Career Center

Summary

Incumbent has operational responsibility for Pharmacy purchase and inventory of all drugs - medical supplies - and operational supplies required in the provision of Pharmacy services to ensure that the highest quality products are acquired at the lowest price and that items are available when needed.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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: (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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• COPY OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED 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: GS-8 Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) 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
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for the GS-08 assignments: 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
• 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
• 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: One year of experience in pharmaceutical procurement or hospital pharmacy supply
• 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-8. Physical Requirements: moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - standing (6 hr) - repeated bending (2 hr) - near vision correctable - ability to distinguish basic colors - mental and emotional stability - exposure to: constant noise - extensive keyboard/mouse usage - working closely with others - working alone.

Duties

• The incumbent works under the supervision of the Inventory Management Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
• Duties will include: Establishes alternative sources of supply when products are not available from the prime vendor
• maintains an awareness of current clinical usage related to formulary policies and market conditions affecting supply and demand
• operates a system based on minimum lag time and maximum efficiency
• Uses the Economic Order Quantity principles to determine inventory turns and appropriate stock levels
• assures stock is rotated to enhance medication usability and potency
• utilizes Mobile Manager® or similar to enhance efficiency and accuracy in ordering
• inventories narcotics and other items requiring more frequent intervention to ensure adequate stock is available and overstocking is avoided by adjusting min and max stock levels
• compiles and submits theoretical turns summary report each quarter
• Places the majority of purchase orders directly to prime vendor and uses credit card to make purchases through other vendors
• maintains ongoing record of credit card purchases
• assures accuracy of receipts for receiving and reconciliation of credit card purchases
• Using the prime vendor database - determines the cost differential to purchase from a different manufacturer - as well as the expected due-in date of the unavailable product at the prime vendor
• updates as needed
• assists pharmacists in determining high priority or emergency requirements and initiates procurement activity
• Checks all incoming orders with appropriate order request to assure accuracy and completeness
• initiates appropriate rejections and/or adjustment action and documents shipments
• Posts and records invoices for payment on 1358 after matching bill with invoices
• Estimates obligations anticipated to be incurred the next month by reviewing historical trends and projecting needs for new programs and/or national formulary changes
• Provides effective stock arrangement to ensure productivity
• assists in the maintenance of pharmacy automated dispensing equipment by ensuring that products used in the equipment are on hand and are placed in strategic locations
• Ensures all products are stored under proper conditions
• checks for outdates - removes outdates from inventory - stores such products until disposal away from working stock to avoid inadvertent dispensing or diversion
• routinely schedules and coordinates with third-party vendor to process and destroy outdated products
• Trains staff in the appropriate operation and maintenance of automated equipment (e.g
• entering lot numbers for replenishment) - and policies and procedures for requesting additional inventory (using the want book) and processing out-of-stock urgent prescriptions
• generates automated reports from dispensing equipment to adjust stock levels
• determines which drugs should be used in the automation
• troubleshoots problems with the automation and calls vendor or places work orders as appropriate
• Assists in effecting recalls of drugs - as required - by checking applicable lots and informing appropriate personnel
• Prepares item description for new drugs and supplies added to the formulary and provides the information to the Pharmacy ADPAC for entry into the VISTA drug file
• keeps drug prices up to date in VISTA
• Works with Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) to ensure consistent and appropriate product delivery to patients
• Functions as resource person to all members of the pharmacy staff regarding inventory status and control
• provides orientation and training - as required - for staff members - pharmacy technicians - pharmacy aids - and pharmacy technician students
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am-3:30pm w/ occasional weekends and holidays
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized