Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent federal employees of Veterans Affairs. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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


Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Primary duties consist of pharmaceutical and supply order initiation, proper receipt of shipments, compliance with product storage requirements, inventory control through par levels and inventory turn analyses, compliance with fund control point rules and budgetary constraints, purchasing coordination with Pharmacy Benefits Management team at this facility, liaison with industry representatives, and managerial staff, and resource for financial update reports.

The duties of the Procurement / Inventory Pharmacy Technician include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ensures compliance with established purchasing and inventory procedures and maintains effective internal control over the physical product flow and accounting of assigned pharmacy inventory.
• Initiates procurement requests/purchase orders for all medications, medical and surgical supplies and other specialized medical devices handled by pharmacy, which are either stocked or special ordered via one of the following: Prime Vendor McKesson Connect, Government Purchase Card, VISTA request, or credit card.
• Works with the Pharmacy Benefits Management team concerning cost avoidance initiative involving drug conversions, drug recalls, drug substitutions and CMOP prescription rejects requiring local facilities to purchase and fill rejected prescriptions.
• Maintains accurate records of purchases, and monitors utilization rates for all medications and prosthetic devices.
• Checks in daily medication orders for accuracy, insuring quantity received corresponds to the quantity ordered.
• Maintains accurate records and initiates credit procedures if necessary and indicated.
• Identifies sources for purchase according to active contracts and specific ordering protocols and regulations.
• Keeps current on contracts, product availability, and prices to identify appropriate sources and ensures most cost effective products are purchased according to Federal Supply Schedule.
• Controls physical inventory at appropriate levels to assure on demand fills of prescription orders. Promptly replenishes shorted items within 24-48 hours.
• Assists and coordinates action to secure medications approved for therapeutic trials used at the medical center from manufactures and assists with maintaining appropriate records and controls.
• Assists with the appropriate disposition of medications after the therapeutic trials are terminated.
• Manages allocated funds to minimize waste and promote most efficient use of resources.
• Coordinates and reports findings of all activities related to drug recalls to include directing other sites to implement procedures related to locate, sequester, and return or otherwise dispose of products according to manufacturer and/or FDA requirements.

Work Schedule: Variable - Will be required to work variable tours of duty including evenings, weekends and holidays based on the needs of the service.
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)
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 authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 21403F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
• 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

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 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.

Grade Determinations Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory), GS-09

Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level (GS-08).

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:

• Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.).
• Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.
• Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
• Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections).
• Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical and supply inventory requirements to ensure compliance with regulations and national/audit/inspections (e.g., financial regulations, The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists®, DEA, USP 797/800, FDA 503A/B).
• Knowledge of clinical specifications, characteristics and ordering processes of a wide variety of soft prosthetics and supply items (e.g., catheters, colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy supply and associated products) that technicians procure to dispense to Veterans in the outpatient pharmacy setting.
• Skill in managing specialized programs related to inventory including, but not limited to, specialty medications and supplies, All Hazards Emergency Cache Program, recalls, reverse distribution and pharmaceutical waste.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in inventory management, purchasing, receiving, stocking and coordinating medication redistribution in inpatient/outpatient pharmacy.
• Minimum of one year experience in inpatient or outpatient pharmacy operations.
• Knowledge or experience with using government purchase cards.
• Experience with pharmacy supply items.

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-09.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), Light carrying (under 15 pounds), Straight pulling (2 hours), Pushing, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (up to 4 hours), Standing (prolonged), Repeated bending, Climbing, use of legs and arms (infrequent), Operation of motor vehicle, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Specific visual requirement (Ability to read fine print on labels), Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid permitted), Clear Speech, Emotional Stability, Good Dexterity

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.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.

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

• Certification from either Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or National Healthcareer Association (NHA) as Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

• REMINDER Current, permanent federal employees must submit recent SF-50 from the past 12 months which clearly shows current, permanent federal eligibility. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • General adjustment/Cost of living Increase
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held
  • Promotions SF-50's at the highest grade held within the past year
  • Cash Award, benefit changes or time off Awards 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted.
• Please check your electronic official personnel folder (eOPF) for your most recent SF-50. HR will not contact you for more info or documents. You can attach more than 1 SF50. All current, permanent federal employees applicants must ensure that they have included one or more SF50's showing current, permanent employment status in the past 12 months.

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
• Your full resume may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document uploaded field.
• Certification from either Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or National Healthcareer Association (NHA) as Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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