Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
The Lead Pharmacy Tech:
- Plans, directs, coordinates, and controls the technician workflow in the pharmacy to ensure efficiency in daily operations.
- Coordinates and assures completion of technician workload.
- Reassigns technicians to cover absences, specific tasks, or workload requirements, and adjusts work assignments accordingly.
- Observes technician staff, seeks methods to improve the general workflow and makes recommendations when appropriate.
- Identifies areas where operating efficiency and/or personal proficiency may be achieved.
- Checks and ensures the reliability of the automated dispensing systems operation and independently resolves various questions and problems which arise that might affect the Pharmacy.
- Provides feedback on performance of personnel assigned. Provides input to the tech supervisor of all aspects of performance to include recognition of outstanding performance, disciplinary problems, reassignments, and training needs of technical personnel.
- Orients and trains the newly assigned technicians in the pharmacy area.
- Assures that technical training forms are completed following training.
- Assures that yearly competencies are performed as appropriate.
- Identifies, provides, or makes provisions for developmental and training needs of employees.
- Ensures timely performance of a satisfactory amount and quality of work by section personnel. This includes spot checking the work in progress to ensure work is being performed pursuant to instructions.
- Makes on the spot corrections to ensure work meets prescribed standards (e.g., accepting, amending, or rejecting work).
- Works with procurement technician to ensure availability of pharmaceuticals in a manner which avoids preventable shortages, outages, or conditions of excessive stock. Communicates all low inventory levels which require immediate action directly to the procurement staff.
- Demonstrates a complete understanding and adhere to all policies and procedures of the department of pharmacy.
- Adheres to and participates in the quality improvement program of the department.
- Demonstrates a complete understanding of drug inventory system with daily accepting, reviewing, and signing McKesson's invoice for new shipment of medications prior to properly restocking these merchandises. Notifies the procurement technicians of any items that are not matched with the invoice or missing from the invoice.
- Assists the Pharmacists in dispensing prescriptions to the veterans in a timely fashion, with accuracy and efficiency.
- Consistently demonstrates an ability to keep up with patient workload.
- Demonstrates good judgment, decision making skills and customer service.
- Demonstrates good rapport and cooperative working relationship with coworkers.
- Ensures that the production of non-sterile compound product is in accordance with departmental policies and procedure and in compliance with USP 795 regulations.
- Demonstrates a complete understanding of the State and Federal Laws governing the handling and dispensing of controlled substances. Adheres to the controlled substance policies of the department.
- Participates in the pharmacy Call Center and promotes positive Customer Service with internal and external customers.
Duties are continued in the Education section of this announcement.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:45 PM
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: Yes-This is an onsite position. Telework may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53159F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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.
- You may be required to serve a trial period.
- 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
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).
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
Grade Determinations:
Lead Pharmacy Technician, GS-08
- In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07). NOTE: To be equivalent to GS-7, experience must be have also been earned while holding an active CPhT or ExCPT certification.
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
- 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.)
- 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:
- Two-to-three-year experience in training pharmacy technicians
- Two to three years' experience in high volume prescriptions Pharmacy (typing and dispensing above 300 prescriptions daily).
- Experience in writing standard operating procedures in outpatient setting
- Experience and involvement in patient safety and efficiency improvement projects in outpatient pharmacy setting
- Exceptional customer service record and ability to resolve conflicts and disputes between employees or customers and employees
- Two to three years of experience in supervising or leading over 10 pharmacy technicians
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:
Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
NOTE: If your school was accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the U.S. Department of Education website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
Duties Continued:
- Identifies veterans using the facility 2-patient identifiers, takes patient prescriptions orders and triage orders appropriately and in timely manner as per pharmacy prescription processing and dispensing procedures.
- Reads and interprets both handwritten and electronically transmitted prescriptions and accurately enters them in VistA for pharmacist to review.
- When assigned to filling prescriptions, obtains right medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order.
- After a final check by a pharmacist, completes the prescription process by delivering the right prescription to the right patient at window pick-up or packaging the prescription for mailing out to patient's address following proper procedures.
- Prepares non-sterile products requiring compounding which are made in large batches for more than one patient.
- Follows direction of the licensed pharmacist, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, compatibility, labels the product, maintains records of the production process, and supplies the product for delivery.
- Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.
- Documents the product information into the logbook as per policy and procedure.
- Cleans all equipment immediately after compounding and ensures the compounding room is clean and neat and no equipment/utensils are left in the sink.
- Prepares and fills all orders and requests for controlled substance.
- Receives new stock and checks into inventory by ensuring the accuracy of the controlled substance drug records.
- Conducts scheduled inventories twice weekly as per policy.
- Supports and cooperates with the controlled substance inspectors during monthly inspection.
- Provides proper documentation for all controlled substances that were claimed lost from mail by the veterans: Initiate Issue Brief for each case to be reviewed by the Pharmacy Outpatient Supervisor prior to forwarding to the facility director and the Controlled Substances Coordinator.
- Is authorized and executes authority to initiate and complete all orders for controlled drugs, including requirements, VACO directives, DEA requirements (including completing DEA forms) and other state and local requirements that apply.
- Monitors and analyzes orders and distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends. Communicates potential problems to the pharmacy operations supervisor.
- Provides training of controlled substance process for other new pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, inspectors, students, etc.
- Continuously monitors workflow through automatic dispensing devices and routinely calibrates cassettes to ensure the high performance, good quality, smooth workflow, and prevention of errors that occur during the normal operation of the system.
- Inventories and replenish automated dispensing devices without a second view.
- Performs record keeping and inventory management of automatic dispensing devices to ensure downtime is minimized. Stocks pharmaceuticals into the computer system. Cycle counts to ensure proper inventory is on hand. Evaluate and set weekly par levels as required.
- Collects date for quality improvement purposes. Makes recommendations to improve the processes used. Trains and orients new personnel in the technical steps for operation and reports the progress to the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor.
- Operates and performs routine maintenance as per automated system Quality Assurance guidelines to maintain high performance of the system and minimized down-time.
- Develops skills to facilitate correction of the automated systems. Initiates call for assistance from engineering staff, information services, and the manufacturers help desk. Coordinates assistance from the vendor system for diagnostics and follows instructions to correct system technical difficulties.
- Documents downtime problems, actions, and resolution.
- Calibrates and cleans the automated system canisters to maintain the system at a maximum capacity. Maintains a file for each canister calibrated. Keeps the canister drug files updated.
- Performs all daily, weekly, and monthly Quality Assurance monitoring as per manufacturer's recommendations.
- Finds NOC numbers for each drug and matches part to calibrate the canisters.
- Disassembles, assembles, and replaces inventories and orders automated system canister parts.
- Notifies the procurement technician when running low of any supplies for the automated system.
- Assists the pharmacist in the pre-packing and filling or nursing home orders in a timely manner.
- Enters all required information into SNH/CS pre-packing log as outline by pharmacy protocol and Standard Operation Process "Medication Distribution to Ambrosio Guillen Nursing Home Patients".
Benefits
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.
Review our benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/12/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12776801.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.