The primary duties of this position consist of inventory management, which consists of purchasing, receiving, stocking, restocking medical rooms, coordinating redistribution and destruction of medications and medical supplies.

Duties

The Pharmacy Technician (Procurement Technician) will conduct inventory and order medications necessary for daily prescription filling through the outpatient pharmacy, controlled substances and other products as required for Pharmacy Service. The Pharmacy Technician (Procurement Technician) maintains comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Initiates procurement requests for all drugs, medical and surgical supplies and other specialized medical devices handled by pharmacy, which are either stocked or special ordered. Duties will include: Making purchases based on stock levels from Prime Vendor, direct from pharmaceutical companies, and other vendors. Utilizes the prime vendor program proficiently to assure ordering of Federal Supply Service items first whenever possible. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered. Controls costs by monitoring and maintaining inventory levels and purchasing lowest cost appropriate items from wholesaler. Maintains processes and methodologies to track spending and stay within pharmacy budget. Places orders using VA credit card, reconciles charges within IFCAP and US Bank, and maintains all purchase card records. Places orders via Contracting through a Contract, VA Form 2237. Communicates directly with the manufacturer, pharmaceutical representatives, or both in maintaining sufficient supplies to meet the needs of the Medical Center for medications that are in short supply, either on a regional or national basis, and uses this information to coordinate patient care activities with drug availability and delivery schedules in coordination with the pharmacy supervisors. The incumbent may coordinate or assist with and is recognized as the expert in identifying and ordering medical supplies. As necessary, communicates directly with providers and patients to ascertain needs and makes ordering adjustments. The incumbent will modify medical supply devices as appropriate and possible to meet specific patient care needs. Monitors and analyzes ordering and distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances, inappropriate ordering of supplies not found on the national formulary and unusual trends. Conducts regularly scheduled inventories of medical supplies. Maintains adequate stock levels for an acceptable turnover rate to promote efficient management of funds. Inventory levels of medications and medical supplies are managed so that patient care is not impaired due to insufficient stock or the unavailability of a therapeutic alternative. Conducts regular review of stock levels to ensure inventory is expanded or contracted based on history and turnover rate. Determines, establishes, and modifies, as necessary, appropriate ordering intervals, inventory levels, most efficient and effective ordering quantities, sources of supply, etc. Several alternative sources of supply are often available covered by Federal Contract, particularly when dealing with generic equivalent drugs. Maintains the integrity of the stock by checking for expiration dates and drug recalls. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces expired/damaged items in clinic care areas and automated dispensing units. Incumbent maintains current expiration dates and removes outdated drugs for proper disposition. Rotates medication/items when stocking shelves to assure that the oldest medication/item is used first. Manages budget and alerts appropriate supervisory personnel of anticipated short fall in funding. Serves as a resource for medication cost and usage data. Applies knowledge of the budget process as it relates to Pharmacy and Fiscal processes involved in transferring funds to and from control points while opening and closing annual and quarterly fiscal accounting for Pharmacy Service. Completes timely posting of all obligations, credits and transfers, and to closing out a control point at the end of a quarter and the fiscal year without deficient spending. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:15pm w 45 m lunch Telework: Ad Hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Pharmacy Technician (Procurement) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Note: This is a Bargaining Unit Position.

Requirements

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: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. Certification: Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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: GS-07 Experience: One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: *1. Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities. 2. Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. 3. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff. 4. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. 5. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. 6. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures. 7. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures. 8. Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems. Preferred Experience: 1. One to two years of experience working as procurement technician managing inventory, purchasing, receiving, stocking, and coordinating medication redistribution and destruction. 2. One to two years of experience writing standard operating procedures in outpatient or inpatient pharmacy setting. 3. Experience communicating directly with the manufactures, pharmaceutical representatives to maintain sufficient supplies to meet the needs of the patient. 4. Experience with formulary process, utilizing prime vendor proficiently to assure ordering from Federal Supply Service items first whenever possible. 5. Experience in working with ostomy supplies and working with various teams or services for the common good of the patient. References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28 dated March 17, 2006. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: The Position will require light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (2 hours), standing (2 hours), and repeated bending (1 hour).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Failure to provide transcripts may result in non-referral of your application if education cannot be verified.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]