Pharmacy Technician (Compound Sterile Products)

Veterans Health Administration • Hines, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Compound Sterile Products (CSP) Pharmacy Technician is a highly specialized technician who, under the authority of the CSP program manager or designee, prepares sterile IV products, chemotherapeutic agents, and non-hazardous products. The role supports timely, accurate patient care and compliance with regulatory requirements for sterile compounding. Work is performed in the IV cleanroom suite and includes preparing products for dispensing, making required records, reviewing IV administration records, and assisting inspectors, review teams, and staff during inquiries and inspections.

The technician applies knowledge of USP 797/800/795, pharmacy law, VHA directives, and DEA regulations to support medication management, compliance, staff education, training, and room certifications. The role requires accurate product identification, dosage calculation, compounding, labeling, and assignment of stability and handling information. It also involves knowledge of medication storage, distribution, and disposal; operating and maintaining pharmacy equipment; and keeping sterile preparation areas clean with required logs completed.

The position includes technical review of orders after pharmacist review, support for medication distribution, identifying basic therapeutic concerns and alerting pharmacists, inspections and quality assurance audits, inventory management, and participation in quality improvement. The technician also trains pharmacy technicians, students, and pharmacy residents, and coordinates with health-care providers and administrators to support compliance with pharmacy and medical center policies.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Rotating weekend and holiday tours may be required as needed for patient care. Compressed/flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in Federal service, including autonomous work using independent judgment, mentoring and training lower-graded pharmacy technicians, assisting advanced or specialized technicians, participating in performance improvement initiatives, and working as a staff pharmacy technician in various pharmacy locations.
• Must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology, and policies in a specialized pharmacy area.
• Must demonstrate skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on policies and procedures.
• Must demonstrate ability to evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized pharmacy area.
• For positions above the full performance level, must pass a national certification exam and hold an active PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) certification.
• Must complete applicable background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, drug testing if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, online onboarding, and required application documentation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in sterile compounding of hazardous and non-hazardous medications.
• Previous experience in oncology pharmacy sterile compounding.

Responsibilities

• Prepare sterile IV products, chemotherapeutic agents, and non-hazardous products in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Set up sterile products for dispensing, complete appropriate record entries, and review IV administration records.
• Assist inspectors, review teams, and other staff during routine inquiries and inspections.
• Apply knowledge of USP 797/800/795, pharmacy law, VHA directives, and DEA regulations to support medication management, compliance, staff education, training, and room certifications.
• Perform accurate product identification, dosage calculations, compounding, and labeling, including assigning stability and handling information.
• Apply appropriate medication storage, distribution, and disposal procedures.
• Operate and maintain pharmacy equipment, including admixing pumps, needles, syringes, Omnicell/Pyxis, BD IV Prep sterile compounding automation, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, restricted access barriers, and repeater pumps.
• Clean sterile preparation areas and complete daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning logs.
• Resolve questionable orders or situations within the technician's scope and contact pharmacists for clarification when a prescription, order, or situation may present a patient-care hazard.
• Contact the assigned pharmacist for a final check after completing an order, then deliver prepared products to wards, clinics, or other designated areas.
• After pharmacist review for therapeutic propriety, review orders for technical accuracy and convert orders when necessary so the dispensed item corresponds to the drug and dose ordered.
• Answer drug-distribution questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel.
• Identify basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy within a drug class, and alert the pharmacist to possible clinical intervention.
• Conduct periodic ward inspections of patient-care areas or assigned areas and perform quality assurance audits.
• Participate in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and pursue service improvements.
• Manage inventory using measures such as just-in-time practices, usage rates, stock levels, contract adherence, returns of expired medications, and inventory turns.
• Monitor stock inside and outside pharmacy automation, alert appropriate personnel about reordering or restocking issues, and report possible drug discrepancies or diversion to a supervisor or pharmacist.
• Participate in training pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, and PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents.
• Coordinate with health-care providers and administrators to support compliance with pharmacy and medical center policies and procedures.
• Perform clerical or other functions as requested.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits and eligibility depend on the position and employment status.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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