Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient)

Summary

This position is located within the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. This position provides support to all pharmacy operations in a variety of settings to include patient care activities in the main outpatient dispensing pharmacy, phone center, outpatient clinic, administration area, or other area as assigned by the supervisor.

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Duties

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Medication Distribution System:

Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed with regard to drug, strength, quantity, or appropriate supply item.

Maintains highly sophisticated pharmacy equipment. This includes cleaning procedures and maintenance of ADM's and other counting machines. Troubleshoots equipment and databases when needed.

Accurately or updates patient information in the many pharmacy software packages such as ADM's and EHRM.

Comprehends and participates in procurement activities, inventory management, narcotic dispensing, secure messaging, overnight mail, partial fills, window dispensing, administrative reports, prescription review, and incident reports as delegated by supervisor.

Pharmacy Phone System:

Capable of synthesizing patient information to identify basic therapeutic, distributive, or medication related problems.

Able to work independently in phone center locations and accurately collects and clarifies patient information.

Pharmacy Mail System:

Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy in other software or paper systems

Fills medication "to be mailed" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section.

Assists with other medication distribution activities as directed by pharmacist, supervisor or as delineated as part of the shift responsibility.

Medication Management System:

Assists to complete required pharmacy reporting obligations as directed.

Maintains pharmacy security which includes the physical security of the pharmacy and the security of electronic records.

Maintains accountability for tour of duty which includes being ready for their tour of duty at the start of their shift, and being on time as they return from lunch, breaks, or other assigned meetings and activities.

Understands waste streams for returned medications and medications to be destroyed.

Controlled Substances (CS) - if assigned:

Able to run reports such as "Monthly CII Script Processing Detail Reports" or other reports as needed.

Verify inventory with VA Logistics Officer and accurately stocks ADM with new inventory.

Matches hardcopy prescriptions to prescription labels according to current federal and state requirements in a timely fashion.

Monitors prescription orders for dispensing accuracy and communicates potential problems to supervisor.

Performs equipment maintenance on automation as directed.

Trains developmental pharmacy technicians and students in the medication management system, controlled substances, pharmacy mail system, pharmacy dispensing and distribution systems.

Performs other duties as assigned

Work Schedule : 8:00am - 4:30pm; 9:30am - 6:00pm - Saturday, Sundays and Holidays 8:00am - 4:30pm

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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 # : 10211F

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 evaluation.
• 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

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 or Experience.

(1) None required.

(2) 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:

(1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

OR,

(2) National Healthcareer 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).

GS-07 Grade Determinations : In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the following:

Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06) . Experience includes: Reads and interprets prescriptions, Prepares medications and ensures the orderable item matches the item being dispensed; Uses Automatic Dispensing machines (ADM); Assists with automated or manual inventory processes such as inventory counts, medication ordering, stocking, checking for outdates, pulling outdates, pulling recalled medications, inspections or any other activity; Ensures prescription label matches mailing label and maintains accuracy; Assists the pharmacist with problem solving patient care or medication issues; Fills "CS medication" in accordance with description provided in the medication distribution section.

AND,

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrated the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

(1) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.

(2) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.

(3) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.

(4) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.

(5) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.

(6) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

Assignments: Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

Preferred Experience: 4 years of experience as a Pharmacy Technician

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements: Capable of sustained standing, walking, lifting and other procedures necessary to procure or delivery medications and supplies. The work involves long periods of moving, standing and pushing carts about the work unit. The requires regular and recurring bending lifting, stooping, stretching, and lifting.

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: 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:

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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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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.