Pharmacy Technician (Procurement/Inventory)

About the role

The Pharmacy Inpatient Technician (Procurement/Inventory) will function primarily in the main inpatient pharmacy but may be assigned tasks within any area of the inpatient or outpatient pharmacy, vault, clean room, clinic, procedural area, operating room, and inpatient ward.

Additionally, the technician will perform quality assurance activities including medication room inspections within the facility and at off-site clinic locations.

What you will do

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent will generally be assigned administrative working hours with the occasional need to assist with staffing through pharmacy service operational hours, including weekends and holidays.
• FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: The Pharmacy Inpatient Technician (Procurement/Inventory) will be assigned as the lead procurement and inventory management specialist for the inpatient pharmacy.
• Duties include but are not limited to: Customer Service Treat patients, team members, other facility employees and visitors with dignity and respect.
• Respond to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner.
• Demonstrate appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service.
• Act as a team member and support the group's efforts at all times.
• Demonstrate an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality of care.
• Pharmacy Operations Maintain ordering officer designations and knowledge of VA formulary, VA policies related to procurement, and VA contractual requirements for procurement; order medications and supplies to meet anticipated patient care requirements and avoid waste.
• Perform all necessary reconciliation and accounting.
• Compliance with medication and supply source traceability in accordance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and VHA directive.
• Verifies product shipping invoices and information match product received, contacting vendor to investigate and reconcile discrepancies.
• Maintains medication and supply source information in accordance with the DSCSA, VHA Directive and VHA Records Management guidelines.
• Act as a purchase card holder for pharmacy service.
• Complies with all federal, VA, and local procurement policies and regulations.
• Monitors and assures timely reconciliation of purchases.
• Maintains all procurement shipping invoices in accordance with VHA directive and VHA records management guidelines.
• Responsibly monitors and manages the Pharmacy medication budget fund control point and other procurement-related fund control points.
• Will request funds transfer for allocation as needed.
• Reconciles B09 reports with Fiscal service on a weekly basis for review by Chief of Pharmacy and Facility CFO.
• Addresses and collaborates with Fiscal service to resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Ensure new products are evaluated by a pharmacist and entered in all systems (Omnicell, Script Pro, Alaris, Codonics, VistA, iPack) and communicated to stakeholders.
• Use databases to efficiently manage inventory.
• Establish inventory stock levels (PAR levels) and reorder points to maintain adequate inventory to meet patient care needs with attention paid to responsible execution of resource spending and inventory control to meet or exceed inventory turn goals and minimize waste/reverse distribution.
• PAR levels are determined by the Lead Procurement Technician in collaboration Pharmacy Inventory Management Supervisor to establish and maintain adequate inventory based on patient care needs and historical utilization data.
• Ensure appropriate storage of all pharmaceuticals and supplies, and that items received are placed into appropriate storage locations in a timely manner.
• Perform annual wall-to-wall inventory and conduct monthly OIG count of drugs at high risk for diversion.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUIREMENTS: Meets the needs of customers while supporting the medical center and service missions.
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all medical center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.
• OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION: Travel and Driving: The incumbent may be required to travel up to 25% of the time, which would require the incumbent to drive a government owned vehicle to travel for technical or professional training and to support remote healthcare system sites, as needed and/or directed by management.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license and possess the driving skills necessary to operate a vehicle safely in various weather and traffic conditions, securely and safely, while adhering to all vehicle and traffic regulations.
• A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position.
• Must meet the requirements set forth in VA Handbook 5019 for incidental drivers.
• Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Requirements

• 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 (***).
• 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/examination.
• 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.

Education

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: ***

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: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1.

Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees.

Documents you must provide

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Professional Certification SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) **Highly Recommended** Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document - KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Professional Certification SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent VA Nationwide employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

The Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) consists of a comprehensive Tertiary Care Level I VA Health Care System; eleven VA Clinics and two Homeless Veterans Outreach Centers and has an affiliate agreement with the top ranked University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

ICVAHCS is home to the Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), one of the largest research departments in the VA.

CADRE is an energetic and upbeat organization with 18 core investigators, 29 affiliate or associate investigators, 3 Career Development Awardees, 5 VA Quality Scholars, over 50 research personnel, and over 40 funded projects. *** The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.