Pharmacy Technician (ProcurementInventory)

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 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.

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.
• 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).
• Education or Experience.
• (1) None required.
• (2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level.
• 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) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
  • OR
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5 VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates

Pharmacy Technician GS-08.
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

Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory). 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. Pharmacy technicians at this level serve as an ordering officer delegated by the national acquisition center contracting officer for the purpose of ordering against the national pharmacy prime vendor (PPV) contract and national blanket purchase agreements (BPA) for pharmacy. They are responsible for ordering medications and supplies from required sources and meeting contract compliance while maintaining multiple complex accounts with the PPV. They utilize the Government purchase card program for direct orders up to the micro purchase threshold per VA financial policy. Pharmacy technicians at this level are responsible for regulatory and formulary requirements to meet patient needs within budgetary limits.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment if indicated:
(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.) Note: See Specialized the Definitions Section.
(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.

Additional Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

(A) 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.
(B) 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.

Preferred Experience OP Prescription Supplies Mckesson Recalls and Government purchase card

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit vacancy is being announced above the full performance level at a GS-08.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service