Pharmacy Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a GS-07 Pharmacy Technician at the Wilkes-Barre VA Healthcare System.

The role requires national certification (PTCB or ExCPT) and the ability to work autonomously under pharmacist supervision, performing a full range of pharmacy support duties. Responsibilities include unit dose preparation, IV admixture, stock management, automated dispensing equipment operation, and dispensing medications for inpatient and outpatient settings.

Qualifications

• Must be nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT.
• Able to work autonomously under supervision of a pharmacist.
• Experience with patient and customer interactions is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions for pharmacist verification.
• Maintain clean, organized work areas and stock in assigned places.
• Store and secure drugs per USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk and refrigerated items.
• Receive, check, rotate, and reconcile items from procurement; ensure correct items received.
• Operate automation dispensing equipment following safety and QA procedures.
• Inspect areas monthly for proper storage and disposal of soon-to-expire drugs.
• Compound or reconstitute non-sterile medications as required.
• Accurately measure and mix ingredients; ensure proper labeling and records.

Skills

PTCB/ExCPT Certification

Autonomous work ability

Customer relations

Tools

Automated dispensing equipment

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level, GS-07, at the Wilkes-Barre VA Healthcare System. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties.

Key Responsibilities

The purpose of the GS-07 Pharmacy Technician position is to function in various areas of the inpatient or outpatient Pharmacy. e.g., unit dose, IV admixture, various storage areas, offices and patient care areas depending upon the area of administrative assignment of the incumbent, under the supervision of the designated Supervisor, or a registered pharmacist in the absence of a Supervisor.

GS-7 Pharmacy Technicians typically carry out the full range of technical support functions described below.

These include but are not limited to; inpatient preparation and distribution of unit dose medications; intravenous admixtures; stock management; operation, maintenance, re-stocking and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment processing; filling outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter products and supply items; patient and customer relations; and preparation and maintenance of various logs, records and reports.

The incumbent may be required to perform some or all of the functions; however, the relative percentages of time spent performing each specific function varies with the area of administrative assignment. The tour of duty for this position will be a rotating schedule through Inpatient and Outpatient Pharmacies, as determined by the respective section supervisor, for the needs of Pharmacy Service.

Duties: Accurately interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optional work areas Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures.

Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile).

This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification Manufactures products requiring compounding, whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and attains a final check by a pharmacist Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels.

for window dispensing and mail delivery Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas Delivery of medications to floors in a timely manner Inventories and replenishes emergency crash carts. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotating schedule 6am - 10pm, 8 hour shifts 5 days / week, to include weekends and holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Applicable Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 693-03226-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements & Education

Education beyond a high school diploma is not required to qualify for this position.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $50460 – $65599/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-02.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.