Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technician

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Birmingham, Alabama

Salary Range: $58883 - $76549 Per Year

Job Summary: The position is for a nationally certified Pharmacy Technician who can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The incumbent will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service, including assisting in performance improvement processes in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the Birmingham VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

Major Duties:

• Duties for this pharmacy technician position includes but is not limited: Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor as appropriate. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification. Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of manufacturing pharmaceutical products. Completes all National, VISN, local, and Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner. Provides technical customer service over the phone or in-person related to Veterans medications needs. Assists in unloading and stocking medications, fluids, supplies in appropriate pharmacy inventory and ward stock areas within a reasonable time after receiving and regularly rotates stock. May be assigned to work in other areas of pharmacy service as deemed necessary by the Chief, Pharmacy Service or Supervisor. Appropriately assigns and prints label for completed prescriptions notating if it's window, mail, UPS, refrigerated or non-refrigerated item. Packages prescriptions appropriately, as to ensure that packages are not damaged within transit (i.e., bubble wrap, ice blocks, insulated containers, etc.). Performs a review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. Performs a complete inventory and documents an inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage. Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations, stocks shelves, and the unit dose automated dispensing systems. Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required. Provide support functions in the absence of the controlled substance technician by being able to accurately interpret, prepare, fill, and dispense controlled substances according to policies and procedures for pharmacist verification. Properly stores all pharmaceuticals, taking special precautions in handling of hazardous or perishable materials. Completes audits to ensure ward inspections are completed timely and accurately. Works closely with the reverse distribution vendor during site visits. This includes preparing non-controlled medications for schedule site visits, and remaining with the vendor to assist with the documentation and paperwork. Assist the GEMS coordinator with the non-hazardous medication not take by the reverse distribution vendor. Reconcile reports and completes audits to ensure processes and procedures are being followed. Serves as the primary POC for maintenance for the assigned system to include the following responsibilities but are not limited to: scheduled cleaning and maintenance checks, ability to trouble shoot and resolve mechanical problems for assigned systems. Work Schedule: 8 hour shifts between 6:00am and 6:00pm, with rotating weekends, holidays, evening and night hours. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60072F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Qualifications: Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education or Experience. (1) None required. (2) 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 GS-06, 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). 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: GS -07 Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level- GS-06. 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 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. 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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring limited 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.

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 05/08/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12944772. 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: 2026-05-08