Pharmacy Technician- Procurement/Inventory

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician – Procurement/Inventory serves as a procurement specialist in the Pharmacy Service at the Hampton Veterans Medical Center within VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6). The position works under the supervision of the Procurement Pharmacy Supervisor and Chief, Pharmacy Service, and requires independent technical judgment and thorough knowledge of VA policies and procedures.

The role manages pharmaceutical and supply procurement and inventory, maintaining cost-effective inventory turnover and purchasing. It applies knowledge of procurement sources, VA and hospital procurement procedures, accounting and budget practices, drug characteristics and nomenclature, storage and handling requirements, pharmacy equipment, and prosthetic and supply products distributed by Pharmacy. The technician coordinates purchases and deliveries, maintains purchase accountability and budget records, monitors contracts and pricing, and supports the Drug Accountability Program.

The technician establishes and adjusts ordering intervals, inventory levels, quantities, and supply sources based on financial conditions, utilization patterns, seasonal changes, delivery needs, and medical urgency. The position monitors and expedites vendor orders, leads periodic inventory activities, tracks formulary and utilization changes, recommends stock levels, and serves as a resource to pharmacy staff. The incumbent also assists pharmacists with urgent procurement needs and helps train and orient pharmacy employees and other staff.

The work schedule is 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., an eight-hour shift, Monday through Friday, with the schedule varying based on service needs. Telework is not available; the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-08: one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-07.
• 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 VHA grandfathering provision.
• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methods, and policies in a specialized pharmacy area.
• Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized pharmacy area.
• Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement, distribution, and storage requirements for a safe working environment, including applicable OSHA, FDA, USP, and DEA requirements.
• Ability to assist in determining and modifying ordering intervals, inventory levels, and cost-effective quantities based on financial conditions, seasonal and other utilization changes, delivery requirements, and urgency of medical need.
• Must pass the required pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and, if selected for a testing-designated position, submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use.
• Must complete required background and security investigation, onboarding, application documentation, and applicable identification requirements.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment after that period.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of prior experience in pharmacy procurement.
• Pharmacy technician experience in a hospital setting.
• Purchasing experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage ongoing inventories of drug products and pharmaceutical supplies and procure them cost-effectively.
• Apply knowledge of procurement sources, VA procedures, hospital policies, accounting, and budget practices to purchasing and inventory activities.
• Maintain accountability for daily purchases, coordinate receipt and delivery schedules, control the budget ledger, and distribute stock to designated storage areas.
• Monitor contracts, product availability, and prices, and select cost-effective products and procurement sources, including Federal Supply Schedule items ordered through the prime vendor.
• Work with administrators, information technologists, supervisors, pharmacists, and procurement technicians to support the Drug Accountability Program; resolve, correct, or escalate related issues.
• Use knowledge of drug characteristics, nomenclature, packaging, equivalence, regulations, and storage and handling requirements in procurement and inventory work.
• Maintain knowledge of specialized pharmaceutical equipment and prosthetic and supply items provided by Pharmacy to outpatients.
• Assist pharmacists in identifying high-priority or emergency requirements and initiate procurement from local wholesale sources.
• Assist with procedures for procuring special-order products available through manufacturer specialty programs.
• Determine and adjust ordering intervals, inventory levels, quantities, and supply sources based on financial conditions, usage, medical-practice patterns, delivery times, urgency, and availability.
• Contact vendors to check order status and expedite delivery.
• Lead preparation, performance, reporting, and analysis of periodic inventories as directed, with the goal of meeting or exceeding VISN and national inventory-turn goals.
• Track changes to the VA National Formulary and local drug-utilization patterns; analyze stock needs and recommend appropriate levels and order quantities.
• Serve as a resource to pharmacy staff on product availability, inventory, contracts, fiscal considerations, and controls.
• Train and orient new employees and other staff on pharmacy operations, policies, and procedures.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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