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Lead Pharmacy Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration Clinical Contact Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Lead Pharmacy Technician in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Clinical Contact Center serves as part of an interdisciplinary health care team. The incumbent is a nationally certified pharmacy technician who is efficient, motivated, and is focused on customer satisfaction. This position is performed above the full performance level and includes a range of higher-level duties.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/20/2025 to 08/23/2025
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$66,899 to - $86,975 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes - This position is remote work eligible and is exempted from return to office requirements. Remote exempted positions are reviewed annually and do not imply permanent remote work status.
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - CCC is open a 365-day 24/7, 80 hours per pay period. Work schedules will be determined based on staffing needs and may require rotating shifts. Holidays and weekend work are required.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CAZM-12787093-25-KLI
Control number
843920600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY OPEN TO INTERNAL CURRENT PERMANENT VHA EMPLOYEES.

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Duties

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The incumbent is a nationally certified pharmacy technician who is efficient, motivated, and is focused on customer satisfaction. This position is performed above the full performance level and includes a range of higher-level duties. The Lead Pharmacy Technician in the VISN Clinical Contact Center is accountable to the appropriate VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Supervisor, or designee, and functions independently to lead a team of VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Technicians in day-to-day operations. Duties include but not limited to the following:

Medication Management

  • Works collaboratively with VISN programs, services, and interdisciplinary coordinated care team members to provide access to care and meet the needs of Veterans, their family members, and/or legal representatives via various available contact modalities to include but not limited to telephone calls, secure messaging, chat, text messaging, and video regarding a broad range of topics, including medication refills and renewals, basic billing inquiries, and procedural pharmacy activities.
  • Routinely reviews computer medication profiles for therapeutic duplication, prescription non-compliance and allergies/drug interactions.
  • Reviews patient's medical record and medication profiles to identify situations for polypharmacy and/or abnormal lab findings.
  • Processes and submits patient requests for new prescription orders and renewals (including controlled substances) into the computer accurately, thoroughly, and in a timely manner.
  • Consistently documents patient contact and resolution in VISN Clinical Contact Center software and/or the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to include, but not limited to, what was requested, what action was taken, and any other information which may be pertinent during future research.
Program Management
  • Resolves simple and informal problems and complaints regarding VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Services, technology platforms, and systems when production is compromised.
  • Assists in developing training guidance, provides training and orients VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Technicians.
  • Proactively monitors call volume and VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Technician performance through Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) metrics to identify personnel that may require further development and to determine where resources are needed.
Supervisory Controls:
The Lead Pharmacy Technician is accountable to a designated manager or other immediate supervisor who provides the administrative oversight, work assignment, management of time and leave and completion of all aspects of the performance evaluation. The Lead Pharmacy Technician works collaboratively with all levels of VA leadership and services within and outside of the VHA and VISN as well as non-VA health care entities which provide care to patients. The incumbent is responsible for reporting process delays, difficulties in meeting unit objectives, uncooperative employees or Veterans or difficulty in securing information required to complete the duties of this position.

Work Schedule: CCC is open a 365-day 24/7, 80 hours per pay period. Work schedules will be determined based on staffing needs and may require rotating shifts. Holidays and weekend work are required.
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 99330-S

Requirements

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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 trial period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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.
  • Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
    • (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).OR
    • (2) 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. ยง 7403(f).
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).

Grade Determinations: Lead Pharmacy Technician, GS-08
Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.
Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:(a) PTCB as a CPhT.OR(b) NHA as a ExCPT.In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
(a) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section.
(b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
(c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Preferred Experience:
  1. Five years of outpatient pharmacy experience
  2. Knowledge of call center processes and procedures
  3. Experienced in training clinical and administrative staff on multi-disciplined teams in organizational policies and procedures
  4. Ability to resolve technical/computer issues
  5. Very strong customer service skills
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-08.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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