Summary

The VA St. Louis Healthcare System - Jefferson Barracks Division is seeking a Lead Pharmacy Technician to service all areas of pharmacy. The lead technician is responsible for specialized pharmacy technician duties involving the daily maintenance and oversight of all Pharmacy automated dispensing equipment. The 2-page Resume requirement does NOT apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

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 None required Certification 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) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) - OR - National Healthcareer Association (NHA) as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• English Language Proficiency Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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: Experience Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below
• Certification For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT - OR - NHA as a ExCPT Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 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.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section
• 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 area or section of the pharmacy
• Assignments For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Lead pharmacy technicians perform duties independently - which consist of significant scope and complexity and will assist with technician oversight
• Lead pharmacy technicians lead three GS-07 or more pharmacy technicians/employees/staff members - provide direction for daily operations and assume responsibility for integrating and monitoring standard pharmacy policies to maintain continuous workflow and quality within the service
• Lead pharmacy technicians must do a combination of at least three of the following duties: prepare work schedules and assign tasks to ensure timely completion of duties
• ensure pharmacy resources are in optimal working condition and address workflow needs
• provide guidance and support of the work unit in supervisory absence
• train personnel (including students) in methods - procedures and use of equipment and instruments specific to the assigned area
• provide input to supervisor on performance and training needs of employees
• adjust work assignments due to absences - emergencies or changes in priorities
• resolve simple informal complaints of employees and patients - refer more difficult problems to the supervisor
• or recommend approval and/or disapproval of leave requests
• Preferred Experience: Previous inpatient pharmacy experience is preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• This position is above the full performance level
• Physical Requirements: N/A

Duties

• Major Duties Facilitates the day-to-day workload of assigned technicians
• Develops work improvement plans
• Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes
• Ensures drug policies and procedures are followed and performs documentation audits to ensure compliance
• Monitors medication stock and maintains integrity of medications stored in automation
• Prepares inpatient drug orders including all medicine dosage forms such as sterile product compounding
• Uses and manages a government purchase card
• Maintains accountability of purchases and coordinates receipt
• Assists in recalls of drugs as required - by checking applicable lots and informing appropriate personnel
• Leads pharmacy technicians/employees/staff members
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday - 0930-1800 - occasional nights - weekends - and holidays Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 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)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: 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
• Child Care Subsidy: 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
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized