Summary This position is a part of the Miami VA Healthcare System. Our nationally certified pharmacy technicians operate independently, employing autonomous judgment to perform a comprehensive array of duties. They also mentor and train lower-graded pharmacy technicians within the practice setting. Additionally, these technicians serve in various areas of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Major duties but, not are limited to: Medication Management Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form, determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. For unit-dose medications, performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment such as unit dose prepackaging machines, automatic dispensing machines, IV compounding machines and other pharmacy devices. Pharmacy Phone System Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel with regard to drug distribution procedures and timeframes for delivery. Sterile Product Compounding Performs daily cleaning as outlined in policy and maintains accurate cleaning logs. Consistently displays competency through biannual assessments and annual didactic review. Coordinates, communicates, and works with the supervisor to resolve any sterile manufacturing related problems. Selects and measures appropriate ingredients needed to compound IV admixtures, TPN solutions, ophthalmic preparations and cardioplegia solutions. Mixes the ingredients in a sterile environment safely and effectively, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, and properly labels all products. Maintains accurate compounding records and obtains appropriate pharmacist signatures for all compounded IV admixtures. Unit Dose Medication Management Accurately inventories and replenishes emergency trays and other kits prepared by pharmacy prior to pharmacist verification. Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products and automation. Responsible for the prepacking of unit dose solids and liquids and assures appropriate labeling according to USP standards, dispensed by Pharmacy Service to the nursing staff for patient administration for review by a pharmacist. Maintains prepacking records that ensure all regulatory and review standards are met. Accurately prepares missing doses and gives them to pharmacist(s) for second check before dispensed from pharmacy. Controlled Substances Activities Maintains confidentiality of access codes. Assures that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking. Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured. Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections. Stock Replenishment Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for floor stock and external medication. Assures the complete and accurate replenishment of irrigation and intravenous solutions. Performs and documents an inspection of wards and other areas of medication use monthly before deadline comminuted by inpatient supervisors. Assures that each area that is inspected meets established standards for appropriate drug storage conditions including drug security. Quality Assurance Accurately provides quality pharmaceutical services to all patients and assures that all medication orders are accurately prepared on a timely basis. Effectively develops techniques and methods for preventing repackaging, compounding, stocking, and filling errors and consistently provides pharmaceuticals with complete accuracy. Thoroughly completes all dispensing records with the required information. Assists in the total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve service. Work Schedule: 10 hour compressed tours including weekends and holidays, with rotating tours of duty as needed. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 31106F Recruitment/Relocation Incentive - Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increase. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 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 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. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Foreign Education-Documentation Submitted. 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. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07. (1) Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-6) grade level. (2) 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). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. 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 significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments: Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. 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-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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 for 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. 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). 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) 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.
