This position will provide procurement support to the Pharmacy at the Garner VA Clinic. Performs daily inventories of all products and purchases the necessary items to assure on demand fills of medication and pharmacy supply orders. The incumbent will monitor purchases and changes in contracts, prices, and availability of medications and pharmacy supplies, and communicate with management, clinical staff, and other procurement staff to promote and coordinate best procurement practice.
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. 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). 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Health career 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). Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) GS-8: 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). Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. 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: 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. 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 Preferred Experience: Current or previous experience as Procurement specialist. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28; Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards dated November 07, 2023. 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 involves regular and recurring physical exertion including walking, bending, prolonged standing, stooping, lifting and carrying packages weighing up to 40 pounds. Dexterity is required for the operation of Pharmacy equipment.
Major duties include but not limited to: Procurement Creates purchase orders through Prime Vendor, Government Purchase Card, and VISTA IFCAP requests. Maintains accurate records of purchases. Upon request, provides all supporting documentation for audits to Fiscal Service. Checks in daily medication and supply orders for accuracy, insuring quantity received corresponds to the quantity ordered. Maintains accurate records and initiates credit procedure if necessary and indicated. Identifies sources for purchase according to active contracts and specific ordering protocols and regulations. Conducts market research considering competitive pricing, quality, availability, and other issues to locate appropriate vendor to determine best value and relays findings to other procurement personnel. Control Point/Purchase Card Management Incumbent is a purchase card holder and complies with all the acquisition regulation, both Federal, and local to include 8A, small businesses, and mandatory sources. Incumbent makes individual purchases not exceeding $10,000 unless warranted at a higher level. Card holder strives to have all charges reconciled within the first 5 days of receipt. Resolves disputes of unknown or incorrect charges also within 60 days. Card holders must have all charges reconciled prior to taking annual leave or traveling for more than seven calendar days. Provides approving official with all pertinent purchase card documents for approval by the same and maintains documentation as required for 6 years and 3 months. Inputting purchase card orders into IFCAP Purchase Card Menu, prior to purchase or within one (1) workday of purchase. Ensures that cards are kept in a locked or secure place to prevent unauthorized use. Maintain purchases at an appropriate level to assure availability of funds throughout the fiscal year. Determines correct method of payment from various sources available within Fiscal Service guidelines and requirements for accountability. Manages allocated funds to minimize waste and promote most efficient use of resources. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm, Extended Hours/Weekend/Federal Holidays Telework: Ad-Hoc at the Supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized