This position is located in the Newington Outpatient Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing or compounding medications. The pharmacy technician may also prepare medications for distribution to clinics and outpatients for pickup and mailing. The pharmacy technician works in collaboration with other pharmacy technicians and responds to requests of pharmacists, call centers, patients and supervisory staff.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Supervisory Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) GS-0661-09 Under the supervision of a Pharmacist, pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including medication preparation, inventory accountability and medication distribution. Pharmacy technicians prepare prescriptions by counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and mixing the medication if necessary. Pharmacy technicians receive and set up stock, and take inventory of medications. Pharmacy technicians prepare medications for outpatients in various settings, including via non-sterile product preparation. Pharmacy technicians are able to read and understand medication profiles, refill prescriptions, track orders and triage patient medication inquiries appropriately. Supervisory pharmacy technicians are responsible for management and supervision of all pharmacy non-pharmacist technical staff, including at 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. Duties include but are not limited to the following description: Develops the work schedule, grants leave and rotates duties of the pharmacy technician staff in coordination with Pharmacy Supervisor. Continuously analyzes and reassesses priorities, redirecting staff to assure that workload demands are accomplished in the most effective, efficient, and economic manner possible. Coordinates day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy area equipment and automation. Oversees the narcotic vault(s) and other specialty areas as required and assigned. Oversees, along with the lead technician, the ward inspection program ensuring compliance with medication storage in both internal pharmacy areas as well as external clinics areas where medications are stored. Assists with the development of performance standards that are realistic, challenging, and supporting the organizational mission, vision, and goals. Responsible for ensuring all employees meet performance standards and competencies. Assists with hiring and participating on interview panels for the selection of new staff. Reviews on an annual basis each subordinate's competencies and completes performance evaluations. Recommends counseling and disciplinary action based upon conduct under the supervision of Pharmacy Leadership with guidance from Employee Labor Relations. Conducts technician meetings to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications. Assists in preparation of national, local, and special accreditations of pharmacy service. (Joint Commission, Inspector General, Controlled Substance Inspections, Drug Enforcement Agency) This includes documentation record updates, development of specific training and preparation of staff and compliance of policy and procedures. Ability to perform the following procurement duties as required for occasional backup to meet operational goals. Maintains training, certification and competency for each duty and communicates directly with the Procurement Technician and Lead Technician to coordinate prior to days of coverage: Ordering officer for the purpose of ordering against the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract. Utilizes the Government purchase card program while adhering to VA financial policies. Holds active certificates for electronic ordering of narcotics by enrolling in the DEA CSOS program. Knowledgeable, proficient and able to perform all major technician duties up to and including the GS-0661-08 Outpatient Technician assignments; for example controlled substance management, pharmacy customer service, automated dispensing equipment maintenance, inventory/procurement and reverse distribution matters. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with occasional 7:30am-4pm and 8:30am to 5pm based upon medical center needs. Telework: Ad-Hoc Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06763 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. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Supervisory Pharmacy Technician (Outpatient) GS-0661-09 Experience: One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level. Certification: For positions above the full performance level (GS-06), the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 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. Preferred Experience: VA outpatient Pharmacy experience. References: See VA Handbook 5005/159 Part II Appendix G28. 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 (up to 44lbs.), 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. Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively. An ability to perform tasks.

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 West Haven VA Medical Center 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]