Applicant(s) before beginning the application process please read closely the verbiage in Announcement Text under "Duties" section after "Work Schedule". This verbiage will define the four location(s) listed during the application process. NOTE: eligible/qualified applicant(s) will be referred to the hiring managers based on the applicant(s) chosen location(s).

Duties

The Pharmacy Technician - Vault position will be located within Pharmacy Service. The Specialty Technician functions above the full performance level for Certified Pharmacy Technicians. At this level the incumbent will be required to demonstrate independent technical judgement successfully and consistently (without the need for ready supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex and difficult practices and procedures for pharmacy technicians. This will require an expanded scope with significant complexity, difficulty, and range in the area's narcotic accountability, automation, compounding, and procurement. The incumbent will be a highly specialized technician who is responsible for the first line management and operation of automated dispensing equipment, narcotic accountability, compounding, and/or any other higher-level technician functions as needed. The technician in this position will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures for the dispensing and storage of drugs in the narcotic areas of use, automated equipment, compounding, and procurement. Therefore, an understanding of the operation and capabilities of the specialized equipment and applicable federal regulations regarding within these areas will be critical. This will include but is not limited to an understanding of narcotic areas of use, federal rules/regulations regarding narcotic substances, software systems, software upgrades, troubleshooting hardware/software problems, minor repairs, automation recalibration, routine maintenance, and USP 797/800. These responsibilities will at times necessitate the individual to work directly with police services, VA Office of the Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Agency, automation companies', and/or technical/clinical support services to troubleshoot and resolve issues and to maximize efficiency. Work Schedule: Location-Inpatient position, Audie L. Murphy VACM, San Antonio, Texas-8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m., rotating, may include evenings-days/nights/weekends/holidays Location-Kerrville VA Medical Center, Kerrville, Texas-Outpatient/Inpatient position, 7:30a.m. to 4:00p.m., 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m., 9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m., rotating or needs of service Location-Outpatient position, Audie L. Murphy VAMC, San Antonio, Texas-8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m., 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m., rotating, may include evenings-days/nights/weekends/holidays Location-Northwest Health Care Center (NWHCC), San Antonio, Texas-Outpatient position, 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m., rotating, may include evenings-days/nights/weekends/holidays Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51441-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education or Experience: None required. 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 (GS-07 and above): 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). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grandfather Provision. A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-08 In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07). 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). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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. Preferred Experience: -1 Year Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized/automated pharmaceutical equipment. -Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities. -Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures. -Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems. -Ability to process , fill and dispense prescriptions and demonstrate ability to accurately navigate and utilize basic pharmacy functions in VistA, CPRS, and automation packages. -Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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 Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]