The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health. As an employee, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. The Supervisory Pharmacy Technician provides administrative and technical supervision of Pharmacy Technicians performing work at multiple grade levels.

Duties

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Supervisory pharmacy technicians are responsible for management and supervision of at least three GS-08 pharmacy technicians. These positions require significant independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice, regulatory requirements and quality standards. They organize, coordinate and manage programs for the pharmacy service at the facility level. These pharmacy technicians will be responsible for communicating with VISN or national pharmacy leadership as well as individual facility leadership and staff. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Develops and/or maintains pharmacy policy and procedure manual, and standards of practices for Pharmacy Technician areas of responsibility. Proficient in the use of hardware and software applications to include Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, VistA, Integrated Funds Distribution Control Point Activity (IFCAP), CPRS, BCMA, automated pharmacy packaging and dispensing systems. Adheres to all VA policies and procedures especially in the areas Pharmacy Service, Human Resources, Purchase Card and the legal requirements. Responsible for scheduling of employees to provide technician coverage in multiple areas of the pharmacy. Manage and coordinate monthly ward inspection of medication storage areas. Coordinates day-to-day maintenance and operation of automated packaging and dispensing pharmacy equipment. Supervises, monitors, develops, and evaluates the activities of the pharmacy technician staff. Interviews prospective employee candidates, conducting performance reviews and competency assessments, writing functional statements and performance standards. Initiates action based on employee's performance as necessitated including documentation and recommendation for awards, counseling, and disciplinary actions. Completes performance plans, progress reviews, and appraisals of supervised employees by assigned due dates. Develops a team that is technically competent and understands the interrelationship of the Pharmacy Department. Responsible for training and career development of staff. Develops mechanisms to assure staff competency and continuing education compliance. Keeps individuals apprised of their performance during the year and completes annual written performance appraisals in a timely manner. Responds to changing priorities and resources, encouraging staff to respond positively and proactively. Organizes, develops, mentors, and coaches staff to anticipate the needs of their customers proactively. Advanced technical knowledge of drug and medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, manufacturer/distributor sources, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures, and medical terminology. Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form. Repackages medications for use in outpatient or inpatient pharmacy following established procedures and maintains all required documentation. Expert knowledge of the Pharmacy Prime Vendor Program (PPVP), which generates and stores all inventory management data. Manages Pharmacy inventory of medications and supplies. Uses medication and supply systems, techniques, and management concepts to analyze medication inventory usage. Organize and complete a physical wall-to-wall inventory of the pharmacy and report the results. Completes a variety of supply, inventory, and purchasing activities that require constant surveillance. Utilizes purchase card, stays within assigned dollar limitations, and reconciles/approves reconciliations in accordance with established policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday. Duty hours 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Supervisory Pharmacy Technician #000000 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 05/29/2024. 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: (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 Healthcareer 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28 Grade Requirements Pharmacy Technician: GS-08 Experience. Candidates demonstrate the KSAs below. Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. ORNHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.). Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. AND Pharmacy Technician-Supervisory: GS-09 Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower 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: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.). Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area. Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections). Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Fargo VA Medical Center 2101 Elm Street Fargo, ND 58102 US
• Name: Michelle Smull
• Phone: 785-350-1951
• Email: [email protected]