Pharmacy Technician Job in Hines, IL

Summary

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

  Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Duties

The employee's work will involve performing various procurement support duties involved in the use of different and unrelated procedures and methods. The incumbent(s) will spend the majority of time (over 80%) correlating transactions that are not completely standardized; dealing with continually changing deadlines and priorities; completing assigned functions that are relatively broad and varied. The employee will use different established procedures to monitor inventory and automation request item descriptions for accuracy and adequacy; and will then monitor the status of the completion. The employee will review and reconcile various documents and records and resolve a variety of problems through the coordination with personnel.

1. Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized. Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the improvement of the workflow, work methods, and priorities involved within the drug distribution system.
2. Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy inventory/supply and automation. This will involve trouble shooting, regularly gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans.
3. Ensures that inventory/supply automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment.
4. 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
5. Utilizes proper inventory management to ensure sufficient stock of medications and supply are available to meet the needs of the pharmacy and patient care.
6. Removes expired medications from stock and processes them for safe removal, according to VHA Directives and standard operating procedures.
7. Ability to participate in process actions teams to improve inventory/automation/supply quality and safety, continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers.
8. Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.
9. Has oversight responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems.
10. Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems.
11. Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime.
12. Trains and orients pharmacy staff, and other medical center staff involved in operating the automation.
13. Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors.
14. Thoroughly understands VA Pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage Pharmacy automation equipment.
15. Thoroughly understands investigational drug policies and procedures, if applicable, as they relate to Pharmacy automation equipment.
16. Thoroughly understands controlled substance policies and procedures, including controlled substance inspection process, discrepancies and resolution.
17. Attends regulatory meetings regarding all inventory/automation and supplies and provides learned knowledge to the pharmacy staff.
18. Maintains a clean working environment and updates shelf labels as contracts dictate.
19. Assists in training and orients new personnel, volunteers, students, etc., in the technical phases of operations.
20. Possesses technical working knowledge and follows established policies and procedures of usage rates, stock levels, inventory maintenance concepts including just-in-time inventory and assist in annual or semiannual pharmacy wall-to-wall inventory.
21. Possesses technical knowledge of all aspects of drug characteristics and nomenclature for procurement and stock maintenance including:
    1. Generic and brand names.
    2. Dosage forms.
    3. Various systems of weights and measures.
    4. Drug product codes.
    5. Drug AB rating equivalence.
22. Incumbent must maintain training requirements, national pharmacy technician certification and meet annual competencies required for this position.

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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."

• 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

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 10/10/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12791195.

1. 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.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

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.