Lead Pharmacy Technician

Summary

The Lead Pharmacy Technician is responsible for assuring facility compliance with all applicable Laws, regulations, Directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory and accountability of controlled substances. This position requires significant independent decision making with minimal supervision. Pharmacy Technicians at this grade Level may be assigned as a controlled substance technician.

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Duties

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Trains and orients new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Rocky Mountain Network Human Resources Title 38/Hybrid Title 38 Functional Statement Updated 5/2022 Evaluates, analyzes and coordinates workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Controlled Substance Management: Instructs pharmacy staff on controlled substance policy and procedures, particularly new takes and job techniques, provides written instructions and reference materials when required. Gives on the job training to new employees in accordance with established protocols and practices. Maintains a current knowledge national, state and local laws, regulations, directives, policies and procedures pertaining to controlled substances. Educate pharmacy staff on laws, regulations, directives, policies and procedures pertaining to controlled substances. Resolves controlled substances discrepancies and staff-controlled substance related performance and training needs of the employees. Proficient in the use of VISTA and CPRS computer system and applicable pharmacy packages, especially those outpatient packages used to control and document the prescription filling process.

Inventory Control: Informs Logistics of narcotic inventory procurement for preparation of DEA forms. Maintains all required DEA logs for the order and receipt. Provides accurate orders for all classes of controlled substance and orders from the prime vendor. Maximizes inventory to control costs while assuring 24/7 supply of needed controlled substances. Conducts 72 hour vault inventories and maintains required reports. Reviews all delivery records for accuracy and signatures with the assigned logistics representative. Reviews and maintains monthly narcotic inspection reports from pharmacy sites. Conducts investigations of all discrepancies discovered and reposts to the Outpatient Supervisor, The Chief of Pharmacy, and all Controlled substance Security entities. Follows policy and procedures in reporting unsolved discrepancies. Ensures and prepares DEA and VA forms for proper destruction of unusable controlled substances. Follows correct procedures for recalled controlled substances based on the level of severity. When directed, is responsible for receiving, storing, and ordering pharmaceuticals. Removes unusable products from active stock, coordinates the disposing of unusable stock with Pharmacy Supply Coordinator and documents all actions. Ensures that incoming stock is immediately signed for, removed from cardboard boxes, and placed into proper storage areas with special emphasis on security and special storage instructions.

Quality: Participates in facility and department quality assurance programs by trending and tracking controlled substance use. Reports directly to the Outpatient Supervisor and the Assistant Chief of Pharmacy of all procurement, inventory, inspection or dispensing discrepancies immediately. Plans, develops and implements inventory processes and security awareness procedures to heighten controlled substances accountability. Provides sound opinions, advice and recommendations to improve procurement, storage, distribution of controlled substances. Fills controlled substances prescriptions as required according to policy, procedures, laws and regulations. Maintains an accurate electronic and paper files according to regulations. Supports other Pharmacy Technician positions as needed and requested by the Pharmacy supervisory staff.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Rotating early mornings, evenings and weekends.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized

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

Functional Statement #: 59673A

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.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

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: 4 (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• 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).

Grade Determinations:

Pharmacy Technician, GS-08.

• 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. (3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
  
  
  • (a) 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.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section.
  • (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
  • c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.

Preferred Experience: 1 year leadership experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.