Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Atlanta, GA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Atlanta VA Health Care System is recruiting a Pharmacy Technician for the Pharmacy at the VA Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacy supports adult and elderly Veterans receiving care within the JMCAVAMC system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The technician supports hospital staff by reading and interpreting orders and obtaining the correct medication or material in the required dose and strength.

The role involves processing prescriptions and medication orders, resolving medication-related issues with the healthcare team, Veterans, and external customers, dispensing medications or sterile products in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures, training developmental pharmacy technicians and students, and troubleshooting automated dispensing equipment and technology platforms or databases.

The work schedule is 1:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with rotating weekends and holidays. The schedule may change based on agency needs. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. The full-performance level is GS-07.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For positions above the full-performance level, an active national certification through either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT), unless covered by the stated grandfathering provision.
• For the GS-07 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• For the GS-07 grade, demonstrate knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories that supports sound independent work.
• For the GS-07 grade, demonstrate knowledge of computerized prescription processing and entry of prescriptions and medication orders or their electronic equivalent.
• For the GS-07 grade, demonstrate the ability to resolve pharmacy and medication issues with healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• For the GS-07 grade, demonstrate the ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• For the GS-07 grade, demonstrate the ability to dispense medication or sterile products in compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures for safe distribution.
• For the GS-07 grade, demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• Complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including a background/security investigation and, for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions, urinalysis for illegal drug use.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as determined for the appointment.
• Meet applicable education-recognition requirements if using education to qualify; foreign education must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret orders and obtain the correct medication or material in the required dose and strength.
• Process prescriptions and medication orders using computerized prescription systems or their electronic equivalents.
• Resolve pharmacy and medication issues with healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• Train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Dispense medications or sterile products in accordance with regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment, technology platforms, and databases.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to the stated family-income, child-eligibility, cost, and monthly-maximum limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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