Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Hartford (VT); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Federal benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ VA White River Junction Healthcare System in White River Junction, Vermont, is recruiting a Pharmacy Technician at the GS-09 level to support Pharmacy Service.

The technician will count, pour, weigh, measure, mix, and compound medications, and prepare doses for inpatients, clinics, and outpatients. They work under pharmacists or senior technicians and coordinate with staff to ensure accurate dispensing.

Qualifications

• 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: 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
• 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 PTCB or ExCPT
• 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.
• Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician - GS-09: Experience
• One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level - GS-08
• AND Certification
• For positions above the full performance level - must hold an active national certification (CPhT or ExCPT)
• Demonstrated KSAs: expert knowledge in pharmacy operations, data analysis for performance improvement, problem solving with corrective actions, and regulatory compliance knowledge
• Assignments: higher-grade duties with significant scope and complexity 25%+ of the time
• Pharmacy Technician/Coordinators may manage programs under supervision
• Independent technical judgement in complex areas of pharmacy practice
• Coordinate and manage programs such as Controlled Substances, Automation & Informatics, Quality/Patient Safety, etc.
• Perks: Advanced computer skills and MS Office proficiency
• Preferred: editing KSAs training and regulatory compliance knowledge
• Reference: VA Qualification Standards
• Full performance level: GS-09
• Actual grade: GS-09
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Responsibilities

• This Pharmacy Technician 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
• Under the supervision of a Pharmacist or Supervisory Pharmacy Technician - perform routine pharmacy functions including receiving prescriptions in writing or electronically
• Prepare prescriptions by counting - pouring - weighing - measuring - and mixing the medication if necessary
• Maintain patient profiles - prepare insurance claim forms - stock - and take inventory of medications
• Prepare medications for inpatients in various settings - including sterile product preparation
• Performs additional duties as assigned
• Total Rewards: Full-Time - Rotating Shifts; 8-hour shifts; day/evening; some weekends/holidays
• Telework: Not Available; Virtual: Not a virtual position

Skills

Advanced computer skills

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

This Pharmacy Technician position is within the Pharmacy Service within VA White River Junction Healthcare System at the White River Junction - Vermont location.

This Pharmacy Technician position is within the Pharmacy Service within VA White River Junction Healthcare System at the White River Junction - Vermont location.

Qualifications

• 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: 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
• 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• 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: Pharmacy Technician - GS-09: Experience
• One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level - GS-08
• AND 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)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above Pharmacists assigned to this position 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
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments
• Pharmacy Technician
• Pharmacy technician coordinators perform the full range of program coordination in their specialized area of pharmacy
• These positions require independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice that have specific laws - significant regulatory requirements and quality/safety standards
• They organize - coordinate and manage single or multiple programs under the delegation of pharmacy supervisors or Associate Chiefs
• Pharmacy technicians at this level must have expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the complex program area and manage all aspects of compliance with these standards with limited input from pharmacy supervisor(s)
• Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a coordinator in areas requiring detailed regulatory oversight and record keeping including - but not limited - to the Controlled Substance Program - Research/Investigational Drug Program - Procurement - Automation & Informatics program - Quality/Patient Safety - Clinical or Call Center
• Preferred Experience: Advanced computer skills preferred
• Microsoft Office proficiency preferred
• 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• This Pharmacy Technician 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.Duties include but are not limited to: Under the supervision of a Pharmacist - or Supervisory Pharmacy Technician - pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including receiving prescriptions from patients in writing or electronically from physicians
• Prepare prescriptions by counting - pouring - weighing - measuring - and mixing the medication if necessary
• Maintain patient profiles - prepare insurance claim forms - stock - and take inventory of medications
• Prepare medications for inpatients in various settings - including sterile product preparation
• Performs additional duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-Time - Rotating Shifts
• 8-hour shifts rotating - some weekends required and holidays
• Primarily day shift with some evening shifts
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F06761 as a GS-09
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• 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) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position
• This position is covered by a special rate
• Narrative responses to the KSAs may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• SF-50s must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C.
• 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.