Lead Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The Lead Pharmacy Technician performs duties independently which consist of significant scope, complexity and leads at least three GS-07 or more technicians. May be Inpatient, Outpatient, or other specialized areas of the pharmacy at the facility level. This position is responsible for the guidance, training, and technical direction of all pharmacy non-pharmacist technical staff and volunteers within the designated area of pharmacy under the direction of the Pharmacy Supervisory Technician.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

05/06/2024 to 05/28/2024

• Salary

$63,420 - $82,444 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 8

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Location

2 vacancies in the following location:

• Martinsburg, WV

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0661 Pharmacy Technician

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTF-12408277-24-CT

• Control number

789976700

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This job is open to

• Federal employees - Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent employees of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center Pharmacy Service only.

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Duties

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Major Duties:

• Assists pharmacy supervisor technician in quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services.

• Assess workload volume throughout the day, identify backlogs, and makes staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals.

• Identify areas of duplication of efforts and develop solutions to streamline processes, reduce waste, cost savings, and improve patient care.

• Responsible for organizing and assisting the pharmacy technician team to ensure assigned tasks are timely and accurately completed for their program area.

• Coordinate day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy area equipment and automation.

• Promote harmonious relationships within the work environment and support the needs of the team and customer.

• Listens to informal complaints of employees and other customers in a helpful and timely fashion. If not able to remedy a situation, the lead will notify the pharmacy supervisor.

• Assists in training and orientating new and existing pharmacy technicians and students on policy and procedures.

• Develops training scheduled and assists in maintaining documentation for all pharmacy technicians and students.

• Effectively evaluates pharmacy activities to assist management to obtain short-and long-range objectives and goals.

• Serves as on-line back up to other pharmacy technicians within the designated area of pharmacy.

• Conduct technician meetings to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications.

• Assists in preparation of national, local, and special accreditations of pharmacy service. (Joint Commission, Inspector General, Controlled Substance Inspections, Drug Enforcement Agency) this includes documentation record updates, development of specific training and preparation of staff and compliance of policy and procedures.

• Proactively evaluates and analyzes data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.

Work Schedule: All Available Pharmacy Tours

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 613-24021-F

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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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 probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

• 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. For positions above the full performance , 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); OR

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)

• 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).

Grade Determinations:

• Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level 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:

• (a) PTCB as a CPhT; OR

• (b) 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 a 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, talking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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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 window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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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.