Pharmacy technician (procurement/inventory)

Summary

The duties of this position are highly specialized, encompassing a variety of complex functions requiring extensive and thorough working knowledge of pharmaceutical and medical supply purchasing and inventory practices required by Pharmacy to support patient care activities throughout James H. Quillen VA Medical Center and associated outpatient clinics.

Duties

This position requires basic knowledge and compliance of all Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Food and Drug Agency (FDA) and all federal rules and regulations regarding receipt, storage, distribution and handling of goods, contract compliance, purchase card procedures, reconciliation, requirements, control point rules, controlled substance purchasing, purchasing documentation maintenance, and general inventory control processes.

The duties and responsibilities of the Pharmacy Technician Procurement/Inventory include the following but not limited too:

• Serve as ordering officer for the pharmacy service, delegated by the VA National Acquisition Center (NAC) while maintaining annual training requirements.
• Initiates pharmaceuticals, specialty, and supply items ordering requirements through pharmacy prime vendors multi complex accounts or other mandatory sources.
• Responsible for federal contracts adherence and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market, ensuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation.
• Assists in determining ordering intervals and stock levels appropriate to meet changes in formulary, brand to AB rated generic drugs, contract changes, conversions, new drug indications including backorders and seasonal changes.
• Procures all types of pharmaceuticals including controlled and non controlled drugs within established VA ordering guidelines, policies, and procedures within inventory management specialized area with the understanding of proper budget utilization.
• Purchases using National contracts (NAT), Federal supply schedules (FSS), Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and open market etc. to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and policy, understanding the contracting hierarchy of all purchases.
• Incumbent will download invoices daily as part of the drug accountability process or other inventory management system.
• Maintains Pharmacy fund control records, verifies information, reconciles problems, questions, or discrepancies in this area with the Pharmacy Service Budget Analyst.
• Uses budgetary information to monitor cash flow and adjust inventory levels and procurement activities to the extent possible to stay within allocated financial resources while maintaining medication inventories sufficient to sustain all areas of patient care.
• Independently resolves budgetary discrepancies that arise among Fiscal, Logistics, and Pharmacy services due to changes that occur during the procurement, obligation, and delivery process.
• Complies data from a variety of sources (e.g., inventories, procurement, records, financial expenditure information, professional medical and pharmaceutical representatives) and communicates this information along with relevant control recommendations and actions to management.

Work Schedule

Monday to Friday 7:15am to 4:00pm

Telework

Not Eligible

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #

60510-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO)

Not Authorized

Requirements Conditions of employment

You 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education or Experience: High School Diploma or 3 months experience.
• Certification: Must hold an active national certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) 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).

Grade Determinations for the GS-08

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07). And demonstrate the KSA's listed below:

• (A) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.).
• (B) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
• (C) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.
• (D) Basic knowledge of pharmacy procurement, distribution and storage requirements to maintain a safe working environment. This includes not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and DEA requirements and regulations.
• (E) Ability to assist in determining and modifying as necessary: ordering intervals, inventory levels and cost-effective ordering quantities from required sources based on current financial conditions in pharmacy, seasonal variations in drug usage, changing patterns in medical practice, delivery time requirements and urgency of medical need.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements

The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion including walking, bending, prolonged standing, stooping, lifting and carrying packages weighing up to 40 pounds. Dexterity is required for the operation of Pharmacy equipment.

Education Note

Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.