Pharmacy Technician - Specialty

The Pharmacy Technician - Specialty is responsible for the first line management and operation of automated dispensing equipment, narcotic accountability, compounding, and/or any other higher-level technician functions as needed. They will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures for the dispensing and storage of drugs in the narcotic areas of use, automated equipment, compounding, and procurement.

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 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).

Grade Determination for GS-08 Pharmacy Technician:

1. Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) 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:
   • PTCB as a CPhT. OR
   • 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:
   • 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:

• 3 years IV Sterile Compounding experience OR IV sterile Compounding certification.
• 3 years CHEMO/Hazardous Sterile Compounding experience OR CHEMO/Hazardous IV Compounding certification.
• 3 years inpatient pharmacy experience.
• 3 years Omnicell (or similar) experience.
• 3 years Parata (or similar) experience.
• 3 years Narcotic 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.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs. light); moderate carrying (15 - 44 lbs.); straight pulling (3 hours); pushing (3 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (8 hours); standing (8 hours); kneeling (1 hour); repeated bending (1 hour); both legs required; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; specific visual requirement of DVA Correctable to 20/40; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted).

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Filling
• Communicating medication errors, adverse events, allergies, non-formulary/restricted status, etc.
• Read and interpret medication orders and distribution reports.
• Dispensing
• Automation
• Perform basic/routine maintenance per all equipment labeling and operating manual instructions.
• Set up, adjust, and maintain medications, accessories and supplies for the automation in the automation equipment.
• Recalibrate cassettes/canisters as necessary.
• Run, review, maintain and summarize automation reports.
• Serve as technical advisor and trainer to other pharmacy staff in the operation, calibration, and maintenance of automated pharmacy equipment.
• Participate in controlled substances inventories.
• Maintain appropriate security and storage of controlled substances according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Non-Hazardous and Hazardous Compounding
• Procurement
• Participate in writing, updating, training, and implementation of facility policy and procedures pertaining to automation.
• Run, review, and maintain automation reports.
• Serve as records management liaison.

Work Schedule: 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. with rotating evenings and weekends.
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)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 AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:PD51443F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $417