Summary The Pharmacy Technician - Procurement/Inventory incumbent has operational responsibility for pharmacy purchase and inventory of all drugs, medical supplies, and operational supplies required in the provision of pharmacy services to ensure the highest quality products are acquired at the lowest price and that pharmacy items are available when needed. Responsibilities Duties and responsibilities of this position include: Order products based on national contract agreements or most economical product available through the prime vendor. Establish alternative sources of supply when products are not available from the prime vendor. Maintain an awareness of current clinical usage related to formulary policies and market conditions affecting supply and demand. Operate a system based on minimum lag time and maximum efficiency. Use EOQ (Economic Order Quantity) principles to determine inventory turns and appropriate stock levels. Assure stock is rotated to enhance medication usability and potency. Utilize Mobile Manager® or similar device to enhance efficiency and accuracy in ordering. Inventory narcotics and other items requiring more frequent intervention to ensure adequate stock is available and overstocking is avoided by adjusting min and max stock levels accordingly. Compile and submit theoretical turns summary report each quarter to assess effectiveness of ordering process. Use the assigned account number to place most purchase orders directly to the prime vendor and use credit card to make purchases through other vendors. Maintain ongoing record of credit card purchases. Assure accuracy of receipts for receiving and reconciliation of credit card purchases. Ensure all VA regulations and organizational guidelines are followed regarding the use of government credit card. When ordering and receiving narcotic orders, ensure all records are handled and processed according to DEA regulations (DEA form 222), VHA directives, and departmental guidelines. Decide to order an equivalent generic substitute, different strength, bottle size, or wait and reorder the next day if regular items are unavailable. Use the prime vendor database to determine the cost differential to purchase from a different manufacturer, as well as the expected due-in date of the unavailable product at the prime vendor. Estimate obligations anticipated to be incurred the next month by reviewing historical trends and projecting fiscal needs for new programs and/or national formulary changes. Provide effective stock arrangement to ensure optimum productivity. Update the VistA automation interface whenever NDC changes are needed for a given medication. Check for outdates, remove outdates from inventory, and store products away from working stock to avoid inadvertent dispensing or diversion. Routinely schedule and coordinate with third-party vendor to process and destroy outdated products. Train staff in the appropriate operation and maintenance of automated equipment (e.g. entering lot numbers for replenishment), policies and procedures for requesting additional inventory (using the want book), and how to process out-of-stock urgent prescriptions. Assist in effecting recalls of drugs, as required, by checking applicable lots and informing appropriate personnel. Prepare item description for new drugs and supplies added to the formulary and provide the information to the Pharmacy ADPAC for entry into the VISTA drug file. Keep drug prices up to date in VISTA. Work with Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) to ensure consistent and appropriate product delivery to patients. Provide orientation and training, as required, for staff members, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aids, and pharmacy technician students. Ensure inventory received from the prime vendor is properly downloaded and verified in the VistA Drug Accountability package in a timely manner. Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 7:00am to 3:30pm. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of 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 Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS: Pharmacy Technician, GS-08. Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) 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 KSAs and the additional KSAs for the Procurement/Inventory position: (a) 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.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory). For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level serve as an ordering officer delegated by the national acquisition center contracting officer for the purpose of ordering against the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract and national blanket purchase agreements (BPA) for pharmacy. They are responsible for ordering medications and supplies from required sources and meeting contract compliance while maintaining multiple complex accounts with the PPV. They utilize the Government purchase card program for direct orders up to the micro purchase threshold per VA financial policy. Pharmacy technicians at this level are responsible for regulatory and formulary requirements to meet patient needs within budgetary limits. Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). (a) Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement, distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment. This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and DEA requirements and regulations. (b) Ability to assist in determining and modifying as necessary: ordering intervals, inventory levels and cost-effective ordering quantities from required sources based on current financial conditions in pharmacy, seasonal variations in drug usage, changing patterns in medical practice, delivery time requirements and urgency of medical need. Preferred Experience: Two years experience as a pharmacy technician in a hospital pharmacy setting. Two years experience in pharmacy supply or pharmacy procurement positions at a federal facility. Two years experience in the ordering controlled substances in a healthcare facility. 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-8. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; standing (up to 6 hours); repeated bending (up to 2 hours); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; ability to distinguish basic colors; and mental and emotional stability. Environmental Factors: Constant noise; extensive keyboard/mouse use; working closely with others and working alone. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
