Lead Pharmacy Technician

Summary
The incumbent serves as a Lead Pharmacy Technician in VISN 5 VA Health Connect (VAHC) as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The Lead Pharmacy Technician functions independently under the supervision of the VAHC Pharmacy Technician Supervisor. The position will provide and support administrative and clinical activities as assigned and provide support to the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor in VAHC by leading a team of VAHC Pharmacy Technicians in the day-to-day operations.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This position is open to current Employees of VISN 5 Clinical Contact Center - VA Health Connect only.
Videos
Duties
Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf (va.gov)
Duties include but are not limited to:

• 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.
• Provide direction for daily operations and assume responsibility for integrating and monitoring standard pharmacy policies to main continuous workflow and quality within the service.
• Responds to customer inquiries in a helpful and timely fashion. If not able to remedy a situation, the employee is able to direct the opportunity to the appropriate resource.
• Works collaboratively with VISN programs, services, and interdisciplinary coordinated care team members to provide access to care and meet the needs of Veterans, their family members and/or legal representatives via various available contact modalities to include but not limited to telephone calls, secure messaging, chat, text messaging and video regarding a broad range of topics, including medication refills/renewals, basic billing inquiries, and procedural pharmacy activities
• Routinely reviews computer medication profiles for therapeutic duplication, prescription non- compliance and allergies/drug reactions. Transfers identified patients to a Pharmacist or supervisor, for further evaluation, if needed.
• Processes and submits patient requests for new prescription orders and renewals (including controlled substances) into the computer accurately, thoroughly and in a timely manner. Uses approved Pharmacy Service protocols when appropriate to satisfy patient medication requests.
• Professionally handles issues escalated from team members and follows guidelines to address the issue appropriately.
• Provide guidance and support of the work unit in supervisory absence.
• Provides training and encouragement for team members not meeting organizational goals.
• Proactively monitors call volume and clinical care staff performance through ACD metrics to identify personnel that may require further development and to determine where resources are needed.
• Responsible for integrating and monitoring standard pharmacy policies to maintain continuous workflow and quality with the service.
• Responsible for reporting process delays, difficulties in meeting unit objectives, uncooperative employees/Veterans or difficulty in securing information required to complete the duties of this position.
• Lead Pharmacy Technicians perform duties independently, which consist of significant scope and complexity and will assist with technician oversight.
• 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.

Work Schedule: Rotating days, Evenings, Weekends, and Holidays
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Telework: Available (Must live within 50 miles of any VISN 5 station to include Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC; Beckley, WV; Martinsburg, WV; Huntington, WV; Perry Point, Maryland and Clarksburg, WV)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 24007F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).OR
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
  • A copy of your certification must be submitted with your application.

• 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:GS-8
Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7), which includes, but is not limited to:

• Mentoring and training lower graded Pharmacy Technicians in the practice setting.
• Assisting advanced/ specialized Pharmacy Technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives.
• Use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy.
• Function as staff Pharmacy Technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

AND

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  
  • (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 Area.in 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.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28This position is above the full-performance level (GS-6) for the Pharmacy Technician occupational series. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily performed while sitting, though some work may require periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of this position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc, and frequent visits to community and nationwide sites. Frequent use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. Occasional lifting of boxes holding recruitment materials to be distributed at conferences, health fairs, etc, is also required.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
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.

• Benefits
  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 windowLearn 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

• Benefits
  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 windowLearn 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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend ...