Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory)

Veterans Health Administration • Spokane, WA

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

This Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) position primarily supports central pharmacy procurement, outpatient automation, distribution systems, regulatory compliance, and patient safety. The technician may be assigned to any area of the pharmacy, including expanded distributive-function and higher-complexity assignments. The full performance level is GS-8.

The position independently performs complex pharmaceutical procurement, including purchasing, receiving, cost tracking, and compliance with federal acquisition requirements, VA policies, and government purchase-card regulations. It evaluates availability, contract restrictions, pricing, and clinical needs to identify cost-effective purchasing strategies using required sources and contract options. The role also coordinates drug recalls, verifies incoming stock, manages inventory integrity, and supports outpatient automated medication dispensing systems.

At the GS-8 level, technicians may serve as ordering officers delegated by the national acquisition center contracting officer for orders under the national pharmacy prime vendor contract and pharmacy blanket purchase agreements. They order medications and supplies from required sources, maintain complex prime-vendor accounts, use the government purchase card for direct orders up to the micro-purchase threshold, and meet regulatory and formulary requirements within budget limits. Higher-level duties must have significant scope, complexity, and variety and be performed at least 25% of the time.

The regular work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. This is an open continuous announcement that remains open until December 31, 2026, or until the position is filled.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For the GS-8 grade determination, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstration of the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• 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).
• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methods, and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy.
• Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized pharmacy area or section.
• Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement, distribution, and storage requirements, including applicable OSHA, FDA, USP, and DEA requirements and regulations.
• Ability to assist in determining and modifying ordering intervals, inventory levels, and cost-effective order quantities based on financial conditions, seasonal usage, medical-practice changes, delivery requirements, and urgency of medical need.
• Must meet pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including a background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and, if selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment upon its completion.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• At least 3 years of pharmacy technician experience in an inpatient, hospital, or high-volume outpatient setting is preferred.
• At least 1 year of hands-on full-time or part-time experience in pharmacy purchasing, inventory management, or a pharmacy buyer role is preferred.
• Preferred purchasing experience includes ordering, receiving, returns and recalls, backorders, reconciling purchase orders, invoices and credits, and resolving vendor discrepancies.
• Experience with pharmacy information systems, electronic drug dispensing technology, and inventory modules or ordering platforms is preferred.

Nice To Haves

• At least 3 years of pharmacy technician experience in an inpatient, hospital, or high-volume outpatient setting.
• At least 1 year of hands-on full-time or part-time experience in pharmacy purchasing, inventory management, or a pharmacy buyer role.
• Experience with ordering, receiving, returns and recalls, backorders, reconciling purchase orders, invoices and credits, and resolving vendor discrepancies.
• Experience with pharmacy information systems, electronic drug dispensing technology, and inventory modules such as Pyxis, Omnicell, McKesson, or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex pharmaceutical procurement, including purchasing, receiving, cost tracking, and compliance with federal acquisition, VA, and government purchase-card requirements.
• Evaluate product availability, contract restrictions, pricing, and clinical requirements to determine cost-effective procurement strategies using FSS, prime-vendor, and alternate contract sources.
• Order medications and supplies from required sources and maintain complex accounts with the pharmacy prime vendor contract and national blanket purchase agreements.
• Use the government purchase card for direct orders up to the micro-purchase threshold in accordance with VA financial policy.
• Coordinate drug recall activities, including product identification and retrieval, documentation, hazard communication, and follow-up actions.
• Verify incoming stock, resolve discrepancies, and ensure proper storage in accordance with VA, USP, TJC, and OSHA requirements.
• Maintain inventory integrity by identifying, segregating, documenting, and arranging third-party destruction of outdated or unusable pharmaceuticals and supplies.
• Set up, calibrate, troubleshoot, and maintain outpatient automated medication dispensing systems with minimal supervision.
• Collect, analyze, and report automated dispensing system performance data; identify deviations and recommend improvements to management.
• Train and serve as a technical resource for pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and other staff on procurement, inventory control, and automated dispensing technologies.
• Coordinate procurement and replacement of specialty medical supplies for patients and communicate with providers and patients about clinically appropriate product selection.
• Carry out special procurement assignments and projects requiring independent judgment, analytical skill, and advanced technical knowledge.
• Assist in determining or modifying ordering intervals, inventory levels, and cost-effective order quantities based on financial conditions, usage patterns, practice changes, delivery times, and urgency of medical needs.

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.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with 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 income and other eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a 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.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.

What This Job Offers

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