Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technician

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Birmingham, Alabama

Salary Range: $64565 - $83939 Per Year

Job Summary: The Pharmacy Controlled Substance/Automation Technician is certified, highly specialized technician and is responsible for the first line management of all controlled substances handled by the pharmacy for the assigned area. Mandated accountability and control of scheduled drugs makes this a particularly sensitive position that is considered critical by all levels of management. The incumbent must also have expert understanding of the complexity of the Automation program.

Major Duties:

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES: 1. Controlled Substance Management Ability to prepare, fill, and dispense controlled substance according to policies and procedures. Conducts regularly scheduled inventories every 72 hours and daily if needed according to regulations and policies. Assists the Controlled Substance Compliance Inspectors to complete the monthly inspections. Effectively coordinates, manages, completes, and documents the purchasing of all prescription and non-prescription drug products and supplies by maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdated CS medications from stock including inpatient wards, inpatient/outpatient storage cabinets, vaults. Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions, entering received inventory, transferring to automated dispensing cabinets, dispensing on green sheets, and transferring to other dispensing vaults. Follows policies and procedures for handling the destruction and return of controlled substance medication. Works with pharmacy procurement personnel by providing information regarding medications and supplies needed from the warehouse or wholesaler based on items used. 2. Automation (Automated Dispensing) Coordinates the technical aspects of pharmacy drug distribution activities to ensure standard operating procedures are aligned with automation capabilities so that efficiencies are maximized. Incumbent is instrumental in recommending changes for the improvement of the workflow, work methods, and priorities involved within the drug distribution system. Evaluates and analyzes workflow and coordinates all work activities involved with Pharmacy automation. This will involve trouble shooting, regularly gathering data, analyzing, and interpreting VA data and formulating action plans. Ensures that automated dispensing data is archived within established guidelines for each type of equipment. Ability to participate in process actions teams to improve automation quality and safety, continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers. Resolves problems and complaints regarding all pharmacy and automated dispensing automation, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel. Has oversight responsibility of the user files of all automated dispensing systems. Has oversight responsibility for the addition of new items and deletion of obsolete items from all automated dispensing systems. Ensures that equipment is cleaned and maintained to minimize downtime. 3. Outpatient Pharmacy Activities (when assigned) Processes and fills outpatient prescriptions in compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures. Utilizes the automated dispensing machine (i.e., ScriptPro) for packaging and dispensing medications. Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels. Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles. Appropriately assigns and prints label for completed prescriptions notating if it's window, mail, UPS, refrigerated or non-refrigerated item. Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine. Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions. Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies. Ensures two patient identifiers are utilized when dispensing medications. 4. Inpatient Pharmacy Activities (when assigned): Performs a review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. Inventories and replenishes emergency trays/carts/kits. Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems such as Pyxis and Parata. Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas. Utilizes the Parata Perl inspection system after medications are repackaged. Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist. Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met. Trouble shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate. Work Schedule: 8 hr. shift between 5:30a and 6p with rotating weekend, holiday, evening and night (WHEN) hours Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Qualifications: 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. You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education or Experience. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. Certification. Candidates must be certified by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Certification is required at grades GS-6 and above. Grade Determinations: GS-08 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level GS-07, 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 assigned specific KSAs: 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 a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 1. 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. 2. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. 3. Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Physical Demands The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this position is GS-06. This vacancy is above the full performance level at GS-08.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/20/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12815165. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-20