These GS-7 Pharmacy Technician positions provide a variety of services at multiple points of care. The positions are located within VA Boston Healthcare System with a duty station assignment of West Roxbury, MA. Coverage to other campuses within VA Boston will be required as needed for patient care.

Duties

The Pharmacy Technician is required to independently manage and complete all competencies and position requirements. The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Troubleshoot and coordinate pharmacy equipment service requests and provide communication of activities and updates to the pharmacy team. Collect and maintain records of staff training, competencies, logs and other records. Prepare various reports on a regular basis for the supervisor. Coordinate procurement, reverse distribution, and formulary processes and programs. Assist with initiation and maintenance of all required drug file and inventory changes to resolve and improve patient care needs. Provide support for investigational drug services complying with policies and procedures. Gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and for other projects or statistical purposes. Evaluate and analyze workflow to coordinate technician work activities and scheduling. Review, understand, and comply fully with all policies, procedures, handbooks and other guidance and train new and existing staff. Assist the supervisor with administrative and service requirements, record management, and other administrative assignments. Provide and coordinate educational program to train staff and patients. Stock vault shelves and rotate existing inventory. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday varied day tours of duty. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 523-F02993 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is an AFGE bargaining unit position. Position is in the excepted service. Will be required to travel to other campuses within VA Boston Healthcare System. Current and former federal employees must submit copies of their most recent non-award SF50 (notice of personnel action). The SF50 must identify the position, title, series, grad, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one SF50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants must be fully qualified by the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. 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). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: Grade Determinations: GS-7: One year experience at the next lower level (GS-6) and must fully meet the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) at the next lower level(s) up to and including the full performance level (GS-6): 1. Ability to follow policies and procedures. 2. Ability to maintain appropriate files. 3. Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals. 4. Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions. 5. Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers. 6. Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations. 7. Knowledge of pharmaceutical to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas. 8. Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical, and proprietary names of drug). 9. Ability to fill prescriptions. 10. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment. 11. Knowledge of federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. 12. Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. 13. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. 14. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. 15. Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) at the GS-7 above full performance level: 1. Knowledge of pharmacy Technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work 2. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. 3. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. 4. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technician and students. 5. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following gall regulation, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. 6. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of signification scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgment to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technician mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/specialized pharmacy technician and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At the level, pharmacy technician use independent judgment to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technician in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight. Preferred Experience: Hazardous and non-hazardous sterile compounding and IV room experience is preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G-28. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Principal duties of this position require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads, including boxes, equipment, medical supplies, stock boxes etc.; 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). Ability to operate automation. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment, including respirators while on duty. 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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Marianne Coutinho
• Phone: 774-826-4812
• Email: [email protected]