Supervisory Pharmacy Technician - Outpatient

Veterans Health Administration • Iowa City, IA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Pharmacy Technician Supervisor will spend at least 25% of their time performing supervisory functions. The Technician Supervisor will also be responsible for inventory management, database maintenance, maintenance and care of automated machinery and adherence to operational regulatory and quality assurance standards. The Technician Supervisor must have an extensive knowledge of facility's pharmacy policies and procedures and the use of specialized equipment. The Technician Supervisor will communicate with VISN and facility leadership and staff when deemed appropriate and necessary.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• All requirements must be met at the time of the announcement closing.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards),controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.).
• Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports.
• Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
• Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections).
• Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers.
• Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy.
• Supervisory pharmacy technicians are responsible for management and supervision of at least three GS-08 pharmacy technicians.
• These positions require significant independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice, regulatory requirements and quality standards.
• They organize, coordinate and manage programs for the pharmacy service at the facility level.
• These pharmacy technicians will be responsible for communicating with VISN or national pharmacy leadership as well as individual facility leadership and staff.

Nice To Haves

• For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Responsibilities

• Treat patients, team members, other facility employees and visitors with dignity and respect.
• Respond to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner.
• Demonstrate appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service.
• Act as a team member and support the team's efforts at all times.
• Demonstrate an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality of services provided.
• Maintain competence in all operational aspects of pharmacy service including specialty equipment and materials, automation, distribution, labeling, packaging, documentation, controlled substance accountability, procurement, and inventory management.
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including robotic automation (ScriptPro).
• Ability to troubleshoot in the event of equipment or associated software malfunction, including the ability to request service assistance from VA entities or the equipment vendor.
• Reads and interprets prescriptions for technical accuracy, completes prescription filling process including labeling and batching prescriptions utilizing robotic automation (ScriptPro) when applicable.
• For those medications and/or supplies unavailable for fill by robotic automation (ScriptPro), technician manually obtains correct medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form, manually counts, pours, and/or measures correct amount of medication, and manually affixes proper label; records required data in robotic automation (ScriptPro) database or on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order hardcopy when required.
• Presents completed prescriptions to pharmacist for final verification prior to dispensing.
• Supervises the efforts of the technical staff including technicians and students.
• Evaluates, analyzes, and prioritizes workflow in real time and coordinates technical staff work activities based on the departmental needs.
• Administers training and orientation for new technical staff as well as delivering staff development on updated or new policies and procedures.
• Possesses knowledge of human resources policies and procedures.
• Prepares and writes the work schedule covering all assignments.
• Coordinates schedules and approves leave requests.
• Hears and resolves complaints from technical staff.
• Assesses and performs all progress reviews, annual performance appraisals, and competencies for technical staff.
• Supports the health care system's EEO Program and supports and practices effective labor/management relationships.
• Works closely with the Outpatient Supervisor and the Pharmacy Management team in overall planning and implementation of policies and procedures for the Pharmacy Service.
• Effectively communicates the pharmacy vision and strategic plan to the technical staff both verbally and through written material.
• Demonstrates multidirectional communication strategies relating to planned and unanticipated interruptions of daily pharmacy operations.
• Leads technical staff meetings when appropriate.
• Submits recommendations on space, manpower, and equipment based on extensive working knowledge of the pharmacy operation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• 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.
• After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

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