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Pharmacy Technician

Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Become a part of an innovative, dynamic, nationwide organization of dedicated health care providers working to meet the individual health care needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Indian Health Service (IHS) employees are considerate in our care, creative in our approach, enthusiastic about our work and compassionate with our patients.

Our lifestyle is adventurous, community oriented and focused on service and problem solving as part of a professional interdisciplinary team. Join us in improving the health outcomes of 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Indian Health Service (IHS), Northern Plains Region, Bemidji Area, Cass Lake Service Unit, Division of Pharmacy, Cass Lake, Minnesota. The purpose of this position is to perform complex pharmacy technician duties.

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3. The IHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This position is being announced concurrently under Delegated Examining procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-18-BJ-10104058-DE; for eligibility requirements. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 12/21/2017
Closed date: 01/04/2018
Location
Work site options
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$32,844 - $47,598 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 6
Promotion potential
6
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Service
Announcement number
IHS-18-BJ-10103601-ESEP/MP
Control number
487262300

This job is open to

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Duties

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  • Assists the pharmacists in patient care activities such as prescription fills, verifying medical information, answers and triages incoming pharmacy telephone calls.
  • Performs computer data entry into the RPMS pharmacy and Point of Sale packages according to established guidelines.
  • Ensures controlled substances are handled according to policy and regulation.
  • Maintains pharmacy inventory
  • Ensures drugs are stored properly
  • Other duties related to the position

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment fingerprint check.
  • Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.
  • More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Selectee may be subject to a trial period.

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 01/04/2018

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Individual Occupational Requirements
Specialized Experience
For positions at GS-4 and above: Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, or in pharmaceutical firms or laboratories. Experience must have provided a basic knowledge of:

  • Pharmaceutical nomenclature;
  • Characteristics, strengths, and dosage forms of pharmaceuticals;
  • Pharmaceutical systems of weights and measures; and the
  • Variety of procedures and techniques involved in the care, storage, repackaging, bulk compounding, and distribution of pharmaceuticals.
OR
Education and Training
For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in pharmacy, or that included at least 24 semester hours in pharmacy-related courses.

Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision is creditable on a month-for-month basis for general experience.

Successful completion of pertinent specialized training courses in pharmaceutical and pharmacy practices while serving in the Armed Forces is creditable on a month-for-month basis up to the 1 year of specialized experience required for GS-5.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:
Experience and education requirements
The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to qualify for positions covered by this standard.
GS-05: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level and/or 4-year course study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation.
GS-06: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level. See the NOTE under the Education section
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements.
Education:
NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
Examples of Specialized Experience:
GS-05: Preparing outpatient prescriptions under a pharmacist's supervision; receiving, storing, repackaging, and distribution of pharmaceuticals; processing pharmaceutical insurance claims; dispensing medication refills under a pharmacist's supervision; care of equipment; coordinating supply and demand of products with users; prioritizing multiple tasks independently and effectively; assisting customers' needs in person, over the telephone and through electronic communication.

GS-06: Maintaining pharmacy inventory; performing pharmaceutical returns and recalls; troubleshooting supply shortages and problems with equipment.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

Additional information

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave is earned.

This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.

This position has promotion potential to the GS-06 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Security Clearance: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. You will receive instructions on how to obtain and submit fingerprints and background investigation documentation. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges.
  • This position is covered by Public Law 101-630, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (25 United States Code Chapter 34) requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this law, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
  • Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957. Seasonal Influenza immunization is required for civilian health care facility staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities.
  • The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.
  • Position is subject to nights, weekends and holidays.
  • Selectee(s) are required to have a viable bank account at a financial institution for electronic direct deposit of salary payment.
IHS - Operated Properties are tobacco free

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with this position. To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following:

  • Customer Service
  • Medications
  • Pharmacy Calculations
  • Pharmacy Tools and Software


You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance:
Click here to view vacancy questions:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10103601 . All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of 01/04/2018, to be considered.

Indian Health Service

Agency contact information

Lorin Howard
Phone
(218) 444-0487
Email
lorin.howard@ihs.gov
Address
Cass Lake Service Unit
425 7th Street NW
Cass Lake, MN 56633
US

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http://www.ihs.gov

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