Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to the Required Documents below. This position is open to all current, permanent Federal Employees at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, VA Nationwide Employees, and all other Federal Employees.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties:
Required to have concepts, principles, methodology & policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.)

• Trains & orients new & existing pharmacy facility employees & students on proper policies & procedures.
• Evaluates, analyzes & coordinates workflow & work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Controlled Substances

• Prepares & fills all inpatient orders/requests for controlled substances for distribution. All prescriptions will be checked & signed by a pharmacist. Packages & labels of controlled substances for inpatient/clinic ward orders for controlled substances in accordance to VA Policy, SOP & Federal guild lines. Maintains all records for the distribution, returns & destruction of controlled substances to the inpatient pharmacy according to VA policy & federal laws.
• Receives new stock & returned stock into inventory, ensuring the accuracy of controlled drug records. Utilizes the VISTA Controlled Substance package exclusively to maintain an accurate inventory of drugs in vault.
• Conducts regularly scheduled inventories twice weekly & daily if needed. Resolves inventory discrepancies immediately when discovered by reviewing VISTA & Automation Unit reports & contacting appropriate persons when needed. Reports discrepancies to pharmacy supervisor for follow up. Interacts with controlled substance inspection officials, assisting with the inventory, review of invoices & VISTA/Pyxis reports. Resolves & answers discrepancies/questions resulting from the inspection team report.
• Authorizes & executes authority to initiate & complete all orders for controlled drugs, including local requirements, VACO directives, DEA requirements, & other state & local requirements.
• Monitors & analyzes orders & distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends. Communicates potential problems to supervisor.
• Monitors controlled substances stock levels, maintaining an appropriate level of stock to provide good patient care without excess stock. Assures that the vault stock is in date & stored according to recommendations of manufacturer & USP.
• Provides controlled substance training for technicians, pharmacists, inspectors, students, residents, while maintaining a training record.
• Requires a working understanding of principles relating to controlled substances, & the requirements of medical center policies & Federal & State regulations which apply to these drugs.
• Understands trending & analysis necessary to ensure that problems associated with waste, fraud or abuse are identified quickly & reported.

Other technician duties: Performs all the duties of a Pharmacy Technician at lower grades as assigned.

• Assists in inpatient & outpatient section as time permits performing all other duties as assigned to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services.

ADP Security:

• Accesses printed & electronic file containing sensitive data which must be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 & other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes & policy, & VHS policy. Protect is that data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations & instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in a computer access agreement which the employee signs.
• Understands drug & medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general & special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, manufacturer/distributor sources, dosage forms applicable system of weights & measures, & medical terminology in order to interpret physicians' orders & verify that correct drug, dosage form, strength, & dose are prepared & dispensed. Working understanding of drug use & dosage forms available to be able to screen drug orders for propriety & assist the pharmacist in solving potential problems. Has working knowledge of hospital computer system (VISTA/CPRS), specifically the applicable DHCP processing options & good keyboarding skills.
• Has thorough understanding of operation & capabilities of Inventory Management, Unit Dose Automation & automated dispensing systems & the ability to perform daily maintenance/minor repairs to such systems.
• Completes understanding of the laws, regulations & official policy concerning drug procurement & security to conform to legal & professional requirements of pharmacy practice.
• Engages in quality improvement process & the skill to participate in the process to improve services.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 6:00am-2:30pm; nights & weekends as assigned.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 59674-0
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 (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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will may 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. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: None required
• 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)

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:

Lead Pharmacy Technician, GS-08.

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. Lead pharmacy technicians perform duties independently, which consist of significant scope and complexity and will assist with technician oversight. Lead pharmacy technicians lead three GS-07 or more pharmacy technicians/employees/staff members, provide direction for daily operations and assume responsibility for integrating and monitoring standard pharmacy policies to maintain continuous workflow and quality within the service. Lead pharmacy technicians must do a combination of at least three of the following duties: prepare work schedules and assign tasks to ensure timely completion of duties; ensure pharmacy resources are in optimal working condition and address workflow needs; provide guidance and support of the work unit in supervisory absence; train personnel (including students) in methods, procedures and use of equipment and instruments specific to the assigned area; provide input to supervisor on performance and training needs of employees; adjust work assignments due to absences, emergencies or changes in priorities; resolve simple informal complaints of employees and patients, refer more difficult problems to the supervisor; or recommend approval and/or disapproval of leave requests.

• Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and demonstrate the KSAs below.
• 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.
• 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: One year inpatient pharmacy technician experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps