Lead Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Gainesville, FL

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Pharmacy Technician provides guidance, training, and technical direction to pharmacy non-pharmacist technical staff, health professional trainees, and volunteers under the direction of the Pharmacy Supervisor and Chief, Pharmacy Service. The position evaluates and coordinates workflow, oversees technical operations, supports personnel scheduling and time-and-attendance functions, and participates in quality assurance activities to support efficient pharmacy services. Lead duties are performed independently and include significant scope and complexity. The technician leads three or more pharmacy technicians or other staff, directs daily operations, and helps integrate and monitor standard pharmacy policies to maintain workflow and quality. Higher-level duties must be performed at least 25% of the time.

The position follows a compressed 7-on/7-off schedule, with 11- to 12-hour shifts between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on a Monday-through-Sunday schedule. Weekends and holidays are included in the assigned tour and rotation based on service needs. Telework is unavailable, and this is not a virtual position. Relocation assistance and sign-on incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Active national pharmacy technician certification for positions above the full performance level: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), or National Health Career Association (NHA) Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology, and policies in a specialized pharmacy area or section.
• Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized pharmacy area or section.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must pass applicable background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation; selected applicants are also subject to required onboarding and, for testing-designated positions, pre-appointment drug screening.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Physical ability to perform regular, recurring exertion, including moderate lifting/carrying of 15–44 pounds and walking or standing for four hours; work with hands in water; coordinate rapid mental and muscular activity; and meet the stated vision, color discrimination, hearing, hand-use, and emotional and mental stability requirements.
• Must meet the VA qualification requirements for the position; education or experience is not required for the basic requirements, but the grade-level experience and certification requirements apply.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with controlled substances.
• Lead technician experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily guidance, direction, and technical oversight to pharmacy technical staff, health professional trainees, and volunteers.
• Assist with onboarding, training, and orientation of pharmacy staff and health professional trainees.
• Identify staff development needs, promote competency growth, and maintain personal proficiency through ongoing development programs.
• Develop, maintain, and update training schedules, competency documentation, and procedural guidance.
• Conduct technician meetings to communicate service updates, operational changes, and departmental priorities.
• Evaluate and coordinate pharmacy workflow to ensure tasks are completed efficiently, accurately, and on time.
• Monitor workload and backlogs, and adjust staffing and assignments to meet operational goals.
• Identify inefficient or duplicate processes and implement solutions to streamline operations, reduce waste, and improve patient outcomes.
• Provide cross-coverage and backup support across technical pharmacy areas, including after-hours, weekends, emergencies, or staffing shortages.
• Organize daily work and distribute tasks to support continuity of pharmacy operations.
• Oversee personnel scheduling, time-and-attendance processing, and technical quality assurance activities.
• Participate in departmental goal planning, quality improvement initiatives, and policy and procedure development or revision.
• Perform other assigned duties.
• Prepare work schedules and assign tasks; ensure pharmacy resources are in working condition; provide work-unit guidance in a supervisor’s absence; train personnel in methods, procedures, and equipment use; provide supervisor input on performance and training needs; adjust assignments for absences, emergencies, or changing priorities; resolve simple informal complaints or refer complex issues; and recommend approval or disapproval of leave requests, as applicable.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed