Pharmacy Technician

Join our mission at the Cheyenne River Health Center, a premier HHS/IHS facility delivering safe, confidential, and high-quality healthcare.


A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:
Pharmacy Technician Total Compensation

• Orders and procures drugs; receives drug shipments, maintains pharmacy storeroom and hospital drug stocks; properly stores drugs.
• Enters the correct drug, strength, dosage form and quantity into the patient's computerized medical chart. Process prescription claims through the Point of Sale software. Repackages drugs in usable prescription size, maintains control of logs as required for quality control.
• Prepares sterile solutions in the pharmacy. Interprets doctor's orders; obtains necessary ingredients; prepares and labels the final product. Assists pharmacists in filling prescriptions (i.e., typing, filling prescriptions in written and oral forms, etc.).
• Operates and cares for various pharmacy equipment; assists pharmacy staff in maintaining cleanliness of main pharmacy, pharmacy storage, and other drug storage areas.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.


BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

Individual Occupational Requirements
Specialized Experience
Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, or in pharmaceutical firms or laboratories. Experience must have provided a basic knowledge of:

• Pharmaceutical nomenclature;
• Characteristics, strengths, and dosage forms of pharmaceuticals;
• Pharmaceutical systems of weights and measures; and the
• Variety of procedures and techniques involved in the care, storage, repackaging, bulk compounding, and distribution of pharmaceuticals.

OR
Education and Training
For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study in pharmacy or pharmacy technology that included at least 12 semester hours in courses in the care, storage, distribution, and preparation of pharmaceuticals, and appropriate laboratory work.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

Minimum Qualifications for GS-4:
6 months of General Experience and 6 months of Specialized Experience
Specialized Experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples include: receive shipments; record receipts; repackage drugs into usable size; responsible for proper storage and inspection of drugs in assigned area, i.e. expiration dates, drug stock rotation.
OR
2 years of education above high school with courses related to the occupation (i.e. Pharmacy or Pharmacy Technology) that included at least 12 semester hours in courses in the care, storage, distribution and preparation of pharmaceuticals, and appropriate laboratory work.
OR
6 months of training for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision AND 6 months of specialized experience. Examples include: receives shipments; records receipts; repackages drugs into usable size; responsible for proper storage and inspection of drugs in assigned area, i.e. expiration dates, drug stock rotation.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-5:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: typing prescription labels; assists pharmacy staff in filling prescriptions; maintaining pharmacy store room and hospital drug stocks; recognizes appropriate auxiliary earnings and packaging requirements of drugs dispensed.
OR
A full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in pharmacy, or that included at least 24 semester hours in pharmacy related courses
OR
I have successfully completed pertinent specialized training courses in pharmaceutical and pharmacy practices while serving in the Armed Forces which is creditable on a month-for-month basis up to the 1 year of specialized experience
OR
Combination of education and experience.

Minimum Qualifications for GS-6:
Specialized Experience
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: filling prescriptions utilizing automated dispensing equipment; distributing pharmaceuticals; utilizing pharmacy-based computer systems; working with insurance claims to bill for pharmaceuticals and resolve any billing issues; and performing pharmaceutical procurement and inventory management.


Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

If you are substituting education for experience; You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/.

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.


You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement:

This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.