Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is only open to current employees of the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. Veteran's Preference does not apply. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This position provides Pharmacy Technician support to all assigned areas of the Pharmacy service. Responsibilities include receiving, filling, compounding, and distributing medication orders, daily operation and maintenance of automated equipment, participation in inventory control, and collection of data for reports/statistical purposes.

Maintenance of current Pharmacy Technician certification is required.Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified, cross trained, and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, compounding chemotherapy, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in specialized areas.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Inpatient

• Compounds products involving variations from standard formulae.
• Mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner; inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance; labels the product correctly; maintains records of the manufacturing process; and supplies the product for delivery.
• Uses either standard protocols or judgment to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared
• When assigned to IV admixture duty area will apply rigid aseptic techniques in preparing sterile solutions (utilizing USP 797/800 compounding standards)
• Uses proper sterile technique to ensure the solution is not contaminated and potentially harmful to the patient.
• Prioritizes drug orders according to established pharmacy procedures.
• Reads medication orders, retrieves repackaged, labeled container, or bulk stock container and measures proper amounts into a dispensing container for Pharmacist to perform a final check of the work
• Reads individual orders and determines kind, strength, and dosage of drug to be dispensed

Outpatient

• Order entry of prescriptions in pharmacy heath information systems & process outside eRx prescriptions and faxes.
• Assists in Pharmacy Phone Triage Help Desk insuring timely and accurate information.
• Correctly packages, for shipment by mail, courier, drugs being sent to patients or to VA clinics.
• Operates and maintains complicated Pharmacy equipment.
• Conducts periodic inspections of medications for assigned storage areas.
• Coordinates receipt and appropriately disperse stock into designated storage areas.
• Ensure bar-coding or other electronic tracking is completed in all aspects of inventory control. Includes scan ability on receipt, on individual packaging to the clinic/ward, and in automated equipment.
• Assists in inventory management include, but not limited to, removal of medications inappropriate for use, recalled medication removal, monitoring unusual or excessive demand.
• Assists in inventory control in assigned areas for point of care automation such as Pyxis, Pharmacy Emergency Cache, and narcotics vaults.

Additionally,

• Repackages liquids, tablets, capsules, etc., into specified quantities and various size containers.
• Ensures the correct use of tablet and capsule counting and packaging machines, labeling machine to repackage a wide variety of pharmaceuticals from bulk stock containers into smaller containers or unit dose forms, and to make and apply appropriate labels.
• Determines quality based on discoloration, expiration dates, etc., and decides if product is acceptable for use.
• Ensures that information such as generic name of drug, manufacturer's name, lot number, control number, shipment number, etc., are properly recorded on inventory records and on labels.
• Assembles and packages drugs and supplies for distribution.
• Operates and maintains complicated Pharmacy equipment
• Receive verification from pharmacist prior to dispensing to inpatient floors or patients
• Delivers medications to wards, out-patient departments, procedural areas, etc.
• Effectively uses knowledge of special packing techniques for various medications e.g., liquids, flammables, hazardous materials, and narcotics.
• Receives supplies, checks for shortage, tampering, breakage, deterioration, or expiration.
• Selects proper storage area for medications.

Work Schedule: M-F 0700-2200 with rotating weekends, evenings and holidays
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be 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

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:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• Education or Experience:
  1. None required.
  2. 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 (GS-07 and above): 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).
  2. National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

Grandfather Provision: A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS-07

Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower 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: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
2. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
3. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
4. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
5. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
6. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

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

Physical Requirements: Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include but are not limited to significant computer work/typing, prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. The incumbent should be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds without significant difficulty. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging.

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:

• Resume (required) - Resume must include the following information for each job listed: job title, salary, duties, start and end dates to include day-month-year, full time, or part time status (include hours worked per week). Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
• SF 50 (required), include your most recent (dated within the past 12 months) non-award SF-50,Notification of Personnel Action, that shows your current title, series, grade, step, salary, and tenure.
• Certification (Required)

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
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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