Pharmacy Technician

Indian Health Service • Peach Springs, AZ

13d

About The Position

At the Indian Health Service (IHS), Pharmacy Technicians support the Pharmacy Department and help advance the agency’s mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people. The position performs prescription preparation, operates pharmacy dispensing and packaging systems, and maintains medication inventory. Technicians communicate professionally, protect confidential information, and refer medication-related clinical questions to a pharmacist. Available grade levels may vary by location; the position has promotion potential to GS-6, but promotion is not guaranteed and is at management’s discretion.

The role requires U.S. citizenship, successful completion of a federal background investigation and E-Verify check, and compliance with applicable IHS healthcare employee immunization requirements. Selectees must obtain and maintain required medical staff clinical privileges and licensure, submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form, and establish direct deposit. Additional conditions may include a probationary period, a two-year trial period for ESEP appointees, Selective Service registration where applicable, and suitability requirements related to contact with Indian children. Before appointment, candidates must provide two valid forms of identification; state-issued identification must be REAL ID-compliant where applicable. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for the grade level sought. GS-4 qualifications include specified general and specialized experience, qualifying pharmacy or pharmacy technology education, or an eligible combination. GS-5 qualifications include one year of specialized experience, a qualifying bachelor’s degree, pertinent Armed Forces training, or an eligible combination. GS-6 qualifications include one year of specialized experience in pharmaceutical procurement and inventory management, prescription filling using automated dispensing equipment, and dose calculations. Federal competitive-service applicants may also be subject to time-in-grade requirements. Applicants are encouraged to submit transcripts; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, with at least a one-year service agreement required when applicable. The position is covered by a bargaining unit at some service units and ineligible at others.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet the experience, education, training, or combination-of-qualifications requirements for the grade level sought.
• For GS-4, qualifying experience or education must provide knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature; pharmaceutical characteristics, strengths, and dosage forms; systems of pharmaceutical weights and measures; and pharmaceutical care, storage, repackaging, bulk compounding, and distribution procedures.
• For GS-4, the experience route requires six months of general experience and six months of specialized experience; the education route requires two years of post-high-school pharmacy or pharmacy technology study, including at least 12 semester hours in relevant pharmaceutical courses and appropriate laboratory work.
• For GS-5, the experience route requires at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, including maintaining pharmacy or hospital drug stocks, recognizing auxiliary warnings and packaging requirements, and assisting with outpatient prescriptions under a pharmacist’s supervision.
• For GS-5, alternative qualification routes include a qualifying four-year bachelor’s degree with pharmacy major study or at least 24 semester hours in pharmacy-related courses, pertinent Armed Forces training, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• For GS-6, at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level involving pharmaceutical procurement and inventory management, prescription filling with automated dispensing equipment, and dose calculations.
• Federal competitive-service merit-promotion candidates must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements; time-in-grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan.
• Successfully complete a federal background investigation and E-Verify employment verification.
• Complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance and present two valid forms of identification before appointment; state-issued identification must be REAL ID-compliant where applicable.
• Obtain and maintain required medical staff clinical privileges, including any required licensure.
• Comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy if duties require work in an IHS healthcare facility, subject to available exemption procedures.
• Submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form and establish direct deposit.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Meet suitability requirements for a position involving contact or control over Indian children.
• Complete a required service agreement of at least one year when a recruitment or relocation incentive is authorized and accepted.
• If requesting reasonable accommodation for USA Hire assessments, submit the request and supporting documentation before starting the assessments; complete assessments within the specified 48-hour period when applicable.
• Education used to meet requirements must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Nice To Haves

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit unofficial transcripts or a list of courses, credit hours, and grades; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.
• Newly appointed Federal employees may be eligible for credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.

Responsibilities

• Prepare prescriptions by selecting, counting, measuring, and packaging medications in the correct dosage forms and strengths.
• Operate automated dispensing, printing, labeling, and packaging systems and resolve routine equipment or workflow issues.
• Maintain pharmacy inventory by monitoring stock levels, rotating products, identifying shortages or overages, checking expiration dates, and recording discrepancies.
• Communicate clearly and professionally while maintaining confidentiality.
• Refer medication-related clinical questions to a pharmacist.
• At applicable grade levels, maintain pharmacy storeroom and hospital drug stocks, recognize drug auxiliary warnings and packaging requirements, and assist pharmacy staff with outpatient prescriptions under pharmacist supervision.
• At applicable grade levels, perform pharmaceutical procurement and inventory management, fill prescriptions using automated dispensing equipment, and calculate doses to match physician orders with pharmacy stock.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• Annual leave accrual of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period based on federal service; directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service may be credited for leave accrual purposes.

What This Job Offers

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