The Pharmacy Technician (Lead Procurement) position is located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064. The FHCC Pharmacy Department is comprised of six (6) pharmacies across multiple campuses (East and West). 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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education or Experience: 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. Grandfather Provision. A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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. GS-9 Determination: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08). 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). National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: 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. Additionally, applicants should be able to demonstrate the following additional KSAs specific to Procurement/Inventory: Knowledge of pharmaceutical and supply inventory requirements to ensure compliance with regulations and national/audit/inspections (e.g., financial regulations, The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, DEA, SSP 797/800, FICA (503A/B) Knowledge of clinical specifications, characteristics, and ordering processes of a wide variety of soft prosthetics and supply items (e.g., catheters, colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy supply and associated products) that technicians procure to dispense to Veterans in the outpatient pharmacy setting. Skill in managing specialized programs related to inventory including, but not limited to, specialty medications and supplies, All Hazards Emergency Cache Program, recalls reverse distribution and pharmaceutical waste. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. References: Former VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard, GS-0661, dated November 7, 2023. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.. ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf (va.gov) The Pharmacy Technician (Lead Procurement) will perform a full range of technical support functions across all six (6) of FHCC's pharmacies.. These include but are not limited to; responsibility of acquisition/requisition support, inventory management, budget management, property management, and recalls for the Pharmacy Department. The incumbent will coordinate procurement and reconciliation of all micro-purchases. These duties will require daily maintenance of accounts and close coordination with the business office. The incumbent will also serve as the main point of contact in establishing prime vendor programs and coordinates Pharmacy Department efforts. Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Responsible for coordinating procurement and reconciliation of all purchases from the Pharmacy Prime Vendor. Responsible for initiating requests, market research to obtain necessary information required for approval, and procurement at the small procurement or contract service center. Maintain a cooperative working relationship with the VA Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC). Follow-up on delinquent deliveries, addresses all overages, shortages, damages, performance, and reconciliation processes. Responsible for the reporting of product in the facility affected by FDA Drug Recalls. Serves as a resource regarding drug contract, source, and availability information for pharmacy staff, Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, and pharmaceutical representatives. Assures procurement actions are executed in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), and any applicable DoD regulations or requirements. Responsible for requisitioning items through Servmart, GSA, SLA, DMLSS or excess programs from other government agencies. Coordinate/finalize any shipping discrepancy or Quality Improvement Reports (QIR) that may be required. Purchase card holder and complies with all the acquisition regulations, including Federal, VA, and local FHCC to include 8A, small business, Javits Wagner 0-Day Act, and mandatory sources. Orients service employees, visitors, volunteers and students to supply procedures and drug control. Independently assures that VA national procurement contracts are followed, coordinating vendor changes with other pharmacy staff. Perform duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday through Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm; Central time Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
