Summary
The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Pharmacy Technician in a VISN Clinical Contact (CCC) as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The incumbent is responsible for assisting pharmacy management in providing & coordinating optimal pharmaceutical care activities in accordance with the department's mission - vision - and goals. The incumbent is expected to be fully functional to serve as a backup to any duties normally performed by GS-6 - GS-7 & GS-8 Contact Center pharmacy technicians.
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:
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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)
- 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met for this position
- Pharmacy Technician - GS-9 Experience
- One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level
- Preferred Experience: At least three (3) years of lead/management pharmacy experience
- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
- In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement - sterile compounding (USP compounding standards) - controlled substances DEA - automation - clinical pharmacy - lead tech - contact center - etc.)
- Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects - workload analysis and statistical reports
- Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area
- Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g. - The Joint Commission - Inspector General - American Society of Health System Pharmacists® - controlled substance inspections)
- Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation - competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area
- Additional Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs) for Supervisory Pharmacy Technicians: Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees - team leaders and managers
- Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy Assignments
- 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 grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments: Pharmacy Technician - Supervisory Pharmacy Technician - Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory)
- 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-09
- Physical Requirements: The work requires the regular and recurring use of a computer monitor and prolonged periods of sitting
- However - based on the secondary duty assignments - the work may require regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing for prolonged periods of time - walking - lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds and bending/stooping.
Duties
- ***This position is a VIRTUAL position until May 5 - 2025 (Employee will work at the nearest VA-owned or leased space).*** Duties performed but are not limited to include the following: Responsible for administering human resources actions and personnel matters and dealing effectively with employees and union representatives
- Maintains National Pharmacy Technician Certification
- Prepares the tour of duty for the VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians
- Responsible for approving and denying leave requests - including but not limited to annual and sick leave - for VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians
- Ensures compliance with established VA and pharmacy policies and procedures
- Performs quality control of pharmacy technicians' work and calls
- Completes job performance evaluations - recommendations for awards - and/or disciplinary actions for the VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians and makes recommendations to the VISN CCC Pharmacist Supervisor
- Participates in the creation of VISN CCC Pharmacy Services standard operating procedures
- Assists in the interview process and selection of VISN CCC Pharmacy technicians
- Conducts technician meetings/huddles to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications
- Encourages pharmacy technicians to report actual and/or potential medication errors or adverse events and participates in medical center and pharmacy service quality improvement initiatives to promote patient safety
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Rotational variable shifts - 0600-2100 PST
- Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
