Clarification from the agency

This announcement is Open to all US Citizens and current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. Current, permanent employees of the facility (Including CBOC employees) should apply to announcement: CBSY-13099577-27-AP NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Videos

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:

• Maintains knowledge in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797/800/795, pharmacy law, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, VHA Directives, facility and departmental policies and procedures;
• Maintains competence in all operational aspects of pharmacy distribution services including sterile compounding, equipment maintenance, materials handling, automation, dispensing, labeling, packaging, documentation, controlled substance accountability, and unit dose management.
• Uses aseptic technique to compound both complicated and uncomplicated parenteral admixtures in the form of large volumes, small volumes, infusion syringes or sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as total parenteral nutrition and cardioplegia solutions.
• Completes departmental and facility mandatory training, such as TMS, fit testing, glove fingertip and media fill testing, critical point modules and other required sterile compound didactic tests within established timetables.
• Correctly interprets orders, selects products, calculates and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic and effective manner utilizing written procedural guidelines and manufacturer information. Inspects the final product for accuracy, stability and elegance. Labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for double check and timely delivery.
• Understands specific handling considerations for storage, distribution, and disposal of all unit dose and IV medications.
• Properly utilizes Personal Protective Equipment, needles, syringes, various drug reservoirs, and advanced knowledge of specialized techniques and procedures required for the safe handling of cytotoxic agents including negative pressure technique, hazardous waste disposal, and cytotoxic spill response.
• Operates and maintains pharmacy equipment systems and serves as subject matter expert for these systems.
• Responsible for triaging all phone calls to the inpatient area and refer to appropriate pharmacist as necessary.
• Coordinates dispensing activities while in the triage role by printing and filling the IV run, TPN review and renewal, printing on-demand sterile compounding requests, inventorying pre-packed items, maintaining a neat, clean, organized work area, stocks and checks for outdates, makes labels, and fills first dose and missing dose requests.
• Uses knowledge, skills, and abilities to collaborate with pharmacists to obtain clarification for prescriptions/orders.
• Maintains and stocks the pharmacy preparation and storage areas using the first in, first out process.
• Assists in ensuring that all cleaning schedules, ward inspection schedules, daily refrigerator/freezer temperature checks, sterile compounding room pressures, humidity and temperatures are documented, and monthly area inspections and assignments are met as required by department standard operating procedures and policies.
• Responsible for controlled substance inventory management, handling, disposal, and distribution while adhering to Federal law, FDA, VA, and DEA regulations.
• Demonstrates emotional maturity and stability to recognize and solve problems with advanced critical thinking and make appropriate clinical and ethical recommendations to avoid potential problems or improve the workflow and department.
• Assists with training and orientation of employees, students, and residents in the Inpatient Pharmacy according to the Pharmacy Department competencies, policies and procedures.
• Effectively prioritizes workload, communicates with others using effective written, oral, and nonverbal methods, and maintains flexibility and adaptability as changes arise.
• Assists in other patient care areas as deemed appropriate and necessary, including participating or assisting in patient care activities during emergency situations.

Work Schedule: Various tours; including days, evenings, weekends, holidays, and some overnight assignments.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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

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:

• 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.
  • 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: 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 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. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations:

GS-8 Pharmacy Technician

Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7.

AND

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.

AND

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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.).
(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: Inpatient pharmacy technician experience.

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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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, including VHA HPT's
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.