Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The Pharmacy Technician position is located within the Veterans Affairs Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP). The Pharmacy Technician is assigned as the subject matter expert to automated areas of CMOP production and will serve as a key resource in the day-to-day duties of the specialized area.

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Duties

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Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Performs functions such as automated dispensing, labeling, bulk replenishment, refrigeration, controlled substances, hazardous drug (HD/NIOSH), receiving, manifesting, an/or packaging.
• Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy dispensing activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized.
• Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with CMOP automated dispensing equipment.
• Ability to participate in team efforts to improve automation quality and safety.
• Resolves problems and complaints regarding all areas of production and automated dispensing equipment, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.
• Assists other personnel with resolution of computer program lockouts, ensuring accuracy of final product.
• Ensures equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime. Maintains all required cleaning and maintenance logs.
• Follows written instructions for techniques in handling of hazardous drugs in all areas of production.
• Reports any unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.

Work Schedule : Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 2:30pm to 11:00pm

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Paid Time 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)

Parental 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.

Child Care 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)

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 22122A

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 ( 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: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 : Pharmacy Technician, GS-08.

Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).

Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either 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:

(a)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.

(b)Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.

(c)Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience serving as a knowledgeable resource n one or more production areas (such as automated dispensing, labeling, packing, bulk, hazardous drugs, or replenishment), including assisting with workflow questions or equipment-related issues.
• Experience contributing to improvements in production processes by offering suggestions, identifying recurring problems, or participating in efforts to enhance workflow and overall efficiency.
• Experience performing advanced troubleshooting on automated dispensing equipment, barcode systems, label machines, or Applications to help reduce downtime and maintain steady production.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a highly mechanized warehouse setting around production machinery. Moderate noise and traffic require attention to safety. Some work areas involve a moderate risk requiring exercise of safety precautions when operating or

working around the automated equipment (i.e., accumulators, moving belts, etc.). Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory when handling specific medications and in certain areas of production or assignment.The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion and activity, involving standing for prolonged periods of time on hard surfaces, lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs. unassisted and bending/twisting/stooping/reaching.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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