Summary

This position serves as the Pharmacy Technician in the Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) or with the Meds by Mail Program. The Pharmacy Technician Automation Specialist is assigned as the subject matter expert to automated areas of CMOP production and will serve as a key resource in the day-to-day duties of the specialized area.

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:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) 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 (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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Grandfather Provision
• A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-08 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)
• 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)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 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.) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• Ability to evaluate - analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Preferred Experience: Experience with technical aspects of pharmacy dispensing activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized
• Experience resolving problems and complaints regarding all areas of projection and automated dispensing equipment
• 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-08 to GS-08
• Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a highly mechanized warehouse setting around production machinery
• Moderate noise and traffic require attention to safety
• Some work areas involve a moderate risk requiring exercise of safety precautions when operating or working around the automated equipment (i.e. - accumulators - moving belts - etc.)
• Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory when handling specific medications and in certain areas of production or assignment
• The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion and activity - involving standing for prolonged periods of time on hard surfaces - lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs
• unassisted and bending/twisting/stooping/reaching.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEwsTotal-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Major duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible for replenishment - maintenance - and operation of automated dispensing equipment and packaging of mail out prescriptions
• Performs functions in various areas of production to include - but not limited to automated dispensing - labeling - bulk - replenishment - refrigeration - controlled substances - hazardous drug (HD/NIOSH) - receiving - manifesting - and/or packing
• Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy dispensing activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized
• Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with CMOP automated dispensing equipment
• Ability to participate in team efforts to improve automation quality and safety - continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - variable 5:00 am to 4:30 pm and 2:30 pm to midnight
• Compressed/Flexible: Available at supervisor's discretion Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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 eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 72542A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized