Pharmacy Procurement and Inventory Technician

Quick Facts

• Role: Pharmacy Procurement/Inventory Technician (GS-08)

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Description

The Pharmacy Procurement/Inventory Technician manages purchasing and inventory for prescription and non-prescription medications and pharmacy supplies. You will set and adjust ordering intervals and inventory levels, ensure timely physical and electronic shipping/receiving, maintain daily purchase accountability, and support wall-to-wall annual inventory. The role also uses pharmacy automation systems, reviews FDA recall alerts, maintains automation database integrity, and supports training and procurement tasks.

Responsibilities

• Apply comprehensive knowledge of drug characteristics and nomenclature for procurement and stock maintenance (generic/brand, dosage forms, AB rating equivalence)

• Determine and modify ordering intervals, inventory levels, and ordering quantities

• Execute orders to ensure timely shipping and receipt (physical and electronic)

• Maintain accountability for daily purchases and coordinate receipt of invoices

• Ensure sufficient stock through proper inventory management to support pharmacy and patient care needs

• Conduct annual wall-to-wall inventory with Technician Supervisors

• Use and maintain competency with pharmacy automation inventory systems (e.g., ScriptPro Inventory Management System (SIMS), Omnicell Central Pharmacy Management (CPM))

• Analyze medication and supply usage trends and recommend adding or substituting items

• Maintain integrity of automation databases and systems to ensure accurate inventory information and appropriate user access levels

• Review FDA reports, recall alerts, and notifications; inspect/remove impacted stock and communicate with Pharmacy Service management

• Assist with lower-graded technician duties when staffing is limited and help orient/train new pharmacy personnel

• Perform independent procurement support duties including correlating transactions and completing assigned functions with changing deadlines/priorities

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Active pharmacy technician certification: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT (or meet VA grandfathering criteria for current VHA employees)

• Experience: one year equivalent to the next lower grade (for GS-08 assignments)

• English proficiency (written and spoken)

• Security/background investigation required

• Pre-employment onboarding and physical evaluation

• Testing: urinalysis if selected for testing-designated positions

• Vaccination: participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program

• Physical ability: prolonged standing/sitting; lift/carry up to 50 lbs; bend/stoop

Benefits

• Traditional federal pension (with 5 years vesting) and federal 401K (up to 5% employer contributions)

• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options

• Paid parental leave (after 12 months of employment)

• Child care subsidy eligibility (after 60 days, based on total family income and other criteria)