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PLEASE READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE BEGINNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO ENSURE YOU SUBMIT ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. This Job Opportunity Announcement will be used to fill a Pharmacy Technician, GS-0661-06 position in Pharmacy Service at the VA Montana Health Care System. This announcement is open continuously until filled. First review will be January 3, 2022 and bi-weekly thereafter. 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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Education or Experience. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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-6 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is 05. Physical Requirements: ["Pharmacy technicians provide various technical support services related to inpatients and/or outpatients. Pharmacy Technicians typically carry out the full range of technical support functions which include but are not limited to; processing and filling outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and nonscheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter products and supply items; preparation and distribution of ward stock items; inpatient preparation and distribution of unit dose medications and ward stock items and intravenous admixtures; operation, maintenance, restocking and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment; patient and customer relations. Any individual technician may be required to perform some or all of the functions; however, the relative percentages of time spent performing each specific function varies somewhat with the area of assignment. Duties include, but are limited to the following: Inventories and replenishes emergency carts for pharmacist review. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Responsible for the ward stock replenishment of oral, injectable and other medications into the Omnicell, and management of ward stock outdates. Completes monthly ward inspections to ensure approved ward stock drugs are properly stored. Responsible for manufacturing low and medium risk parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, etc. This involves interpretation of the physician's order, selecting and measuring appropriate ingredients, mixing ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspecting the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance, labeling the product, maintaining records. Responsible for preparing and filling all inpatient and outpatient orders and requests for controlled substances. Receives new stock and returned stock into inventory and ensures the accuracy of controlled drug records. Conducts regularly scheduled inventories and cooperates with controlled substance inspection officials. Reviews eligibility of Veterans for window medication requests as required. Opens mail separating refills and new prescriptions for processing by the appropriate personnel Processes refill requests in the computer. Prefills prescriptions for dispensing by a pharmacist. Packs and wraps prescription and medical supplies for mailing to patients when volunteers are unavailable. Involved in inventory management as required; specific duties vary by duty station. Process prescription operations appropriately through the ScriptPro Inventory Management System (SIMS). Work Schedule: Various, rotating 8 hour shifts in a 40-hour week to include nights, weekends and holidays.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Pharmacy Technician/PD000000\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]