Summary
The Pharmacy Technician (Automation) position functions as the automation specialist in all the patient care areas of pharmacy service with primary focus in both the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy service. This position is performed above the full performance level. Pharmacy technician is assigned to the automation specialized area as the subject matter expert. The incumbent must have expert understanding of the complexity of the Automation program.
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
- (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:(1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).OR (2) National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
- Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5 - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
- Pharmacy Technician - GS-08
- (1) Experience
- Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below
- (2) 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: Purchasing and inventory management experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: Requires regular and recurring physical exertion - involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time - typing - walking distances within the medical center - lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies - and bending/ stooping stretching.
Duties
- Automation (Automated Dispensing - Outpatient - Inpatient) Duties include - but not limited to: (1) Understand and assists with the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are in alignment with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized
- Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the improvement of the workflow - work methods - and priorities involved within the drug distribution system
- (2) Evaluates and analyzes workflow and assists all work activities involved with Pharmacy automation
- This will involve trouble shooting - regularly gathering data - analyzing - and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans
- (3) Ensures that automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment
- (4) Ability to participate in process actions teams to improve automation quality and safety - continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers
- (5) Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation - troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel
- (6) Has reviewer responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems and assists with management oversight
- (7) Has reviewer responsibility for the addition of new items and archiving of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems
- Assists with management oversight - when requested
- (8) Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained per manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule to minimize downtime
- (9) Trains and orients pharmacy staff - and other medical center staff involved in operating the automation
- (10) Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors
- Work Schedule: 8 hour shifts including (rotating days - weekends - holidays as needed by the service) 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
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized
