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.

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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 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