Summary

The GS-9 Inpatient Pharmacy Unit Dose (UD) Technician Supervisor is a technical subject matter expert in inpatient pharmacy dispensing work not related to sterile compounded products such as non-sterile compounding & repackaging - automated dispensing systems - ward stock replenishment - and unit dose clinic order processes and is responsible for oversight of inpatient pharmacy dispensing operations with a focus on these areas.

Qualifications

All requirements must be met at the time of the announcement closing.

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
• 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 National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• 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: 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
• 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)
• 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-09: Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08) 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
• OR 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-09 assignments 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
• 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
• 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
• 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-09
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent serves as a frontline supervisor with limited direct reports and significant time spent assigned to perform work in various unit dose lead pharmacy areas with concurrent leadership - coordination - and oversight responsibilities for the technician team members involved in the work
• The supervisor will provide supportive guidance to team members - lead problem solving - and deliver excellent customer service
• Responsibilities also include daily coordination of the unit dose and non-sterile compounding training - competency - and technician work assignments in coordination with the other inpatient pharmacy supervisors
• The incumbent will lead change through innovation and adaption - leading people effectively - promote quality improvement initiatives - and collaborate with other stakeholders within the Pharmacy Department and throughout the Medical Center
• The duties and responsibilities of the Inpatient Pharmacy UD Technician Supervisor are often performed concurrently while staffing related work areas and include but are not limited to the following: A
• Program Management 1
• Maintains knowledge in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 800/795 - pharmacy law - Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations - VHA Directives - facility and departmental policies and procedures as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System
• 2
• Collaborates with the inpatient pharmacy technician supervisor to implement and oversee technical aspects of non-sterile compounding/repackaging - ward stock replenishment - and dispensing including the lead UD pharmacy technician work
• 3
• Provides coordination of day-to-day activities of pharmacy technicians and any other learners or volunteers assigned in inpatient pharmacy with a focus on work other than sterile compounding and triage work
• 4
• Performs other duties as assigned B
• Administration/Supervisory 1
• Directly supervises technician activities of the inpatient pharmacy processing and dispensing areas
• 2
• Responsible for maintaining smooth workflow of day-to-day activities and assumes responsibility of workflow performed under the incumbent's supervision
• 3
• Assures quality control of the work of those under supervision through observation and spot inspection of completed work
• 4
• Performs other duties as assigned C
• Education 1
• Identifies continuing education needs of staff and - where possible - provides programs/resources to help meet the identified needs
• 2
• Assures that all necessary employee orientation and training occurs to assure continuance of high-quality services
• 3
• Assures all necessary documentation related to training is completed
• 4
• Performs other duties as assigned D
• Quality Assurance 1
• Assists the Inpatient Pharmacy management team to plan - coordinate - develop - and implement all quality assurance activities for the Inpatient Pharmacy program with a lead role in activities other than sterile compounding or controlled substance management
• 2
• Collaborates with inpatient pharmacy technician and pharmacist supervisors to review - analyze - and act upon workload statistics - quality assurance data - and productivity and workflow reports
• 3
• Responsible for implementation - revision and interpretation of Pharmacy Service policies and procedures related to Inpatient Pharmacy and contingency planning and assures their compliance with all regulatory bodies (e.g
• USP 795 - USP 800
• Joint Commission standards
• VACO directives and handbooks)
• 4
• Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full-Time - Full-Time - primarily days - every 4th weekend - 3-4 holidays per year - and occasional evenings Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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) and 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: If approved - will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized