Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to (Current & Permanent) Employees of the Amarillo VA Health Care System. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. Note: 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans preference to external applicants for appointments made from this announcement.

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Employees at this level independently perform assignments of substantial difficulty with minimal supervision, applying expert knowledge of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)/ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies, automated dispensing technologies, outpatient workflow, and controlled substance accountability.The incumbent acts as a subject matter expert and primary resource for technicians working within controlled substance areas, ensuring strict compliance, accuracy, and diversion prevention standards.

As a pharmacy technician, the incumbent provides day to day operational direction, assesses workload demands, assigns tasks to support efficient workflow, and ensures automation, equipment, and inventory systems remain fully functional and optimized. The technician integrates standard operating procedures into daily activities to support safe, accurate and compliant medication distribution. Responsibilities include guiding and supporting staff in the supervisor's absence; training and mentoring new and experienced technicians; identifying developmental needs; and participating in service wide quality improvement activities.

The Controlled Substance Technician also plays a key role in maintaining clear, consistent, and effective communication across the outpatient and controlled substance teams. This includes assisting with communication flow, reinforcing shared expectations, ensuring staff receive timely updates, and helping maintain alignment. The technician actively supports and promotes transparent information sharing, problem resolution, and coordination among staff to enhance operational consistency and team cohesion.

In addition to these responsibilities, the technician provides operational coverage for outpatient pharmacy technicians as needed. This includes performing medication dispensing, prescription preparation, call center support, inventory management, automated dispensing cabinet stocking/restocking and assisting with daily production and service continuity. The technician also performs quality assurance (QA) checks (monthly inspections, medication room audits, automation QA tasks) and workflow quality checkpoints.

The position additionally serves as the designated backup for the Lead Inpatient Controlled Substances Technician during scheduled leave or unplanned absences. In this capacity, the incumbent performs controlled substance dispensing, restocking automated dispensing cabinets, medication room inspections, quality-control practices, training support and other duties necessary to ensure consistent, compliant and uninterrupted pharmacy operations across inpatient and outpatient environments.

Controlled Substances Operations (Primary Specialty)

• Prepares, fills, dispenses, and manages controlled substance orders per all VA, VHA, DEA and facility policies.
• Accurately interprets and processes controlled substance outpatient prescriptions, selecting the correct medication, strength and dosage form; measures, counts and prepares required quantities; affixes all required labeling; and documents dispensing activities in full compliance with Federal and State law, DEA regulations, and VA policy. Following final pharmacist verification, dispenses controlled substances for ambulatory care, passes, discharges, hospital use, and long-term care.
• Coordinates timely processing and delivery of outpatient controlled substances, utilizing current mail labeling, hazardous material (HAZMAT) handling and tracking systems to ensure timely, safe, secure and accurate distribution. Periodically evaluates and adjusts delivery schedules to enhance workflow efficiency.

Duties are continued in the education Section of this announcement:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM, with rotating holidays
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
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)
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: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education or Experience:
  1. None required.
  2. For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.
• Certification (GS-07 and above): 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).
  2. National Healthcareer 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).

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
5. 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.

Grade Determinations:

Lead Pharmacy Technician, GS-0661-08

1. Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07). To be equivalent to the GS-08 level, experience must have also been earned while having an active CPhT or ExCPT as described below.
2. 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).
   2. National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs:
   1. 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.)
   2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
   3. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Preferred Experience:

• VA Experience
• Experience/knowledge with Directive 1108.01 & 1108.02
• Experience working in a VA hospital
• Experience working with Pyxis, Parata, Scriptpro equipment
• Experience filling and dispensing controlled substances

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

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements:
Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination

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.