Supervisory Pharmacy Technicians are responsible for management and supervision of at least three GS 08 pharmacy technicians at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System. These positions require significant independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice, regulatory requirements and quality standards. They organize, coordinate and manage programs for the pharmacy service at the facility level. 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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) 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: 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 (2) 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: GS-9 Experience: One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower 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: (PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: Expert knowledge serving as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy (such as procurement, sterile compounding (USP compounding standards), controlled substances DEA, automation, clinical pharmacy, lead tech, contact center, etc.). Skill in analyzing data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. Skill in solving problems and implementing corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area. Ability to maintain special accreditations and prepare for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections). Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. 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. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be appointed to one of the following assignments Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacy technician coordinators perform the full range of program coordination in their specialized area of pharmacy. These positions require independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice that have specific laws, significant regulatory requirements and quality/safety standards. They organize, coordinate and manage single or multiple programs under the delegation of pharmacy supervisors or Associate Chiefs. Pharmacy technicians at this level must have expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the complex program area and manage all aspects of compliance with these standards with limited input from pharmacy supervisor(s). Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a coordinator in areas requiring detailed regulatory oversight and record keeping including, but not limited, to the Controlled Substance Program, Research/Investigational Drug Program, Procurement, Automation & Informatics program, Quality/Patient Safety, Clinical or Call Center. Supervisory Pharmacy Technician: Supervisory pharmacy technicians are responsible for management and supervision of at least three GS-08 pharmacy technicians. These positions require significant independent technical judgement and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice, regulatory requirements and quality standards. They organize, coordinate and manage programs for the pharmacy service at the facility level. These pharmacy technicians will be responsible for communicating with VISN or national pharmacy leadership as well as individual facility leadership and staff. i Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). ( Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers. Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy. Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory): Pharmacy technicians (procurement/inventory) at this level require independent technical judgement and expertise. They serve as the lead ordering officer for pharmacy service, providing guidance to lower-level procurement ordering officers. These individuals have extensive knowledge of VA policy concerning drug procurement, security and compliance with ordering officer requirements and regulatory areas (including, but not limited to, Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) per FDA regulations, recalls, return goods, open market, drug accountability, etc.). Pharmacy technicians maintain all records of pharmacy inventory for drug accountability, DSCSA per VHA policy and all other Federal regulations. Pharmacy technicians (procurement/inventory) perform a wide range of duties providing oversight on all pharmacy inventory to ensure standard operating procedures are followed and appropriate ordering and stock levels are maintained so patient care is not impaired. They stay within budgetary requirements, comply with contracts while maintaining inventory to meet or exceed the national average performance. They are accountable for pharmacy inventory management in areas such as regulatory and VHA formulary requirements, quality standards and official VA policies/procedures within the inventory management specialized area, conforming to pharmacy legal and professional requirements. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 ["Serves as a key resource advising others in their particular specialty area or section of the pharmacy. Analyzes data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis and statistical reports. Solves problems and implements corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area. Maintains special accreditations and prepares for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections). Develops training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. Required to maintain interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers. Utilizes staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy. Supervisory: Furnishes administrative and technical supervision to the pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aides, technician students, volunteers and other supportive personnel assigned to the Pharmacy. Supervises the day to day activities of the Pharmacy Technician staff through coordination with Lead Pharmacy Technicians and in coordination with Inpatient and Outpatient Pharmacist Program Managers. Plans, schedules, distributes and revises work assignments in accordance with established routines and urgent procedures. Evaluates, analyzes and implements workflow and makes changes in the daily operations to retain a consistent and smooth operation to ensure that present and anticipated workload of the Pharmacy is processed in a timely and cost-effective manner. Responsible for the quality and quantity of work performed by Pharmacy Technicians. The responsibility includes full and final technical and administrative review authority on a daily basis. I Incumbent performs all personnel related functions for the employees he/she supervises to include: a. interviewing potential employees and submitting selection recommendations; b. conducting performance appraisals; c. initiating performance awards and disciplinary/adverse actions, etc., as warranted; d. reviewing and updating functional statements and performance standards when appropriate; e. time-keeping responsibilities. Incumbent independently gathers, evaluates and/or analyzes data to generate reports or for other projects; collects and tabulates various workload and statistical data for service-level reports. Assists with orientation, training and re-training of technicians based on ECHCS orientation guide and pharmacy policies and procedures. Coordinates, oversees and ensures completion of Inpatient and Outpatient Ward and Clinic Inspections assigned to technician staff. Coordinates with the Pharmacy Supervisors to ensure that technician trainees are supervised and trained according to the agreed educational standards. Serve as liaison between the Pharmacy Informaticist, Pharmacy Automation Technician and help desk to ensure the functionality of all automation and technical equipment. Assists with developing performance standards that are realistic, challenging, and support the organizational mission, vision, and goals. Ensures all technicians meet performance standards and competencies and identify areas for improvement as needed. Develops and revises policies and procedures, and participates in service goal planning and quality improvement activities. Uses electronic mail and other means of communication daily to report problems and concerns during the performance of duties. Works with colleagues in a professional and courteous manner and as a team to accomplish the goals and missions of Pharmacy Service. Serves as a mentor for pharmacy technicians and students Responsible for protecting sensitive electronic data from unauthorized loss, alteration, or release. Must follow regulations for security of individual computer access code. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday between 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Telework: Ad- Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-59602-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.