Pharmacy Technician- Oncology

This position requires a certified highly specialized technician who performs a variety of complex skills and functions in the preparation of hazardous and non-hazardous sterile medications.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Oncology Pharmacy Technician provides high quality patient centered care utilizing technician knowledge to ensure safe effective and efficient medication therapy.

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Oncology Technical Duties:

1. Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of sterile product preparation and shortage. Able to work independently to compound complex hazardous as well as other high-risk medications.
2. Communicates on a regular basis with the oncology pharmacists and at times nurses in the clinic to reduce medication waste.
3. Assists with training pharmacy staff and students with aseptic technique, dispensing all hazardous and non-hazardous sterile products. Actively orients new staff, students, and nurses in pharmacy compounding practices. Independently selects the proper additive and diluent solution to prepare a final product as ordered. Incorporates understanding of mathematical calculations required to add the correct volume of medication. Has oncology pharmacy complete check of prepared sterile product prior to patient infusion for accuracy.
4. Maintains current knowledge of USP 797/800 and ensures compliance with all VA policies and procedures, Joint Commission that relate to sterile medication preparation. Maintains national technician license in good standing and completing all required continuing education for renewal.
5. Maintain the compounding sterile area equipment are cleaned and maintained in good operation. Records refrigerator temperatures, humidity, air pressures and temperature daily. Ensures required cleaning of each sterile area is completed on a daily/ monthly basis as required by VA policy and procedure.
6. Maintain inventory and rotation of all stocked items in the oncology pharmacy on a monthly basis to ensure decrease waste (cost containment)

General Duties:

1. Continuously exhibits initiative and resourcefulness when managing daily workload. Consistently works in an organized and efficient manner to meet deadlines and changing priorities.
2. Problem solves and provides logistical recommendations to the oncology pharmacist.
3. Assists with identification, development, implementation of new programs and processes for better patient care.
4. Carries out other duties as assigned on an as needed basis.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09692F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Preferred Experience: At least one year of Oncology tech experience

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:

• A. Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• B. English Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• C. 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).
• D. Grandfathering Provision: 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements.

Experience Requirement. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS-7.

• Creditable Experience. To be creditable, a candidate must possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice. The candidate's experience must be evidenced by active professional practice. (Active professional practice means paid/nonpaid employment as a professional pharmacy technician.)
• Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of half-time work.
• Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy technician experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:

• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section.
• Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the 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 8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 8.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Duties include, stooping, standing, sitting, bending, walking, lifting and at times may require climbing on a ladder.

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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical 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.