Job Description

Summary

Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians' mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy :


Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

General Pharmacy Technician Duties

• Required to have principles, practices, concepts, & theories providing for sound independent work.
• Dispenses medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies, & procedures to ensure safe mediation distribution.
• Resolves pharmacy/medication issues with members of the healthcare team, Veterans, & external customers.
• Responsible for computerized prescription process & input of prescriptions & medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Recognize & solve problems, makes recommendations to avoid potential problems, & refers appropriate concerns to Lead Technician/Procurement Technician or supervising Pharmacist.
• Uses knowledge of policies & procedures for inventory management to receive & inventory pharmacy stock, relay inventory information to the Lead Technician/Procurement Technician, & to obtain additional medication & supplies from our prime vendor when Lead Technician/Procurement Technician is unavailable.
• Protects patient sensitive information, electronic & print in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, Federal Regulations, VA statutes & policy, & VHA policy.
• Troubleshoot, operate & care for automated Pharmacy equipment.
• Accurately compounds medications for inpatient & outpatient use following written instructions & using proper aseptic technique without a second review.
• Conducts monthly ward & clinic inspection per VAMC policies & procedures.
• Is aware of general drug therapy guidelines such as duplicate therapy (e.g.: checks to ensure inpatients on enoxaparin are not also on heparin drip.
• Uses extensive knowledge of drug & medication brand & generic names; general & specific storage requirements; expiration date requirements; dosage forms; pharmaceutical weights & measures; medical terminology; & the computerized prescription process.

INPATIENT: INTRA VENOUS ADMIXTURE & UNIT DOSE:

• Uses knowledge & ability to safely & accurately clean IV Hoods & prepare IVs & routine sterile products using proper aseptic technique.
• Performs complex calculations to ensure proper dose is prepared.
• Accurately & safely compounds chemotherapy & hazardous products using aseptic technique.
• Communicates with the supervising Pharmacist & nursing staff to ensure adequate stock levels of bulk IV fluids is available on the wards.
• Responsible for maintaining & operating Omnicell automated dispensing system & restocks on regular basis without a pharmacist review.
• Responsible for obtaining up to date UNIT DOSE ward pick list, filling the UNIT DOSE cart accurately & delivering the cart on a timely basis.
• Responsible for pre-packing oral tablet & capsules for use in UNIT DOSE area, & for relabeling injectable, topical, & other items with BCMA labels for use by inpatients, using accurate quality control measures.

OUTPATIENT AREA:

• Uses knowledge of policies & procedures for prescription interpretation, drug selection, prescription fillinQ & dispensinQ.
• Responsible for outpatient Pharmacy Call Center telephone calls, processes prescription renewals, refill & partial requests in VISTA & follows up each telephone call, enters prescription renewal requests into Access program.
• Fills prescriptions for controlled substances following VAMC policies & procedures, & ensuring the perpetual inventory is correct.
• Packages medications & supplies for mailing, observing special considerations for controlled substances, & items that require refrigeration or special h&ling.
• Dispenses prescriptions using proper procedure to ensure identification of recipient including verifying photo identification & use of ScriptPro dispensing station.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, weekends/holidays, variable shifts

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary & 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)

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) & 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 : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 59279-A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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 ( 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.



Education or Experience: (1) None required.(2) 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).
• National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

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.



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).



GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.



Pharmacy Technician, GS-07:



Experience . Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-6 level and demonstrate the KSAs below.



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.
• NHA as a ExCPT.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-7 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:

• 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:
Certification and Education

• Certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Health career Association (NHA).
• Completion of a formal pharmacy technician training program or equivalent experience.

Work Experience:

• Prior experience working as a pharmacy technician, preferably in a healthcare or hospital setting.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology, medications, and basic pharmacology.
• Proficiency in dosage calculations and preparation of medications.
• Ability to manage inventory, supply orders, and record-keeping with attention to detail.
• Familiarity with automated medication dispensing machines.

Customer Service:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with healthcare providers and veterans.
• Ability to provide compassionate and efficient service to a diverse patient population.

Regulatory Knowledge:

• Understanding of HIPAA regulations and the ability to handle PHI and sensitive data responsibly.
• Awareness of safety standards and infection control procedures.

Technological Proficiency:

• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and systems.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit



Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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: 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:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.


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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.


The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.


It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.



Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Professional Certification
• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.


Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.




The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/01/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Agency contact information

VISN 19 HR Contact Center

Phone

719-227-4600

Email

V19USAJOBS@VA.GOV

Address

VA Western Colorado Health Care System
2121 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.


You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.



NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

11/13/2025 to 12/01/2025

Salary

$58,436 to - $75,971 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 7

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Grand Junction, CO

1 vacancy

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

• 0661 Pharmacy Technician

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

CBSU-12832644-26-MR

Control number

849960000

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Part time, For contractors, Traineeship, Work experience placement, Seasonal work, Work at office, Remote work, Work from home, Relocation, Trial period, Relocation package, Monday to Friday, Shift work, Weekend work,

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