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Pharmacy Technician - Automation

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The North Florida/South Georgia VA Healthcare System is currently recruiting for a Pharmacy Technician (Automation). The position is located at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Florida. The Pharmacy Technician provides various technical support services within the pharmacy department involving highly complex duties and roles. "The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below."


Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/01/2025 to 10/14/2025
Salary
$62,626 to - $81,420 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Gainesville, FL
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
8
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTC-12791195-25-MR
Control number
847157000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. This is a shortage FY26 occupations and Veterans Preference is WAIVED (does NOT apply).

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Duties

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Major duties but are not limited to:

Automation (Automated Dispensing, Outpatient, Inpatient)

  • Understand and assists with the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized.
  • Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the improvement of the workflow, work methods, and priorities involved within the drug distribution system.
  • Reviewer responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems and assists with management oversight.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. General and advanced knowledge of all automated equipment used or provided by Pharmacy Service.
  • Has reviewer responsibility for the addition of new items and archiving of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems. Assists with management oversight, when requested.
  • Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained per manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule to minimize downtime.
  • Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors.
  • Thoroughly understands VA Pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage Pharmacy automation equipment.
  • Thoroughly understands investigational drug policies and procedures, if applicable, as they relate to Pharmacy automation equipment.
  • Working knowledge of pharmacy and narcotics activity to generate any necessary reports to assist staff and/or independently resolve, troubleshoot and complete assigned projects in a prompt and efficient fashion.
  • The technician assists by tracking activity in the involved equipment to clarify discrepancies, unauthorized and/or illegal activity and reports such information to the appropriate sources.
  • Attends regulatory meetings regarding all Automation and provides learned knowledge to the pharmacy staff.
  • Inspects assigned areas in accordance with facility policy and procedures.
  • Monitor temperatures of drug storage areas and maintain appropriate certification for equipment.

Work Schedule: Generally an 8-hour tour Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00am - 8:00pm. Employee may be required to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays based on needs of the service. The hours may vary per the needs of the service and will rotate, on a fair and equitable basis.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 52194
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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).
  • Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement."
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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:

  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • 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).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 Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
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:
GS 8 Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07). Experience includes but is not limited to: Work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(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: Automation (Pyxis ES, ScriptPro, TCG-Rx, etc.) experience preferred. Understanding of pharmacy software systems (Viewpoint, Simplifi, etc.)

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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service

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.

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. 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.

Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies but will be applied to all
other applicants.

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