Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. Open to current permanent federal employees of the VA.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with both clinic and 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.
• Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy ward stock distribution throughout multiple locations. This will involve trouble shooting, regularly gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans.
• Ensures that automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment throughout multiple locations throughout VAGLAHS.
• Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.
• Has oversight responsibility of the ward stock, proper storage, and required inspections, throughout multiple locations throughout VAGLAHS.
• Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items.
• Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime.
• Develops training programs and material for orientation. Trains and orients pharmacy staff, controlled substance inspectors and other medical center staff involved in operating the automation throughout multiple facilities.
• Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors throughout multiple facilities.
• Thoroughly understands VA Pharmacy procurement and formulary and uses this knowledge to appropriately manage the clinic and ward medication distribution.
• Ensures that the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, work products, and services.
• Ensures that all team members participate in planning for achievement of team goals and objectives. Applies a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze, and improve team effectiveness, efficiency, and work products. Leads the team from multiple locations in assessing team strengths and weaknesses, in exploring alternatives, and in determining what improvements can be made.
• Trains or arranges for the training of team members in methods and techniques of team building, working in teams, and accomplishment of individual and team tasks. Coaches the team in problem solving methods and techniques; provides advice on work methods, practices, and procedures; and assists the team and/or individual members in identifying possible solutions. Discusses with the team assignments, projects and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. Serves as facilitator in coordinating team initiatives and in consensus-building activities among team members.
• Leads the team in identifying, distributing, and balancing workload and tasks among team members in accordance with established priorities, workflow, skill level and/or occupational specialization. Ensures that team members have an integral role in developing the final team product. Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work. Checks work in progress and reviews completed work to see that the supervisor's overall instructions have been met. Keeps the team appraised on progress in meeting established milestones and deadlines for completion of assignments, projects, and tasks.
• Serves as on-line back up to other pharmacy technicians, inpatient and outpatient pharmacy technicians throughout multiple location (if applicable).
• Effectively manages technical staff to assure workflow is optimized within assigned service area. Continuously analyzes and reassesses priorities, redirecting staff to assure that workload demands are accomplished in the most effective, efficient, and economic manner possible.
• Coordinate day to day maintenance and operation of pharmacy area equipment and automation.
• Assist with the development of performance standards that are realistic, challenging, and supporting the organizational mission, vision, and goals. Responsible for ensuring all employees meet performance standards and competencies. Identify areas for improvement as needed.
• Conduct technician meetings to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 7:00am-7:00pm and Saturdays from 8:00am-4:30pm, variable shifts.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000

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:

• 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).
• 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).

• Grandfathering Provision: 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).
• Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on 11/7/2023, the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • (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:

GS-09

Experience: One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level. (GS-08).

Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT or NHA as a ExCPT.

AND

Must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA):
1. Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.).
2. Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.
3. Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
4. Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections).
5. Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area.
7. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers.
8. Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy.

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-09.

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.

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.