Summary
This position is located within the Veterans Affairs Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center - in the Outpatient Pharmacy. The Lead Pharmacy Technician will be self-motivated - natural problem solver; performing duties independently which consist of significant scope - complexity and assists the technician supervisor with technicians at the lower GS levels.
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
- Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
- 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)
- GRADE DETERMINATION: Lead Pharmacy Technician GS-08 Experience
- Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below
- 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
- 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 level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty
- Lead Pharmacy Technician 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
- Lead pharmacy technicians perform duties independently - which consist of significant scope and complexity and will assist with technician oversight
- Lead pharmacy technicians lead three GS-07 or more pharmacy technicians/employees/staff members - provide direction for daily operations and assume responsibility for integrating and monitoring standard pharmacy policies to maintain continuous workflow and quality within the service
- Lead pharmacy technicians must do a combination of at least three of the following duties: prepare work schedules and assign tasks to ensure timely completion of duties
- ensure pharmacy resources are in optimal working condition and address workflow needs
- provide guidance and support of the work unit in supervisory absence
- train personnel (including students) in methods - procedures and use of equipment and instruments specific to the assigned area
- provide input to supervisor on performance and training needs of employees
- adjust work assignments due to absences - emergencies or changes in priorities
- resolve simple informal complaints of employees and patients - refer more difficult problems to the supervisor
- or recommend approval and/or disapproval of leave requests
- DEFINITIONS: Specialized Experience
- Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in - or related to - the work of the position to be filled
- To be creditable - specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level
- Applicants who have one year of appropriate specialized experience are not required to have general experience - education above the high school level or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements
- Successful completion of pertinent specialized training courses in pharmaceutical and pharmacy practices while serving in the Armed Forces is creditable on a month-for-month basis up to the one year of specialized experience
- PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Working knowledge of Cerner EHRM - ScriptPro - Omnicell - TCG-Rx - Temptrak & InTemp systems
- 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: This work requires light lifting (under 15 pounds) - light carrying (under 15 pounds) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - walking (1 hour) - standing (1 hour) - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - ability to distinguish basic colors - and hearing (aid may be permitted).
Duties
- The lead pharmacy technician assists Pharmacy Technician Supervisor in quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services
- Duties include but are not limited to: Asses workload volume throughout the day - identify backlogs - and make staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals
- Identify areas of duplication of efforts and develop solutions to streamline processes - reduce waste - cost savings - and improve patient care
- Responsible for organizing and assisting the pharmacy technician team to ensure assigned tasks are timely and accurately completed for their specific program areas
- Coordinate day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy area equipment and automation
- Promote harmonious relationships within the work environment and support the needs of the team and customer
- Listen to informal complaints of employees and other customers in a helpful and timely fashion
- If not able to remedy a situation - the lead will notify the pharmacy technician supervisor
- Assist in training and orientating new and existing pharmacy technicians and students on policy and procedures
- Identify and report developmental and training needs to ensure safety and quality control for their program area
- Develop training schedules and assist in maintaining documentation for all pharmacy technicians and students
- Effectively evaluate pharmacy activities to assist management to obtain short- and long-range objectives and goals
- Assist in the development of policies and procedures and participate in goal planning and quality improvement activities
- Maintain competence by participating in staff development programs
- Serve as on-line back up to all other pharmacy technicians within the Pharmacy department - as needed
- Serve as backup purchaser to main Pharmacy Procurement Technician and Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
- Assist in preparation of national - local - and special accreditations of pharmacy service
- (Joint Commission - Inspector General - Controlled Substance Inspections - Drug Enforcement Agency) This includes documentation record updates - development of specific training and preparation of staff and compliance of policy and procedures
- Proactively evaluate and analyze data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects - workload analysis and statistical reports
- Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
