Summary The VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center (CCC) is seeking an experienced and dynamic Pharmacy Technician. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a contact center, focused on customer service to Veterans. Responsibilities As a Pharmacy Technician you are responsible for the technical management of all patient care assistance activities regarding the Clinical Contact Center (CCC). The incumbent is responsible to the Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Supervisory staff, for ensuring that the daily work assignments in this area are completed in a timely, efficient, and customer-oriented manner. The incumbent also performs all processes and procedures involved with all program areas of the Pharmacy Service as requested. Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Providing high-quality care, increasing access & improving outcomes for Veterans. Communicating with Veterans through the automated call distribution system, answering inquiries related to process questions. Following up on all prescription problems by phone or CPRS progress notes to avoid delay in Veteran medications. Participating in telephone notification of class 1 medication recalls as necessary. Assisting telephone care program manager with compilation of data for workload statistics and to detect problems with the automated and internet refill systems. Processing batch refill prescription ordering for mail-out processing and ultimate fulfillment of Veteran requests. Interacting personally with Veterans or their representatives to assure medication profiles are updated, reviewed, and needed prescriptions items or prosthetics supplies are appropriately processed. Accurately fills prescriptions orders by selecting correct product based on label requirements and assures each item is filled and labeled according to all applicable standards. Answering questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding outpatient procedures. Identifying basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. Other related duties as assigned. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday- Sunday, 5:00 am - 1:00am (Various shifts available). (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Telework: Available. Virtual: This is a virtual position. Must be located within the VISN 8 area. Functional Statement #: 10048 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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 evaluation. 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 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: Must be a US Citizen. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), you must be proficient in basic written and spoken English. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met to qualify for a specific grade level. Experience: Must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. Examples of this include but is not limited to: filling orders, dispensing/delivering medications using automated systems or providing technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Delivering medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Certification: 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) Preferred Experience: Experience working in a Pharmacy Call Center. 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-7. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation as required by VA Handbook 5019. This evaluation is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position is primarily sedentary, but may involve prolonged standing and/or walking; lifting of weights up to 40 pounds; bending and/or stooping. The incumbent must be physically, emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others. 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 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.
