• Job Description

  Req#: 744932300
  This position serves as the procurement pharmacy technician for the Palo Alto Division. The primary responsibility of this position is to oversee ordering and inventory management activities for the designated pharmacy section located at the Palo Alto pharmacy; in addition, the incumbent will provide support to procurement staff at all other VAPAHCS pharmacy locations with acquisition activities as needed.
  
  Duties
  
  
  The VA Palo Alto Health Care System has immediate openings for a full-time Procurement Pharmacy Technician for the Palo Alto Division. The primary responsibility of this position is to oversee ordering and inventory management activities for the Palo Alto inpatient and outpatient pharmacy. The incumbent will also provide support to procurement staff at all other VAPAHCS pharmacy locations with acquisition activities as needed.
  
  The procurement technicians ensure adequate stock of medications and supplies to meet patient care needs. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  • 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.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  
  
  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. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.
  • Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above.
  • Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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 required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such 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 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. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. ? 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
  • Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
  • English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
  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)
  
  Preferred Experience: Expertise and proficiency in inventory management, purchasing, working with spreadsheets, as well as written and verbal communication skills are highly desired. Prior work experience in an inpatient pharmacy highly desired.
  
  Grade Determinations:GS-7
  
  Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
  
  Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  *1. Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities.
  2. Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes.
  3. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff
  4. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment.
  5. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process.
  6. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures.
  7. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures.
  8. Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems.
  
  Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a supervisor; lead technician in a particular area of the pharmacy; a controlled substance technician; an investigational drug technician; a procurement/inventory management technician; a clinical pharmacy technician; or similar assignment with this level of complexity. The GS-7 level is for select, complex pharmacy technician positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit. Although these positions are under the supervision of a pharmacist, employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a Pharmacy Service or for a specific unit or section.
  
  References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification, GS-661
  
  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.
  

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

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