Pharmacy Technician

Employees serve as a Pharmacy Technician in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Clinical Contact Center are part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The incumbent is efficient, motivated, and focused on customer satisfaction. This position is performed above the full performance level and includes a range of higher-level duties.

Major duties
This position is located with the Clinical Contact Center for VISN 19.Duties include but not limited to: Works collaboratively with VISN programs, services, and interdisciplinary team members to provide access to care and meet the needs of Veterans, their family members and/or legal representatives via various available contact modalities to include, but not limited to, telephone calls, secure messaging, chat, text messaging and video regarding a broad range of topics, including medication refills and renewals, basic billing inquiries, and procedural pharmacy activities. Routinely reviews computer medication profiles for therapeutic duplication, prescription noncompliance, allergies and drug reactions. Seeks assistance with identified individuals from a Clinical Pharmacist or supervisor for further evaluation, if needed. Processes and submits patient requests for new prescription orders and renewal requests, including controlled substances, into the computer accurately, thoroughly and in a timely manner. Uses approved VISN CCC Pharmacy protocols when appropriate to satisfy patient medication requests. Consistently documents patient contact and resolution in VISN CCC software and/or the Electronic Health Record (HER) to include, but not limited to, what was requested, what action was taken, and any other information which may be pertinent during future research. Assists in the documentation of medication variances. Assists in training for lower graded technicians and technician students. Assists in the completion of workload for other VISN CCC Pharmacy Services in the event of natural disasters, low staffing, or other contingency needs. Performs all duties of lower graded technicians, if required. Actively and diligently treats all Veterans with respect and utmost dignity. Seeks to solve Veteran's concerns at first contact. When required, refers to other VA resources to assist in the resolution process. Always resolves all Veteran issues in a timely and caring manner with emphasis on providing FCR. Stays abreast of and consistently follows regulations, policies, and directives to ensure safe medication distribution. Actively supports VISN VA Health Connect team members in troubleshooting issues with CCC software systems, telephone software, and databases. Seeks assistance from designated Lead Technician, a pharmacist or supervisor when responding to unusual questions or when reasonable attempts to satisfy a caller have been unsuccessful. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files. Ensures Electronic Health Record (HER) access to all sites serviced are maintained. Participates in continuous daily improvement and VISN VA Health Connect initiatives. Completes additional duties as assigned. VA Careers – Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Part-Time 30 hours per week between 9:00am-5:30pm MST Monday-Friday *Tour may be flexible but includes staffing at least 2 Federal Holidays in the calendar year. Remote: Yes-This position is eligible for Remote work and is exempted from return to office requirements. Remote exempted positions are reviewed annually and do not imply permanent remote work status. Selectees will work 100% of the time in a non-VA owned space outside or inside of the local commuting area of parent station. The employee's workspace must be suitable for conducting business, remote employees are expected to provide a secure, distraction-free home-based worksite with reliable high speed internet connectivity. The employee will be required to travel to the closest VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic for issuance of equipment, and as needed for technical support. Selectees will be required to self-certify that their remote workplace meets all safety, privacy, and internet speed requirements. This position may fall under the Presidential Memorandum titled "Return to In-Person Work" which will require you to go into the office if the exemption is not approved when it's up for review. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:99329-S Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Qualifications
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. Certification: For position 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 National Health career 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 certification 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. 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: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Experience: Candidates must possess one year (1) of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floor/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered. Certification: For position 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 GS-7 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience for the GS-07 level, candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Preferred Experience: Experience in Call Center and Outpatient Pharmacy 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but may involve prolonged standing and/or walking. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How to apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13076287. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 10/12/2026. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit