Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory)

Veterans Health Administration•Ann Arbor, MI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The certified Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) serves as the lead ordering officer for Pharmacy Service and assists with oversight of prescription and nonprescription medication and supply purchasing and inventory in a highly complex pharmacy setting at AAVHS. The role includes administrative oversight, purchasing and distribution, inventory security and accountability, and support for quality improvement and patient care. The technician analyzes workload priorities and pharmacy activities, supports pharmacy managers in meeting short- and long-range goals, identifies opportunities to streamline processes and reduce waste and costs, reports potential or actual medication errors, and participates in quality improvement efforts. The technician maintains oversight of pharmacy inventory security and storage areas and reports concerns to management. As lead ordering officer, the technician initiates and guides pharmaceutical, specialty-item, and supply purchases through pharmacy vendors and other sources. The role includes ensuring compliance with federal contracts and regulations; managing ordering intervals, stock levels, and changes in formulary and supply conditions; processing receipts; using government purchase cards within applicable limits; maintaining documentation and DSCSA records; and supporting audits and accountability. The technician provides procurement staff training and oversight, manages expired, outdated, unusable, excess, recalled, and loaned or borrowed inventory according to applicable policies, and maintains advanced knowledge of controlled-substance requirements and storage, handling, and distribution requirements for hazardous and non-hazardous drugs. Other duties may be assigned. The work schedule is 0700–1530, Monday through Friday. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The full performance level is GS-10. The role requires regular physical exertion, including prolonged standing, lifting and carrying pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, and pushing and pulling large carts; it may also involve significant time at a computer terminal.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointment of non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
For positions above the full performance level, an active national pharmacy technician certification through PTCB as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT), unless covered by the applicable grandfathering provision.
One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level for the GS-10 grade determination.
Ability to analyze data for performance-improvement projects, workload analysis, and statistical reports.
Ability to prepare for and maintain special accreditations, inspections, and reviews, such as Joint Commission, Office of Inspector General, ASHP, and controlled-substance inspections.
Ability to solve problems and implement corrective actions to maximize outcomes in the program area.
Knowledge of the assigned specialty area, including variations based on program complexity.
Skill in developing comprehensive training programs and materials for orientation, competency development, educational needs, and regulatory requirements.
Skill in analyzing information from multiple services, programs, or facilities to evaluate regulatory compliance and make quality improvements.
Pass required pre-employment screening, including applicable urinalysis, background/security investigation, and physical examination; comply with seasonal influenza vaccination requirements and onboarding documentation requirements.
Serve a two-year trial period, subject to the conditions stated in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

Two to three years of pharmacy procurement experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Analyze and reassess priorities to complete workload demands effectively, efficiently, and economically.
Evaluate pharmacy activities and assist pharmacy managers in achieving short- and long-range goals and objectives.
Identify duplicated efforts and develop solutions to streamline processes, reduce waste and costs, and improve patient care.
Report potential and actual medication errors and encourage pharmacy technicians to report errors and adverse events.
Participate in service process assessments, action teams, and ongoing quality improvement efforts.
Maintain oversight of pharmacy inventory security and storage areas and report inconsistencies or concerns to management.
Serve as lead ordering officer for Pharmacy Service under delegation from the VA National Acquisition Center and maintain annual training requirements.
Train procurement staff on departmental standard operating procedures and oversee their competencies.
Initiate pharmaceutical, specialty-item, and supply orders through pharmacy prime vendors, complex accounts, or other sources and provide guidance to ordering officers.
Ensure adherence to federal contracts, federal acquisition regulations, and applicable policies, including requirements for open-market purchases and contracting hierarchy.
Determine appropriate ordering intervals and stock levels in response to formulary changes, generic substitutions, contract changes, conversions, new indications, backorders, and seasonal changes.
Guide ordering officers on purchases of controlled and non-controlled drugs within VA ordering guidelines and budget requirements.
Process inventory receipts for drug accountability and inventory-management systems.
Use government-issued credit cards within micro-purchase limits and maintain documentation and timely reconciliation of orders and receipts.
Upload and maintain Drug Supply Chain Security Act documentation and inventory records for accountability and audits.
Apply VA and regulatory requirements for procurement, storage, distribution, and handling of hazardous and non-hazardous drug classes.
Oversee removal and safe processing of expired medications in accordance with VHA directives and standard operating procedures.
Process outdated, unusable, and excess inventory for manufacturer return, replacement, or credit.
Develop loan-and-borrow book standard operating procedures for transactions within and outside VA.
Participate in the drug recall program, report findings to management, sequester affected products, and follow recall instructions.
Maintain knowledge of policies and state and federal laws and regulations concerning controlled substances.
Assist with replenishment procedures for the All-Hazards Emergency Cache, if applicable.
Perform other duties as assigned.