Lead Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

The pharmacy technician lead is responsible for the guidance, training, and technical direction of all pharmacy non-pharmacist technical staff within the designated area of pharmacy under the direction of the Pharmacy Supervisor.

Incumbent evaluates and coordinates the workflow and technical aspects of pharmacy operations within their designated pharmacy service area.

The incumbent may be responsible for personnel scheduling, time-and-attendance processing, and quality assurance activities.

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 - 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: Lead Pharmacy Technician GS-8 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the basic requirements 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.) (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.

Lead Pharmacy Technician 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

Major Duties:

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The lead pharmacy technician assists pharmacy supervisor in quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services.

The employee functions with technical independence in all assigned areas and keeps leadership apprised of trends/problems affecting any aspects of pharmaceutical services provided.

Other duties assigned: Assess workload volume throughout the day, identify backlogs, and makes staffing adjustments as needed to meet organizational goals.

Identify areas of duplication of efforts and develop solutions to streamline processes, reduce waste, cost savings, and improve patient care.

Responsible for organizing and assisting the pharmacy technician team to ensure assigned tasks are timely and accurately completed for their program area.

Coordinate day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy area equipment and automation. Promote harmonious relationships within the work environment and support the needs of the team and customer.

Listens to informal complaints of employees and other customers in a helpful and timely fashion. If not able to remedy a situation, the lead will notify the pharmacy supervisor.

Assists in training and orientating new and existing pharmacy technicians and students on policy and procedures.

Identify and report developmental and training needs to ensure safety and quality control for their program area.

Develops training schedules and assists in maintaining documentation for all pharmacy technicians and students.

Effectively evaluates pharmacy activities to assist management to obtain short- and long-range objectives and goals.

Conduct technician meetings to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications.

Assist in the development of policies and procedures and participate in departmental goal planning and quality improvement activities.

Maintain competence by participating in staff development programs.

Serves as on-line back up to other pharmacy technicians within the designated area of pharmacy Work Schedule: Varies depends on needs of the service Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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 #: 54853F