controlled medications from the prime vendor utilizing a best practices inventory management strategy while assuring continuous supply of needed drugs. Administrative Actively participate in writing, updating, training, and implementation of facility policy and procedures pertaining to automation Run, review, and maintain automation reports and reviews this information with the pharmacy supervisor to assist in collecting data for workload reports. Maintain immediate work area in a neat, clean, and orderly fashion. Participate in self-development activities necessary to maintain licensure and increase professional competence. Complete all mandatory training as required by local, VISN, and national mandates within established timeframes. Serves as records management liaison. Other duties Perform other duties of a pharmacy technician as assigned to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services when required. Additional information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.