The Procurement Inventory Pharmacy Technician at the GS-10 level serves as financial and procurement pharmacy specialist. The incumbent works under the supervision of the Inventory Program Manager and Chief, Pharmacy Service. They will consistently demonstrate independent technical judgement and comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of VA policies and procedures. The incumbent will perform analysis of the pharmacy budget and provide advisory functions to all pharmacy procurement employees

Duties

DUTIES: Primary duties of this highly complex position include oversite of orders for pharmaceutical and supply items through the Prime Vendor or other mandatory sources, assuring adherence to federal purchase contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market purchases. Assures inventory control through perpetual evaluation and analysis, funds control, assuring compliance with storage requirements for pharmaceutical items and liaison with company representatives and managerial staff. Procurement: Has operational responsibility for ongoing inventories of drug products, pharmaceutical supplies, and their various methods of procurement. Cost effective turnover must be consistently identified and maintained. They are considered a subject matter expert of procurement sources (i.e., prime vendor, open market, government excess, posted stock etc.) VA manual and hospital procurement policies and procedures. Displaying a thorough understanding of policies, procedures, basic accounting and budgetary skills, the incumbent assures that pharmaceuticals and supplies are procured and maintained in the most cost-effective manner. Maintains accountability and oversight of daily purchases. Monitors the use of National contracts (NAT), Federal supply schedules (FSS), Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and open market etc. to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations, policies, and laws. Ensures seamless operation of the Drug Accountability Program with pharmacy stake holders. Maintains records and resolves issues relating to drug accountability. Assists pharmacists in determining high priority or emergency requirements and initiates procurement activity to local wholesale sources. Assists in development and/or execution of procedures to procure "special order" products available only through manufacturer-created specialty programs. Manages Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program, prescriptions, and patient information for those medications. Is a purchasing agent for procuring REMS medications. Budget: Point of contact for pharmacy service serving as the subject matter expert managing the budget process and pharmacy's fund control point. Provides expertise and assists in annual budget projections for Pharmacy Service Ensures timely and accurate completion of the monthly financial report (B09) reconciliation package with a memorandum and supporting documentation. Functions as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), prepares and manages all pharmacy contracts and equipment requests for Pharmacy Service. Inventory Management: Determines, establishes, and modifies, as necessary, appropriate ordering intervals, inventory levels, most efficient/effective ordering quantities, sources of supply, etc., based on current financial conditions in pharmacy, seasonal variations in drug usage, changing patterns of medical practice, delivery time requirements, urgency of medical need, alternative sources of availability, etc. Maintains contact with vendors to get status of orders and expedite delivery. Conducts annual wall to wall inventory by taking a lead role in preparation, performance, reporting and analysis of periodic inventories of pharmaceutical and supply items as instructed by management with intent to maintain inventory turn performance that meets or exceeds VISN and National goals and expectations. Reviews FDA Reports, Recall Alerts and Notifications to determine if any medications or pharmacy-stocked supplies are in use that require removal. Processes and reports drug recalls to the VA national center for patient safety. Informs appropriate personnel, checking for applicable lots, sequestering recalled product as required, and returning drugs for replacement and/or credit according to specifications of each recall announcement. Controlled Substance Diversion Investigations: When requested by the Controlled Substance Coordinator or Chief, Pharmacy Service, the incumbent will assist with the investigation of potential diversion cases. Automation Technician Support (Alternate) Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems. Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy Automation. This will involve trouble shooting, gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: ADHOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA 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 in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: 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. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Grade Determinations: GS10: Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) Procurement/inventory technicians perform duties independently under broad delegated authority which consists of significant scope, skill and complexity at the facility level. They provide oversight of the pharmacy service fund control point activity, budget expenditures and all procurement activity to ensure full accountability and reconciliation per VHA financial policy. They collect, analyze and prepare data to complete monthly budget reports on current and past spending patterns. Pharmacy technicians provide financial status reports for review to ensure compliance to pharmacy budgetary goals and objectives. They participate in forecasting the budget for the next fiscal year, function as contracting officer representatives and ensure all VA policies, regulations and payments are interpreted, applied and completed accurately and timely. Pharmacy technicians develop standard operating procedures, training programs and material for orientation, educational needs and regulatory requirements within the pharmacy and the facility. They investigate a variety of unusual supply problems, including specialty medication purchases, backorders and questions from pharmacy or physician stakeholders. Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following: (A) Expert knowledge of budgetary and pharmacy procurement operating procedures such as, but not limited to, budget reconciliation, annual wall to wall inventory, sterile compounding and service contracts. (B) Skill in managing supply problems such as back orders, interchangeability of products during shortages or finding suitable replacement products. (C) Skill in monitoring the quality of input and output of automated/perpetual medication inventory management systems. (D) Ability to write policies and procedures for pharmaceutical procurement, inventory management and contracting processes. (E) Ability to develop contracting acquisition packages with all necessary required documents including, but not limited to, market research, independent Government cost estimate, statement of work/performance work statement, quotes, proof of funding, etc. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 November 07, 2023PART II APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is 10. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 10 . Physical Requirements: Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, 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 range 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. Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Salem VA Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, VA 24153 US
• Name: Kera Madden
• Phone: 540-982-2463 X2770
• Email: [email protected]