Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. This occupation is listed on the OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration's Occupational Staffing Shortages Fiscal Year (FY25). Therefore, this vacancy announcement is exempt from Veterans Preference.

Videos

This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the full performance level GS-7 at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision of a pharmacist and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance.

Other duties and functions include but are not limited to the following:

General

• The incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs), unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices.
• Works independently to accomplish work objectives and provide exceptional customer service to customers, relying on the guidance and professional support of the pharmacist.
• Perform assigned duties according to well-established procedures in the Pharmacy Service.

Sterile Product Compounding

• Follows USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required.
• Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery.
• Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.
• Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance.
• Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding sterile products.
• Performs necessary calculations to compound intravenous solutions and prescriptions.

Unit Dose Medication Management

• Utilizes, cleans and maintains a variety of complex Pharmacy equipment including tablet counters, laminar flow hoods, scales, pumps, unit dose packaging equipment, ADCs, etc.
• Accurately and efficiently utilizes all automated pharmacy systems. Automated pharmacy systems include, but are not limited to prepacking system, and Pyxis.
• Inputs, manipulates, view and prints data from the VISTA data-base as needed, to process workload.
• Replenishes crash cart trays, emergency kits, etc. in a timely manner. Completes and maintains all required documentation/logs.
• Uses and maintains ATP Profile machine. Makes configuration changes, change in drugs to make the machine run more efficiently.
• Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas.

Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock

• Reviews, fills and dispenses ward stock orders, assuring quantities requested are consistent with established levels. Delivers ward stock orders in a timely manner.
• Monitors ward stock usage rates (via VISTA ARWS cost reports), to prevent drug shortages due to increased use. Identifies low use items and adjusts stock levels to eliminate excessive ordering and waste.
• Accurately fills prescription items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports.
• Performs and documents an inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage. Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations, stocks shelves, and the unit dose automated dispensing systems.
• Assures that each area that is inspected meets established standards for appropriate drug storage conditions including drug security for inspection and accreditation.

Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts (Days, evenings, weekends, overnight, holidays)
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41219F

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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Pharmacy Technician, GS-07

• Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-6) grade level.
• Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  • The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board as a CPhT. Or,
  • The National Healthcareer Association as a ExCPT.
• 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.

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).

Preferred Experience. Recent experience compounding hazardous sterile products and CSPT certification.

Reference. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This position is above Full Performance Level.

Physical Requirements. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies and bending/stooping/stretching.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants

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.