The pharmacy technician at this grade must be certified by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The Pharmacy Compounding and Drug Distribution Specialist Technician functions as a compounding and drug distribution specialist with advanced knowledge and skills related to procurement, control substances, and compounding.

Duties

Major duties include (but not limited to): Develop and provide training to pharmacy technicians and pharmacist in sterile product preparation certification, and educational programs. Possess a thorough knowledge and understanding of procurement sources (i.e., prime vendor, purchase card use, government excess, posted stock, and local sources) following Regulations, policy, and standard operating procedures. Utilizes basic accounting and budgetary skills to assure pharmaceuticals and supplies are maintained in the most cost effective manner. Posses the ability and training to provide various technical support services within the pharmacy department related to inpatients and/or ambulatory patients. Carry out a limited range of technical support functions such as filling and distributing outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs. Preparation and distributing of scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend unit dose medications, equipment maintenance and customer relations. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Health Care System staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Addresses conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Collaborates with other health care staff in a manner than enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday. Tour of duty hours will be discussed during interviews. Telework: ADHOC. Based upon organizational policies Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000/Pharmacy Technician Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/28/2023. Pharmacy Technician 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. Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists." Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such 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 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. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28 Grade Requirements Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice. Quality of Experience: To be creditable, pharmacy technician experience must be documented on the application and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. Part-time Experience: Part-time experience as a pharmacy technician is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacy technician would receive 1 week of fulltime credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-7 Pharmacy Technician Requirements Certification: PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level (GS-6). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): GS-06: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. AND GS-07: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) *Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities. Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures. Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work requires physical exertion such as reaching, standing, walking short and long distance, and climbing to obtain product from moderately high shelving. Occasionally may need to lift up to 40 pounds. The majority of work requires extended periods of standing with short periods of sitting to complete tasks. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical in a pharmacy setting. Employees may be required to use personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns, goggles, gloves, and shoe covers and hair covers to minimize risks. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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 St Cloud VA Medical Center 4801 Veterans Drive St Cloud, MN 56303 US
• Name: Michelle Smull
• Phone: 785-350-1951
• Email: [email protected]