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.
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
Duties
- VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 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
