Summary

The certified GS-8 Pharmacy Technician Procurement/Inventory is responsible for all prescription and non prescription medications and pharmaceutical supply purchasing and inventory in a highly complex area of Pharmacy Service at the North Florida/ South Georgia Veterans Health System.

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
• (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 Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5 - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-08
• (1) Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below
• (2) 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
• (3) 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: (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
• (4) Assignments
• Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory)
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this level serve as an ordering officer delegated by the national acquisition center contracting officer for the purpose of ordering against the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract and national blanket purchase agreements (BPA) for pharmacy
• They are responsible for ordering medications and supplies from required sources and meeting contract compliance while maintaining multiple complex accounts with the PPV
• They utilize the Government purchase card program for direct orders up to the micro purchase threshold per VA financial policy
• Pharmacy technicians at this level are responsible for regulatory and formulary requirements to meet patient needs within budgetary limits Additional Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• (A) Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement - distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment
• This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and DEA requirements and regulations
• (B) Ability to assist in determining and modifying as necessary: ordering intervals - inventory levels and cost-effective ordering quantities from required sources based on current financial conditions in pharmacy - seasonal variations in drug usage - changing patterns in medical practice - delivery time requirements and urgency of medical need
• Preferred Experience: Prior purchasing and Inventory experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time - typing - walking distances within the medical center - lifting/carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies - and bending/stooping/stretching.

Duties

• Serve as ordering officer for pharmacy service - delegated by the VA National Acquisition Center (NAC) while maintaining annual training requirements
• Initiates ordering requirements of pharmaceuticals - specialty - and supply items through pharmacy prime vendors multi complex accounts or other mandatory sources
• Responsible for adherence to federal contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market - ensuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation
• Assists in determining ordering intervals and stock levels appropriate to meet changes in formulary - brand to AB rated generic drugs - contract changes - conversions - new drug indications including backorders and seasonal changes
• Procures all types of pharmaceuticals including controlled and non-controlled drugs within established VA ordering guidelines - policies - and procedures within inventory management specialized area with the understanding of proper budget utilization
• Purchases using National contracts (NAT) - Federal supply schedules (FSS) - Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and open market etc
• to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations - and policy - understanding the contracting hierarchy of all purchases
• Incumbent will download invoices daily as part of the drug accountability process or other inventory management system
• Incumbent may be required to obtain necessary certification to order narcotic medications through pharmacy prime vendor
• Purchases using government issued credit cards for micro purchase limits with understanding of when to use
• while maintaining required proper documentation - and reconciliation of receipt of all orders for auditing and accountability purposes - training - etc
• Reconciles all credit card purchases in a timely manner
• Possesses technical knowledge of VA and regulatory agency requirements for drug storage and special requirements for procurement - storage - distribution - and handling of various hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceuticals
• Other technicians duties as assigned Work Schedule: 8-hour tour generally Monday - Friday Between the hours of 7:00am - 6:00pm (Rotating coverage of evenings - nights - weekends - and holidays - assigned on a fair and equitable basis in accordance with service needs)
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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) 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized