GS-7 Pharmacy Supply Technician functions in various areas of the pharmacy, e.g. inpatient pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy (East and West campuses), chemotherapy infusion center, clinics, emergency department, surgery, wards, various storage areas, offices, and other patient care areas, under the supervision of the Supervisory Pharmacy Procurement Manager.

Duties

VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity, provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion, and supports inclusiveness in our culture. Together, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork, and are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans. Functions of the Position: The GS-7 Pharmacy Supply Technician typically carries out the full range of technical support functions. These include but are not limited to: inventory management, communication between frontline staff and procurement technicians, property management, and recalls for the Pharmacy Department. The Pharmacy drug and supply budget covers medications, solutions, reagents, and supplies. A majority of pharmacy drug budget is ordered through a prime vendor. In addition to prime vendor orders, medications and supplies are ordered directly from manufacturers. Major Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent is responsible for the coordinating of procurement of all products within the pharmacy. Incumbent serves to manage the inventory and assist in order placement. Maintenance and adherence to a drug and supply inventory system to ensure that the inpatient and outpatient pharmacies maintain adequate functions. Maintaining appropriate inventory levels has a significant impact on the ability of the department to manage funding resources that have been provided for procurement of pharmaceuticals. Checks for shortages, tampering, breakages, deterioration, and date of expiration. Selects proper storage area for pharmaceuticals, e.g., poisons, flammables, perishables, controlled substances, etc. Storage procedures range from placing stock on regular stock shelf to a variety of special procedures such as refrigeration, temperature and light control, etc. Property Management: Incumbent is delegated the authority to exercise control over subsistence, expendable, and non-expendable property. Ensures that proper procedures are followed and carried out in accordance with established regulations and policies toward the classification and disposal of property, cataloging, recalls, exchange/sales, and consolidated memorandum receipts (CMR), Equipment Inventory Lists (Els), reports of survey, QIRs, and excess property. Responsible for assisting with the annual CMR/EIL inventories and ensuring completion by the established anniversary date, in conjunction with FHCC Logistics Department, Facility Support Directorate. Employee is required to reconcile noted deficiencies (changes in location, transfers, etc.) in a timely manner. Employee is responsible for initiating the Report of Survey process. This includes search for immediate area and discussions with pertinent staff. Employee forwards appropriate documentation for further action. Incumbent assists with turn-ins which require coordination with the Pharmacy Inventory Management Specialist and Logistics. Classifies and catalogs all requests for equipment prior to submission to the Equipment Committee. Inventory Management: GS-7 Pharmacy Supply Technicians require advanced technical knowledge of all aspects of all of the following, but not limited to: Physical inventory of items utilized by the Pharmacy Department. Must be sensitive to inventory status of the commodity in relationship to changes in demand, funds availability, lead times, or changes in customer patterns. Assist in establishing departmental levels on items maintained in each Pharmacy. Drug characteristics and nomenclature including generic/chemical and brand names, dosage forms, various systems of weights and measures, drug product codes, drug interchangeability and therapeutic equivalence; characteristics of drug packaging; various uses for drugs; VA and regulatory agency requirements for drug storage; has special requirements for procurement, storage, distribution and handling of various classes of drugs. An advanced technical working knowledge of usage rates, stock levels, inventory maintenance concepts including just-in-time inventory and inventory turns, equipment utilized for procurement, contract adherence sources is also required. Incumbent must have the knowledge of the rules governing the use of the U.S. Government IMPACT credit cards including the knowledge to accurately enter all credit card transactions into the appropriate VISTA computer files. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 07:30am-04:00pm. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Pharmacy Technician - Supply/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/26/2023. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-7 Level: 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. Certification: PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. In addition candidates must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 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. Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a supervisor; lead technician in a particular area of the pharmacy; a controlled substance technician; an investigational drug technician; a procurement/inventory management technician; a clinical pharmacy technician; or similar assignment with this level of complexity. The GS-7 level is for select, complex pharmacy technician positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit. Although these positions are under the supervision of a pharmacist, employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a Pharmacy Service or for a specific unit or section. Preferred Experience: In addition to basic Qualification Standard: Pharmacy IV room operations preferred with an understanding of goals, objectives and performance measures associated with Inpatient Pharmacy Operation. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28. Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards. Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work forty hours per week. This may include evenings, midnights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing IV admixtures, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44Ibs.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Employees must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used on the job. Employees may be required to work at various pharmacy locations as assigned.

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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Doug Madel
• Phone: 608-667-6533
• Email: [email protected]