Pharmacy Technician (ProcurementInventory)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30 2026 or until the position is filled.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Functions

• Independently performs complex pharmaceutical procurement duties ensuring accurate purchasing receiving cost tracking and full compliance with federal acquisition VA policies and government purchase card regulations.
• Evaluates product availability contract restrictions pricing and clinical requirements to determine the most cost-effective procurement strategy using FSS prime vendor and alternate contract sources.
• Coordinates and executes all pharmacy-related drug recall activities including identification retrieval documentation hazard communication and required follow-up actions to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance.
• Conducts detailed verification of incoming stock resolves discrepancies and ensures proper storage conditions in accordance with VA USP TJC and OSHA requirements.
• Manages inventory integrity through systematic identification segregation documentation and third-party destruction of outdated or unusable pharmaceuticals and supplies.
• Performs specialized technical setup calibration troubleshooting and maintenance of outpatient automated medication dispensing systems with minimal supervision.
• Collects analyzes and reports performance data for automated dispensing systems identifying operational deviations and recommending system improvements to management.
• Serves as a technical resource and trainer for pharmacy technicians pharmacists and other staff on procurement procedures inventory control systems and automated dispensing technologies.
• Coordinates procurement and replacement of specialty medical supplies for patients communicating directly with providers and patients to ensure clinically appropriate product selection.
• Executes special procurement assignments and projects requiring independent judgment analytical skill and advanced technical knowledge to support pharmacy operations efficiency and patient safety.

• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.

• 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.

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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:
  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:
  1. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR
  2. National Healthcareer Association (NHA) 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).

1. PTCB as a CPhT. OR
2. NHA as a ExCPT.

• 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 Specialized Area: Areas within pharmacy that require advanced knowledge skills and abilities to ensure a high level of accountability for patient safety quality of care and/or VHA or other regulatory requirements. Examples include but are not limited to compounding sterile products controlled substance dispensing research automation clinical informatics quality assurance hazardous medication compounding/management immunizations and clinical pharmacy assignments.
• 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.

• 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.
• 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.