Pharmacy Technician (Automation Specialist)

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Veterans Affairs Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) at Lowell, Massachusetts.

The Pharmacy Technician Automation Specialist is assigned as the subject matter expert to automated areas of CMOP production and will serve as a key resource in the day-to-day duties of the specialized area.

Basic Requirements:To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.

7403(f). Education or Experience: None required.

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 (GS-07 and above): 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). Grandfathering 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.

Grade Determinations:In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-08 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) 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 technical KSAs: 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.) 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.

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-8.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a highly mechanized warehouse setting around production machinery. Moderate noise and traffic require attention to safety.

Some work areas involve a moderate risk requiring exercise of safety precautions when operating or working around the automated equipment (i.e., accumulators, moving belts, etc.).

Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory when handling specific medications and in certain areas of production or assignment.

The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion and activity, involving standing for prolonged periods of time on hard surfaces, lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs.

unassisted and bending/twisting/stooping/reaching. Major Duties:

Duties Include: Expert understanding of the complexity of automated equipment and processes and has leadership responsibility for the daily maintenance and oversight of pharmacy automated dispensing equipment in the assigned area.

Consistently demonstrate independent technical judgement and comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of associated CMOP policies and procedures.

Resolves problems and complaints regarding all areas of production and automated dispensing equipment, troubleshoots problems with all automated dispensing equipment when production is compromised and alerts appropriate personnel.

Assists with the training, orientation, retraining, and documentation of CMOP employees regarding processes and policies.

Provides data for workload reports and process improvement projects to appropriate supervisors as requested.

Attends meetings regarding automation and other production processes as required and provides insight to leadership and other CMOP staff.

Assists in any production area to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services as deemed necessary by Supervisors.

Ability to recognize and solve problems, makes recommendations to avoid potential problems, and refers concerns to appropriate personnel.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 5:30am-3:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 22122A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized