Summary Pharmacy Technician - Quality Assurance is a specialized position responsible for supporting quality program within Pharmacy Service. Primary responsibilities involve support of the Integrated quality program in compliance with audits, administrative duties, patient safety activities, and quality/performance improvement initiatives. Responsibilities Collects data, analyzes, prepares reports, and presents results for routine safety, performance, and regulatory compliance monitoring or as needed for the plan-do-study-act cycle of ongoing quality improvement initiatives and medication use evaluations. Coordinates gathering of information from subject matter experts to support real or mock reviews by regulatory and accrediting organizations. Conducts unannounced and scheduled inspections of pharmacy and medical center drug storage, preparation, or dispensing areas to assess continuous readiness, including compliance with environment of care, infection control, medication security/storage standards, and national directives, local policies, procedures, and standards of work. Monitors for potential issues related to medication safety and compliance, particularly involving high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, or high-cost medications, including controlled substances, and communicates identified concerns to appropriate Pharmacy Service leadership Maintains awareness of and properly shares organization's official guidance, including directives, policies, and procedures particularly those related to medication handling. Attends routine meetings related to quality management in Pharmacy Service, including for the Pharmacy Performance Improvement (PI) Committee, Interdisciplinary Medication Safety Committee, VISN 22 Medication Safety Team, National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) Collaborative, or other committee/workgroup meetings as identified by the Chief, Associate Chief(s), or Integrated Quality Program Manager Develops agendas, collates meeting materials, then records and distributes meeting minutes for the Pharmacy Performance Improvement (PI) Committee, Interdisciplinary Medication Safety Committee meeting, and for other quality-related committee/workgroup meetings. Sustains Pharmacy Service-owned forms and documents posted electronically on the network drive/SharePoint and/or printed and posted in the pharmacy or other medication storage areas Manages electronic communication, including via instant message or email, efficiently and professionally Researches medication-related errors and/or close calls reported through the Joint Patient Safety Reporting (JPSR) system Actively participates in root cause analysis (RCA) or healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) activities as assigned by the Chief, Associate Chief(s), or Integrated Quality Program Manager Assists with implementation of risk mitigation strategies identified through review of medication errors or participation in RCA/HFMEA activities Facilities lean projects appropriate for the scope of a pharmacy technician Actively participates in Gemba huddles and quality/performance improvement projects as assigned by the Chief, Associate Chief(s), or Integrated Quality Program Manager Assists with implementation of rapid experiments in the plan-do-study-act cycle of ongoing initiatives Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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 identification 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 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. 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. 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) 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). 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: PTCB as CPhT OR NHA as a ExCPT Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: A pharmacy technician must be able to lift/carry supplies weighing 50 lbs. or less; bending and stopping; and regular and recurring physical exertion involving walking and standing. Some of the work is performed while seated. 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.
