Lead Pharmacy Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Northampton (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Pharmacy Service in Northampton, Massachusetts is seeking a Lead Pharmacy Technician to perform duties at the GS-08 level.

Responsibilities include overseeing outpatient and inpatient medication preparation, coordinating workflow, and ensuring compliance with pharmacy policies. Candidates must have an active state license, national certification (PTCB or ExCPT) and English proficiency; experience with VA systems (Vista/CPRS), ScriptPro, and Microsoft

Qualifications

• Must hold an active state Pharmacy Technician license.
• National certification (PTCB or ExCPT) required or grandfathering provision eligibility.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Lead three GS-07+ technicians, oversee daily operations and workflow.
• Develop work schedules and assign tasks to ensure timely duties.
• Provide training and guidance to staff; communicate with supervisors.
• Assist with higher level functions in outpatient pharmacy.

Skills

Pharmacy knowledge

Staff training

Workflow coordination

Education

State Pharmacy Technician license (active)

Tools

VISTA CPRS

ScriptPro

Microsoft Office

Job description

This position is located in Pharmacy Service. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing or compounding oral and intravenous medications. The pharmacy technician may also prepare medications for distribution to inpatient wards and clinics and outpatients for pickup and mailing. The pharmacy technician works in collaboration with other pharmacy technicians and responds to requests of pharmacists and other pharmacy supervisory staff. 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

• 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level, 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).

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-0661-08

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 (GS-06), 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.

Assignment

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.

The lead technician will be able to perform all pharmacy technician duties as it relates to the outpatient pharmacy. Furthermore, in addition to leading GS-07 technicians and students, they will have knowledge, skills and abilities to cover higher level functions as applicable to the particular outpatient pharmacy setting- this can include filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, triaging customer service issues/requests from call centers, managing workflow, basic inventory procurement processes, and training and orienting staff in the pharmacy.

Preferred Experience

• Licensed: Valid/active state Pharmacy Technician license.
• Pharmacy Technician Experience: The preferred candidate will have at least 3 years of pharmacy technician experience.
• Leadership or Supervisory Experience: The preferred candidate will have at least 1 year of lead or supervisory experience; including training and mentoring staff, assessing and directing workflow.
• Software and Program Experience: The preferred candidate will have experience with VA software (e.g. Vista and CPRS), ScriptPro, Microsoft Office.

Reference

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

Physical Requirements

Principal duties of this position require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, medical supplies, stock boxes etc.; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Ability to operate automation. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively. An ability to perform tasks.