Clarification from the agency

This is ONLY open to current permanent federal employee at the Salt Lake City VAHS and Current or former OAAs NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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• Provides oversight of the pharmacy service fund control point activity, budget expenditures and all procurement activity to ensure full accountability and reconciliation per VHA financial policy.
• Collects, analyze and prepare data to complete monthly budget reports on current and past spending patterns.
• Provides financial status reports for review to ensure compliance to pharmacy budgetary goals and objectives.
• Participates in forecasting the budget for the next fiscal year, function as contracting officer representatives and ensure all VA policies, regulations and payments are interpreted, applied and completed accurately and timely. This includes developing contracting acquisition packages with all required documents, including but not limited to market research, independent Government cost estimate, statement of work/performance work statement, quotes, proof of funding, etc.
• Develops standard operating procedures, training programs and material for orientation, educational needs and regulatory requirements within the pharmacy and the facility.
• Investigates a variety of unusual supply problems, including specialty medication purchases, backorders and questions from pharmacy or physician stakeholders.
• Provides administrative and procurement support to all Pharmacy Service programs, which include clinical and distributive areas, serving in an overall decision-making, policy development, and resource planning role.
• Coordinates administrative and operational activities for Pharmacy Service, providing input and recommendations for management decision-making and resource planning.
• Assists with the development, implementation, evaluation, and interpretation of administrative policies and procedures to ensure compliance with facility and service goals, collaborating with pharmacy leadership to communicate management direction and assess productivity, personnel utilization, and resource management.
• Organizes, coordinates, and compiles information for management reviews, briefings, and accreditation activities(e.g., Joint Commission, OIG, ASHP Residency Program).
• Coordinates and assists with staff training including residents, students, contractors, and employees.
• Prepares and supports proposals and memorandums to support evolving work environments and enhance.
• Prepares for and maintain special accreditations, inspections and reviews (e.g., The Joint Commission, Office of Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists, controlled substances inspect.
• Solves problems and implement corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
• Required to know budgetary and pharmacy procurement operating procedures such as, but not limited to -budget reconciliation, annual wall to wall inventory, sterile compounding and service contracts.
• Manages supply problems such as back orders, interchangeability of products during shortages or finding suitable replacement products.
• Monitors the quality of input and output of automated/perpetual medication inventory management systems. Requests and meets with pharmaceutical representatives to obtain technical information on new and improved drugs and equipment.
• Serves as patient advocate and assists in resolving patient grievances and dissatisfactions, enhancing public relations activities for Pharmacy Service.
• Assists with administrative response for congressional correspondence and corrective action.

Work Schedule: M-F 7:30am-4:00pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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 (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: May Be Available on an ad-hoc basis as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 615260
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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 or 2-year trial period 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• 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).
• 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 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-10 Experience and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory). 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-09).

-AND-

In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-10 level, you must possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

- Ability to analyze data for performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.
- Ability to prepare for and maintain special accreditations, inspections and reviews (e.g., The Joint Commission, Office of Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists, controlled substances inspections).
- Ability to solve problems and implement corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
- Expert knowledge of budgetary and pharmacy procurement operating procedures such as, but not limited to, budget reconciliation, annual wall to wall inventory, sterile compounding and service contracts.
- Skill in managing supply problems such as back orders, interchangeability of products during shortages or finding suitable replacement products.
- Skill in monitoring the quality of input and output of automated/perpetual medication inventory management systems.
- Ability to write policies and procedures for pharmaceutical procurement, inventory management and contracting processes.
- Ability to develop contracting acquisition packages with all necessary required documents including, but not limited to, market research, independent Government cost estimate, statement of work/performance work statement, quotes, proof of funding, etc.

Preferred Experience: COR level 2, experience managing contracts.

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

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The work may require desk work or regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, pushing carts, 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.

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.