Career Center

Summary

Pharmacy technicians at this level serve as an ordering officer delegated by the national acquisition center contracting officer for the purpose of ordering against the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract and national blanket purchase agreements (BPA) for pharmacy at the Sheridan VAHCS. They are responsible for ordering medications and supplies from required sources and meeting contract compliance while maintaining multiple complex accounts with the PPV.

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 31 - 2026 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be February 17 - 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. 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: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• 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)
• National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician(ExCPT)
• 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)
• Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• 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: PTCB as a CPhT
• OR NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment - if indicated: 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
• Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• Ability to evaluate - analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Additional Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement - distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment
• This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - United States Pharmacopeia (USP)and DEA requirements and regulations
• Ability to assist in determining and modifying as necessary: ordering intervals - inventory levels and cost-effective ordering quantities from required sources based on current financial conditions in pharmacy - seasonal variations in drug usage - changing patterns in medical practice - delivery time requirements and urgency of medical need
• Preferred Experience: 1-3 years experience procuring pharmaceuticals including controlled and non-controlled drugs within established VA ordering guidelines - policies - and procedures within inventory management specialized area with the understanding of proper budget utilization
• Technical knowledge of VA and regulatory agency requirements for drug storage and special requirements for procurement - storage - distribution - and handling of various hazardous and non-hazardous drug classes
• 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 08
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 08
• Physical Requirements: This position provides services to patients and their families
• Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain - corrective lenses permitted) - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - manual dexterity
• This position may require reaching above shoulder-level height and requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
• This position requires long periods of sitting - standing and walking
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Other duties may be applied: List the major duties and responsibilities of the position: Required to have 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
• Trains and orients new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• Evaluates - analyzes and coordinates workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Purchasing and Distribution Serve as ordering officer for pharmacy service - delegated by the VA National Acquisition Center (NAC) while maintaining annual training requirements
• Initiates ordering requirements of pharmaceuticals - specialty - and supply items through pharmacy prime vendors multi complex accounts or other mandatory sources
• Responsible for adherence to federal contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market - ensuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation
• Fund Control Point Management Maintains accountability of daily purchases and coordinates receipt - controls budget ledger - assures consistent delivery schedules are employed and handled in a manner mutually beneficial to Supply Chain Management and Pharmacy Service - and appropriately disperses stock into designated storage areas
• Independently maintains complete and accurate records on all financial transactions
• This includes initiating 1358s and updating accounts weekly by entering data from invoices
• Updates the Chief - Pharmacy Service as to balance of the control point (119)
• Serves as advisor to Chief - Pharmacy Service on all matters pertaining to the status of funds being familiar with fiscal regulations that apply to pharmacy
• Independent decisions are made to resolve any questions or problems with the Fiscal Office about the accuracy of the Pharmacy cost center
• CBOC Support Performs onsite visits biannually as needed to each CBOC to ensure that the pharmacy needs of each CBOC are being met and to ensure that storage and security requirements are routinely practiced
• Independently manages the pre-packaged medication requirements for each CBOC and updates inventory lists as needed
• Pharmacy Operation Reads prescription and then retrieves repackaged - labeled container or bulk stock container and measures proper amounts into a smaller container
• Pharmacists perform a final check of the work
• Reads individual prescriptions and determines kind - strength - and dosage of drug to be dispensed
• Applies pharmacy policy limitations
• i.e. - 90-day prescriptions might be dispensed in 30-day increments of three refills - when policy prohibits dispensing 90-day quantities
• Obtains correct stock container - counts or pours correct amount of medication - and placing medication in an appropriately sized container
• Contents and labels are set aside for a final check and for dispensing by the pharmacist
• Correctly packages medications for shipment to patients or to Community Based Outpatient Clinics
• Effectively uses knowledge of special packing techniques for various medications
• e.g. - liquids - flammables - poisons - and narcotics
• Ensures adherence to facility - service - and postal regulations governing shipment
• Work Schedule: 0730-1600 - variable 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 #: 59272-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized