Supervisory Pharmacy Technician

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Summary The Supervisory Pharmacy Technician position is located within the Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown Health Care System Pharmacy. The Supervisory Pharmacy Technician evaluates, coordinates, and provides supervisory oversight for all technical aspects of pharmacy operations involved with workflow, including floor stocking, medication delivery, ward inspections, narcotic vault oversight, inventory procurement and maintenance, infusion room support, medication dispensing. Responsibilities Develop the work schedule, plan and grant leave and rotate duties of the pharmacy technician staff. Assures that personnel are scheduled in such a way as to provide consistency of coverage and to accommodate planned leave and promote employee morale, is responsible for tracking and submitting pharmacy technicians time biweekly. Coordinate day-to-day maintenance and operation of pharmacy area equipment and automation. Assist with the development of performance standards that are realistic, challenging, and supporting the organizational mission, vision, and goals. Responsible for ensuring all employees meet performance standards and competencies. Identify areas for improvement as needed. Recommend counseling and disciplinary action based upon conduct under the supervision of the Chief of Pharmacy Supervisor with guidance from Employee Labor Relations. Conduct technician meetings to assure proper updates of departmental and hospital communications. Assist in the development of policies and procedures and participate in departmental goal planning and quality improvement activities. Prepare various management reports as delegated to include, but not limited to: High-cost drug inventory, ward stock, automation, competency, and controlled substance reports. Assists pharmacy supervisors and staff to identify areas of duplication of efforts and develops solutions to streamline processes, reduce waste, save costs, and improve patient care. Assists in preparation of national, local, and special accreditations of pharmacy service. (Joint Commission, Inspector General, Controlled Substance Inspections, Drug Enforcement Agency) This includes documentation record updates, development of specific training and preparation of staff and compliance of policy and procedures. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday – 7:00am – 3:30pm Telework: Available AD-HOC ONLY Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications 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. 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). 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. 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. Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) 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-09 Experience: One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level GS-08. 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. AND, In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) 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.). (b) 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. (d) 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). (e) Ability to develop training programs and material for orientation, competency development and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area. AND, Meet any additional KSAs for the assignment below: (A) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers. (B) Ability to utilize staffing methodology principles to determine adequate staffing to coordinate and manage workflow and work activities within pharmacy. (4) 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. Preferred Experience: Previous supervisor/management experience in Jesse Brown Inpatient Pharmacy. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, PART II, APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. Physical Requirements: ???See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qua