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Summary The Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory) is responsible for all prescription and nonprescription medications and supply purchasing and inventory for the Syracuse VAMC Pharmacy department. The incumbent has independent purchase responsibilities and will initiate pharmaceutical and supply orders, track receipts and shipments, comply with proper product and storage requirements, and assist the pharmacy management team in providing optimal pharmaceutical care. Responsibilities Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Pharmaceutical Purchasing and Distribution Serve as the ordering officer for pharmacy service, delegated by the VA National Acquisition Center (NAC) while maintaining annual training requirements. Initiates ordering requirements of pharmaceuticals, specialty, and supply items through pharmacy prime vendors multi complex accounts or other mandatory sources. Responsible for adherence to federal contracts and compliance with federal regulations regarding open market, ensuring inventory control through perpetual evaluation. Ensure the pharmacy stays within budgetary requirements, comply with contracts while maintaining inventory to meet or exceed the national average performance. Assists in determining ordering intervals and stock levels appropriate to meet changes in formulary, brand to AB rated generic drugs, contract changes, conversions, new drug indications including backorders and seasonal changes. Procures all types of pharmaceuticals including controlled and non-controlled drugs within established VA ordering guidelines, policies, and procedures within inventory management specialized area with the understanding of proper budget utilization Purchases using National contracts (NAT), Federal supply schedules (FSS), Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and open market etc. to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and policy, understanding the contracting hierarchy of all purchases. Download invoices daily as part of the drug accountability process or other inventory management system. Incumbent may be required to obtain necessary certification to order narcotic medications through pharmacy prime vendor. Purchases using government issued credit cards for micro purchase limits with understanding of when to use; while maintaining required proper documentation, and reconciliation of receipt of all orders for auditing and accountability purposes, training, etc. Reconcile all credit card purchases in a timely manner. Possesses technical knowledge of VA and regulatory agency requirements for drug storage and special requirements for procurement, storage, distribution, and handling of various hazardous and non-hazardous drug classes. Maintains knowledge of principles, policies and state and federal laws and regulations related to controlled substances. Utilizes proper inventory management to ensure sufficient stock of medications and supply are available to meet the needs of the pharmacy and patient care. Removes expired and recalled medications from stock and processes them for safe removal, according to VHA Directives and standard operating procedures. Maintains a clean working environment and updates shelf labels as contracts dictate. Assists in training and orients new personnel, volunteers, students, etc., in the technical phases of operations. Possesses technical working knowledge and follows established policies and procedures of usage rates, stock levels, inventory maintenance concepts including just-in-time inventory and assist in annual or semiannual pharmacy wall-to-wall inventory. Possesses technical knowledge of all aspects of drug characteristics and nomenclature for procurement and stock maintenance including: Generic and brand names Dosage forms Various systems of weights and measures Drug product codes Drug AB rating equivalence Incumbent must maintain training requirements, national pharmacy technician certification and meet annual competencies required for this position. Other Duties Conduct periodic ward inspection of medication storage areas to ensure proper storage and checking for outdates. Ensure proper handling of medications by ensuring high alert, hazardous, refrigerated, and controlled substance medications are handled/stored appropriately and legally are required. May be assigned to work in other areas of Pharmacy Service (inpatient, outpatient, clinical, etc) as deemed necessary by the Chief, Pharmacy Service, or Supervisor. Pharmacy Technicians will perform all other related duties as assigned by pharmacy supervisor or designee. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0730 - 1600 Pay: Competitive salary. Telework: Not eligible for telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21L64A Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Basic Requirements: 1. Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States 2. English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 3. Education or Experience: a. None required. b. 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. 4. 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: a. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). b. 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: 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. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory), GS-08 1. Experience: 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). 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. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). b. National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 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. d. 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. e. 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/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.