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Lead Pharmacy Technician (USP/Hazardous Drugs)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The primary purpose of the position is to aid the USP/Hazardous Drugs Pharmacy Program Manager, in the professional and administrative management for all activities within Pharmacy Service related to this section. Responsibilities are inclusive of planning, organizing, and reviewing the functional duties within Pharmacy Service. The lead pharmacy technician is also responsible to maintain an in-depth knowledge of policies and procedures related to sterile compounding, hazardous medication.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/25/2023 to 02/15/2023
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$50,652 to - $65,846 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Dallas
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CAZM-11815978-23-KH
Control number
702184700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This is an "external" announcement and is open to all US citizens. If you are a current, permanent employee of the VA North Texas Health Care System and current, permanent employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, you are encouraged to apply to announcement number CAZM-11815977-23-KH.

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Duties

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Operational

  • Assists with the development and coordination of pharmacy programs and workflow.
  • Serves as a liaison to professional, technical, and administrative staff from other services within the medical center.
  • Assures facility compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory and accountability of controlled substances, sterile compounding, hazardous medications, and non-hazardous medications
  • Performs and teaches all technical duties of Pharmacy Service within the USP/Hazardous Drugs Program.
  • Operates, maintains, and teaches the use of all relative Pharmacy automation to maximize production and efficiency by keeping machine adequately stocked and responding to all alarms, system errors, and mechanical needs.
Administrative:
  • Participates in quality assurance, internal audits, and performance improvement projects primarily related to workflow with pharmacy staff and with coordination and the approval of the USP/Hazardous Drugs Pharmacy Program Manager.
  • Responsible for workload analysis and reports to pharmacy service management regarding IV room operations, including recommendations for efficiencies and cost effectiveness.
  • Aids pharmacy management in adjusting work assignments due to call-ins and staffing shortages.
  • Maintains current knowledge of all pharmacy policies and procedures.
  • Implements necessary administrative audits (i.e., wait times, workflow analysis, etc.).
  • Acts as a participating member of the interview panel for technician positions.
  • Assists with the planning and implementation of pharmacy programs and projects consistent with the needs of the department and the medical center. Involves in competency development and revision for pharmacy technician staff.
  • Assists with developing performance standards that are realistic, challenging and support the organizational mission, vision and goals.
Training, Education, and Compliance
  • Participates in the training, re-training, and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other medical center personnel to Pharmacy Service policies, procedures, and best practices as required.
  • Trains pharmacy staff on established procedures to assure compliance with USP chapters requirements
  • Completes competency assessments for pharmacy staff and assure timely completion of all elements of the ongoing quality assurance plan for compounding sterile, non-sterile, and hazardous products.
  • Demonstrates the ability to operate, maintain, and train other staff on the use of all primary engineering controls, automated dispensing devices and equipment.
  • Demonstrates the ability to clean and disinfect all compounding rooms/areas, equipment, and devices according to established standard operating procedures and protocols.
  • Assists in preparing for special accreditations and reviews (TJC, OIG, SOARS, ASHP, etc.).
  • Completes mandatory education and training both onsite and offsite as assigned in a timely manner.
Adaptability:
  • Adapts to changing working conditions with a focus on ensuring safety and customer service to internal and external customers.
  • Expects to perform work in a temporary space (i.e., mobile pharmacy trailer, modular build clean-room, segregated compounding space or another healthcare system within or outside VA which will involve travel and conforming to their local policies/practices.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 6:00am - 9:00pm (8-hour work schedule). Weekend and Holiday coverage may be needed. General Work Tours may be extended and/or adjusted to meet patient care needs.
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
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

  • Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.)
  • Education or Experience. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.
  • Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above.
  • English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations:

GS-07

Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level, to include the following:

1. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action.
2. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment.
3. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents.
4. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products.
5. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts.
6. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs:
  1. Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities.
  2. Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes.
  3. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff
  4. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment.
  5. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process.
  6. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures.
  7. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures.
  8. Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems.

Preferred Experience:
  • 2 years of inpatient pharmacy experience
  • IV certification
  • Managerial / supervisory experience

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, dated March 17, 2006

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting (15 - 44 lbs.); Moderate Carrying (15 - 44 lbs.); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (up to 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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, résumé, 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.

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