Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent VISN 7 Clinical Contact Center (CCC) employee's only. (SF-50 Required)

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

The incumbent serves as a Pharmacy Technician Supervisor in a VISN Clinical Contact Center (CCC) as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The Pharmacy Technician Supervisor in the CCC is responsible for assisting pharmacy management in providing and coordinating optimal pharmaceutical care activities in the VISN CCC in accordance with the department's mission, vision, a nd goa ls. The employee will operate on a broad delegation of authority with independence of action to function as a supervisor in coordinating and/or directing the activities of various levels of Contact Center pharmacy technicians including: planning, organizing, and reviewing work, resolving personnel matters, dealing effectively and professionally with employees and union representatives in regards to employee-management concerns, and administering annual performance appraisals. As required or assigned, the technician supervisor is expected to be fully functional to serve as a backup with respect to any duties normally performed by GS-7, and GS-8 Contact Center pharmacy technicians.

Administration/Supervisory

• Responsible for administering human resources actions and personnel matters and dealing effectively with employees and union representatives.
• Prepares the tour of duty for the VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians.
• Responsible for approving and denying leave requests, including but not limited to annual and sick leave, for VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians.
• Ensures compliance with established VA and pharmacy policies and procedures.
• Performs quality control of pharmacy technicians' work a nd calls.
• Completes job performance evaluations, recommendations for awards, and/or disciplinary actions for the VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians and makes recommendations to the VISN CCC Pharmacist Supervisor.
• Participates in the creation of VISN CCC Pharmacy Services standard operating procedures.
• Assists in the interview process and selection of VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians.
• Conducts technician meetings/huddles to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications.
• Encourages pharmacy technicians to report actual and/or potential medication errors or adverse events and participates in medical center and pharmacy service quality improvement initiatives to promote patient safety.

Education/Training

• Participates in meetings, conferences, and training programs relevant to the development and maintenance of the VISN CCC Pharmacy Service.
• Continually evaluates the VISN CCC Pharmacy Service for opportunities for improvement.

c . Assists in coordinating new employees' on-boarding experience (i.e. new employee training and
orientation to computer systems).
d . Responsible for implementing and documenting the training and expanding capabilities of
pharmacy technicians.
e . Identifies continuing education, training needs, etc. and responds to those needs when necessary.
f . Assists in preparing and updating the VISN CCC Pharmacy Service training materials.
g. Other duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Variable tours of duty. Rotating weekends and holidays. Tours of duty will be discussed during interviews.
Remote: This is a remote position.
Functional Statement #: 484-54746F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

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.
• Education or Experience: None Required.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• 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)
• 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."

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).

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.

Grade Determinations:

Pharmacy Technician GS-9

Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-8).
AND

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

AND

The candidate must demonstrate all the following additional supervisory KSAs:

• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers.
• Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G28

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

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

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.