Pharmacy Technician - Multiple Inpatient Specialties

Join us in shaping the future at the brand-new James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center! We're seeking talented Allied Health professional to make a difference in Veteran care. In 2021, Congress approved federal funding for a new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa which will be the first hospital to be built under the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016.

*This is an open continuous announcement. The first set of qualifications will be pulled by HR on 4/23/26. After the initial set of quals HR will review future applicants every two weeks or until the position has been filled or until the end of the fiscal year.*


VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional


Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Duties will include oversight and compliance record keeping for Sterile Compounding and controlled substances.
• These positions require independent technical judgment and expertise in complex areas of pharmacy practice that have specific laws, significant regulatory requirements, and quality/safety standards.
• They organize, coordinate, and manage single or multiple programs under the delegation of pharmacy supervisors or Associate Chiefs.
• Must have an expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the complex program area and manage all aspects of compliance with these standards with limited input from pharmacy supervisor(s).
• Serves as a key resource advising others in their 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, Care in the Community (CITC), etc.).
• Analyzes data for self-driven (independent) performance improvement projects, workload analysis, and statistical reports.
• Solves problems and implements corrective actions to maximize outcomes in their program area.
• Maintains special accreditations and prepares for national reviews/inspections (e.g., The Joint Commission, Inspector General, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists®, controlled substance inspections).
• Develops training programs and materials for orientation, competency development, and educational needs for regulatory requirements within the specialized pharmacy program area.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Or 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Work schedule can vary depending on the needs of the service and supervisor discretion.
Location: You will temporarily work at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center at 1011 Honor Heights Drive, Muskogee, OK 74401 until the completion of the new hospital in Tulsa, at which point your duty station will change to the new Tulsa location James Mountain Inhofe VAMC 440 South Houston Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127.
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)
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: Ad-hoc; Situational Ad-hoc as directed by agency policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 623-59147-A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Specific Job Duties related to Multiple Specialties:

Sterile Compounding Technician:

• Preparation of sterile intravenous (IV) medications, including chemotherapy, antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and other compounded sterile preparations, following strict aseptic techniques and guidelines.
• Adherence to protocols and safety standards, including United States Pharmacopeia (USP) guidelines such as USP <797> and USP <800>, while maintaining cleanroom conditions and using proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Regular cleaning and disinfecting of compounding areas, such as laminar airflow workbenches and biological safety cabinets, and ensuring proper maintenance and calibration of all equipment used in sterile compounding.
• Accurate documentation of all compounding activities, including batch records, preparation logs, quality control checks, and inventory management, in compliance with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
• Participation in quality assurance activities, such as environmental monitoring, process validation, and periodic competency assessments, to ensure adherence to high standards of safety and efficacy.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor depending on grade level.

Controlled Substance/Vault Technician:

• Inventory management: Maintain accurate records of all controlled substances, including receiving, dispensing, and tracking inventory to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to prevent diversion or theft.
• Security and access control: Ensure the secure storage of controlled substances in the vault, limiting access to authorized personnel only and following all security protocols to safeguard the medications.
• Dispensing controlled substances: Accurately fill and dispense controlled substance prescriptions and orders, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) guidelines, by performing regular audits, reconciliations, and reporting any discrepancies or incidents promptly.
• Collaboration and communication: Work closely with pharmacists, healthcare providers, and other staff to coordinate the proper use, storage, and documentation of controlled substances, and to address any issues or concerns related to controlled substances management.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor depending on grade level.

Clinical Pharmacy Technician:

• Assist clinical pharmacists in the provision of advanced pharmaceutical care activities, such as medication reconciliation, medication therapy management, and patient counseling support.
• Collect and document relevant patient information, including medication histories, laboratory results, and clinical data to support pharmacist review and interventions.
• Participate in monitoring patient responses to drug therapy, including tracking side effects, therapeutic outcomes, and adherence to prescribed medication regimens. Report findings to the clinical pharmacist for evaluation.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of clinical pharmacy programs, such as anticoagulation management, antimicrobial stewardship, or chronic disease state management, by collecting data, preparing reports, and assisting with workflow improvement initiatives.
• Educate patients and caregivers regarding proper medication use, potential side effects, and the importance of medication adherence under the direction of a pharmacist.
• Communicate and coordinate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to facilitate smooth medication management and resolve medication-related issues under the direction of a pharmacist.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of clinical activities, interventions, and pharmacy services in compliance with VA policies and regulatory requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor depending on grade level.

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.
  • Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 Health career 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).

GS 9- Grade Determinations: (Above the Full Performance Level)

GS 9 Experience:

• In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-08).

GS 9 Knowledge Skills and Abilities-

• In addition to meeting the to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs 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

Preferred Experience:

• Sterile Compounding Technician- 1 year of Sterile Compounding experience
• Controlled Substance Pharmacy Technician- 1 year of pharmacy tech experience with duties that demonstrate an understanding of the rules and regulations governing handling of controlled substances including security, inventory requirements, and documentation.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This vacancy is being announced Above the Full Performance Level GS-9.

Physical Requirements: Moderate or extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling. This occasionally involves lifting moderately heavy items (30 pounds). The employee must possess average agility and dexterity

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/.

• 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 (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 / evaluation.
• 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.