Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • San Antonio, TX

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Serves as an advanced Pharmacy Technician supporting inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations. Performs prescription processing, medication preparation and dispensing, sterile and non-sterile compounding, controlled substance handling, inventory management, automation support, quality checks, and customer service. Applies pharmacy policies, safety standards, and technical expertise to ensure accurate, timely medication distribution and effective pharmacy operations.

This is a permanent, full-time position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., plus rotating weekends and holidays. The full performance level and actual grade for the vacancy are GS-07. Telework and virtual work are not available. Recruitment and relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. The selected employee must serve a one- or two-year trial period. Applicants selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position are subject to pre-appointment drug screening and must meet the stated federal employment, security, identification, language, and vaccination conditions.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-7, at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).
• For GS-7, knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories sufficient to perform sound independent work.
• For GS-7, knowledge of computerized prescription processing and entry of prescriptions and medication orders, or an electronic equivalent.
• For GS-7, ability to resolve pharmacy or medication issues with healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• For GS-7, ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• For GS-7, ability to dispense medication or sterile products in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
• For GS-7, ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must submit to urinalysis before appointment; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must be subject to and complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding, including acceptable identification and application documentation requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical capability to meet the listed demands, including lifting and carrying 15–44 pounds; pushing, pulling, walking, standing, reaching, finger use, kneeling, bending, and specified visual and hearing requirements.
• For applicants qualifying through education, submit a transcript; qualifying education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of inpatient pharmacy experience.
• At least one year of USP 797 and/or USP 800 sterile compounding experience.
• At least six months of outpatient pharmacy dispensing experience.
• At least one year of pharmacy automation experience, including automated dispensing cabinets, automated tablet packagers, or outpatient dispensing automation such as Parata, ScriptPro, or Omnicell.
• Knowledge of brand and generic medication names.
• Knowledge of pulling medications for orders.
• At least one year of controlled substance management technician experience.
• Knowledge of computer systems, including VistA.
• For GS-7 and above, active national certification through either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), or the National Health Career Association (NHA) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

Responsibilities

• Process and prepare prescriptions and medication orders, including accurate interpretation, entry, filling, labeling, and preparation for pharmacist verification.
• Prepare and dispense medications, selecting the correct drug, dosage form, strength, quantity, packaging, and labeling.
• Prepare sterile and non-sterile compounded medications according to pharmacy procedures, standards, and safety requirements.
• Conduct technical reviews of prescriptions and medication orders and identify discrepancies, errors, omissions, or other issues requiring pharmacist intervention.
• Maintain and operate pharmacy automation systems, including automated dispensing cabinets, prescription processing equipment, and related technology.
• Handle controlled substances and maintain medication accountability, including required storage, documentation, reconciliation, and security.
• Manage pharmacy inventory by ordering, receiving, stocking, rotating, monitoring expiration dates, and ensuring medication and supply availability.
• Perform pharmaceutical calculations involving dosages, quantities, concentrations, measurements, conversions, and preparation requirements.
• Perform quality assurance and accuracy checks within the technician's authorized scope.
• Support inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations and adapt technical work to changing patient-care and service needs.
• Provide customer service and resolve routine medication-related issues in coordination with patients, pharmacists, providers, nursing staff, and other customers.
• Maintain required pharmacy records and documentation, protect patient information, and comply with VA, federal, and facility requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate within the grade may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with a child's birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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