Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient/Outpatient)

Veterans Health Administration • Iron Mountain, MI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician is a nationally certified technician working above the full performance level (GS-7) at the Oscar G Johnson VA Healthcare System. The technician works autonomously using independent judgment to perform the full range of pharmacy duties, mentors and trains lower-grade technicians, and may work in various pharmacy locations, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional locations, with minimal oversight. The role supports inpatient and outpatient pharmacy operations and assists advanced or specialized pharmacy technicians and pharmacy improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities include accurately interpreting, filling, and preparing prescriptions and medical supplies for pharmacist verification; maintaining clean and orderly work areas; storing medications and supplies according to USP and VA guidelines; receiving and stocking inventory; using and troubleshooting pharmacy automation; monitoring expiration dates and storage conditions; and compounding or reconstituting non-sterile medications. The technician may manufacture pharmaceutical products in batches or for individual orders, interpret physician orders, measure and mix ingredients, inspect and label products, maintain manufacturing records, and obtain a pharmacist's final check.

The technician answers drug-distribution questions, identifies basic potential therapeutic problems and alerts pharmacists, assists with staff and student training, performs duties of lower-grade technicians as needed, and participates in performance and quality improvement activities. Other duties may be assigned. The position has rotating shifts, including holidays and weekends. Telework and virtual work are not authorized.

Requirements

• Active national pharmacy technician certification through either PTCB as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT); a copy of certification must be provided.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 level for GS-07 qualification.
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories sufficient for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of computerized prescription processing and input of prescriptions and medication orders, or an electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy or medication issues with healthcare-team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medications or sterile products in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Pass required pre-employment screening and requirements, including background/security investigation, drug testing for testing-designated positions, and a physical evaluation/examination; seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Meet applicable onboarding, identification, and application-document requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the posting.
• For federal employment qualification, any education used must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Accurately interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Maintain clean and orderly work areas, with stock and equipment in assigned places and shelves and counters free of dust and debris.
• Store and secure drugs and supplies according to USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled, corrosive, flammable, and refrigerated items.
• Receive, check, rotate, and stock items from the pharmacy procurement section, identifying and reconciling discrepancies.
• Use pharmacy automation dispensing equipment according to safety and quality-assurance procedures, and report malfunctions promptly to the supervisor.
• Record expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt.
• Inspect assigned areas monthly for proper medication storage and remove soon-to-expire drugs; complete inspection reports in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Compound or reconstitute non-sterile oral or external medications, including calculating and converting weights and measuring ingredients or solutions for pharmacist verification.
• Manufacture pharmaceutical products for batches or individual prescriptions and drug orders.
• Interpret physician orders; select, measure, and safely mix ingredients; inspect and label products; maintain manufacturing records; and obtain a pharmacist's final check.
• Use standard protocols to determine expiration dates for prepared batches.
• Operate pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, including balances and mixing machines.
• Answer pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel's questions regarding drug distribution.
• Identify basic therapeutic issues, such as duplicate therapy within a drug class, and alert pharmacists to possible clinical intervention needs.
• Assist in training and orienting new staff technicians, interns, and students, and participate in the pharmacy training program.
• Work under varied circumstances to support group productivity and quality.
• Perform duties of lower-grade technicians as needed.
• Participate in pharmacy performance-improvement initiatives and assigned quality-improvement assessment and action teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees, subject to income and other eligibility requirements; subsidy may cover up to 25% of eligible costs, up to $416.66 per month.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• 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: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed