This position is assigned within the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) Pharmacy Service. The Procurement Pharmacy Technician serves as a procurement specialist at the Hampton Veterans Medical Center. The incumbent works under the supervision of the Procurement Pharmacy Supervisor and Chief, Pharmacy Service. He/she will consistently demonstrate independent technical judgement and comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of VA policies and procedures. 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. 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. 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 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). Grade Determinations: GS8: Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. 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. Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory). For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level serve as an ordering officer delegated by the national acquisition center contracting officer for the purpose of ordering against the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract and national blanket purchase agreements (BPA) for pharmacy. They are responsible for ordering medications and supplies from required sources and meeting contract compliance while maintaining multiple complex accounts with the PPV. They utilize the Government purchase card program for direct orders up to the micro purchase threshold per VA financial policy. Pharmacy technicians at this level are responsible for regulatory and formulary requirements to meet patient needs within budgetary limits. Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) (A) Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement, distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment. This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and DEA requirements and regulations (B) Ability to assist in determining and modifying as necessary: ordering intervals, inventory levels and cost-effective ordering quantities from required sources based on current financial conditions in pharmacy, seasonal variations in drug usage, changing patterns in medical practice, delivery time requirements and urgency of medical need Preferred Experience: Experience with VHA Pharmacy Procurement ordering process. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 8 to 8. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. ["DUTIES: Initiation of orders for pharmaceutical and supply items through the Prime Vendor or other mandatory sources; assuring adherence to federal purchase contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market purchases, assuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation and analysis, funds control, receiving shipments of goods, assuring compliance with storage requirements for pharmaceutical items, and liaison with company representatives and managerial staff The incumbent will also review or prepare documents and reports regarding financial status, procurement issues, or inventory; verify or abstract information contained in various documents and reports; maintain various procurement files; and resolve discrepancies in shipments, payments, or other documentation The position requires the ability to function independently and requires exceptional skill in oral and written modes of communication. Has operational responsibility for ongoing inventories of drug products and pharmaceutical supplies and their procurement. Cost-effective turnover must be consistently identified and maintained. As a result, he/she must possess a thorough knowledge and understanding of procurement sources (i.e., prime vendor, open market, government excess, posted stock, and local), VA manual and associate circular procedures, and hospital procurement policies and procedures. Display a thorough understanding of policies, procedures, basic accounting and budgetary skills, the incumbent assures that pharmaceuticals and supplies are procured and maintained in the most cost- effective manner Works closely with appropriate staff (administrators, information technologists, supervisory, pharmacists, and other procurement technicians) to ensure seamless operation of the Drug Accountability Program. Resolves issues relating to drug accountability; identifies problems and corrects or elevates them to the appropriate level. Has knowledge of specifications and characteristics of a wide variety of prosthetic and supply items which Pharmacy supplies to outpatients. These include, but are not limited to colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy bags (and associated products), irrigation sets and bags, IV solutions/bags, internal and external urinary catheters, syringes, needles, and bandages. Determines, establishes, and modifies, as necessary, appropriate ordering intervals, inventory levels, most efficient/effective ordering quantities, sources of supply, etc., based on current financial conditions in pharmacy, seasonal variations in drug usage, changing patterns of medical practice, delivery time requirements, urgency of medical need, alternative sources of availability, etc. Maintains contact with vendors to get status of orders and expedite delivery Takes a lead role ln preparation, performance, reporting and analysis of periodic inventories of pharmaceutical and supply items as instructed by management with intent to maintain inventory turn performance that meets or exceeds VISN and National goals and expectations Processes outdated, unusable, and excess inventory for return to respective manufacturers or contracted waste company. This is accomplished on a regular, scheduled, basis, may involve numerous different manufacturers, and requires follow-up review to assure receipt of merchandise, credits, etc Performs related duties such as rotating stock when new orders arrive to minimize waste due to expiration and assisting in maintaining the orderliness and cleanliness of the Pharmacy. Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:30pm 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 VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
