Pharmacy Technician - Research/ Investigation

Full Job Description

The Research Investigational Pharmacy Technician provides exceptional care to veterans enrolled in clinical drug trials at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

The responsibilities of this Pharmacy Technician include, but are not limited to, managing inventory of investigational agents; assists with providing technical direction with study protocols; maintains protocol records; and performs investigational agent distribution, preparation, and dispensing activities 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: 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). 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.

Grade Determinations GS 08: (1) Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level GS 07. (2) Certification.

For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (a) PTCB as a CPhT. OR (b) NHA as a ExCPT.

13 (3) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience 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.) 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.

Preferred Experience: experience with either research processes and/or pharmacy experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 08.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but not limited to: Provides technical assistance following clinical drug trial protocols, manages records, creates, and maintains study binders according to regulatory requirements.

Maintains dispensing records to ensure accuracy for tracking and accountability of all research medications.

Interprets research pharmacy orders to assemble materials; prepare, package, label, and complete required documentation; include required worksheets; and arranges the finished prescriptions in an organized manner for the Pharmacist to verify.

Assists in processing of investigational research medication requests, filling orders, which includes randomized blinding, preparation of sterile products and completes the prescription process by verification of research participant prior to dispensing to patient or treatment area.

Utilizes knowledge base to alert pharmacist to potential issues, including name alerts, product shortages, errors in research orders or documentation and computer entry discrepancies.

Comprehensive knowledge with VA policy and regulatory requirements for handling and checking in shipments of medications and supplies, as well as verifies accuracy of shipments, rotating stock and assures the proper storage of all items.

Ensures the integrity and compliance of the investigational medication inventory, receiving shipments, reconciling invoices, monitoring expiring stock, and disposing of returned or unused investigational agents in accordance with established guidelines and procedures.

Quarantines expired or damaged investigational items from stock. Facilitates communication with sponsor and completes appropriate documentation, as required.

Maintains competencies for performing aseptic technique for sterile preparations with hazardous and non-hazardous drugs.

Participates in glove fingertip and media fill testing, maintains competencies passing didactic practical skill assessment initially and annually thereafter.

Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia USP797/800/795, Pharmacy Law, VHA Directives, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements.

Maintains responsibility for complex technical support functions requiring detailed regulatory oversight.

Extensive knowledge of investigational drug research program and facility policy and procedures.

Maintains training and knowledge of research protocols and specific requirements for each medication study, so all investigational medication orders are correctly processed and documented.

Responsible for investigational drug inventory and performs audits.

Coordinates with the procurement team for the purchase and receipt of all investigational agents and materials needed to support research pharmacy operations.

Coordinates pharmacy staff training on research and investigational practices, including developing and maintaining training records, ensuring proper documentation of training, and assisting with staff orientation to each research trial.

Performs audits to ensure the accuracy and compliance of the research process with research pharmacy protocols, directives, accrediting agencies, and regulations.

Other Duties: Demonstrates ability to operate, utilize, and care for all pharmacy equipment.

Assigned work area is not restricted to the Research and Investigational section of pharmacy service and may be assigned to other general technician duties throughout pharmacy work areas.

Work Schedule: 07:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday. May change per the supervisor based on the needs of the section.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): not authorized 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: AD-HOC only.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01184F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized