Major duties include, but are not limited to:

1. May work in any of the following areas: Automated dispensing, labeling, manifesting, packing and receiving. With additional advanced training, may be authorized to work in manual fill.
2. Assembling drugs and supplies. Assembles and packages drugs and supplies for mailing to patients. Knowledge of special packing techniques for various medications, e.g., narcotics, refrigerated items, bulk supplies and nutritional products are required. May also be required to manifest packages for appropriate delivery services.
3. Transports stock from receiving to storage and dispensing areas.
4. Assist in daily cleaning, to include emptying and/or relining the trash receptacles and breaking down cardboard boxes and preparing for disposal and/or recycling.
5. Recommends changes for the improvement of workflow, work methods and priorities involved.
6. Report downtime problems, actions and resolutions for all interruptions in production that exceed 10 minutes.
7. Accurately interpret, fills and readies prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
8. Assist with basic inventorying activities and checks for outdated pharmaceuticals.
9. Alert appropriate personnel when automated dispensing equipment is compromised.
10. Receive all pharmaceuticals including restricted pharmaceuticals e.g. controlled substances, into the inventory database, storing, and ordering pharmaceutical supplies.
11. Receive supplies and checks receipts against requisitions. Checks for shortages, tampering, breakages, deterioration, and date of expiration. Selects and transports to proper storage and dispensing areas for pharmaceuticals, e.g., poisons, flammables, perishables, controlled substances, etc.
12. Clean workstation and replenishes all materials needed i.e. labels, papers, bottles, etc, to perform daily duties.
13. Identify, remedy and/or reports tote traffic back-ups.
14. Complies with Safety, Occupational and Health Standards and Policy.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• May be required to pass a pre-employment examination.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/21/2020.

Basic Requirements for Pharmacy Technician:

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: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.

Certification: Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above.

Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists."

Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure / certification / registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure / certification / registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

-Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure / certification / registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.-Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

-Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.

-Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

-Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure / certification / registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

-If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Policy.


GS 05 Pharmacy Technician Requirements

GS-05 Education or Experience: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included at least 24 semester hours of courses related to pharmacy or pharmacy technology; successful completion of pertinent specialized training courses in pharmaceutical and pharmacy services while serving in the Armed Forces is creditable on a month-for-month basis up to the 1 year of experience required for the GS-5 level;

OR

At least 1 year of experience at the next lower level that demonstrates the core competencies (KSAs) described at the GS-4 level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment.
2. Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique.
3. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
4. Knowledge of pharmacy information systems.

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, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will recommend grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

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.