The Controlled Substance Pharmacy Technician is a highly specialized technician, who will perform a variety of complex and highly regulated functions in the management of controlled substances in the outpatient pharmacy. The incumbent is expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance while being extremely sensitive to the specific contribution to total patient care.
The technician will be performing assignments filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE A. Controlled Substance Management: Ability to prepare, fill, and dispense controlled substance according to policies and procedures.
Conducts regularly scheduled inventories every 72 hours and daily if needed according to regulations and policies. Assists the Controlled Substance Compliance Inspectors to complete the monthly inspections. Effectively coordinates, manages, completes, and documents the purchasing of all prescription and non-prescription drug products and supplies by maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process.
Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdated CS medications from stock - including inpatient wards, inpatient/outpatient storage cabinets, vaults. Maintains accurate electronic inventory through decrementing prescriptions, entering received inventory, transferring to automated dispensing cabinets, dispensing on green sheets, and transferring to other dispensing vaults.
Prepares, operates, restocks, and maintains complex automated dispensing cabinets and all necessary equipment supporting pharmaceutical patient care functions. Resolves inventory discrepancies immediately when discovered by reviewing reports and contacting appropriate persons when needed. Reports discrepancies to pharmacy supervisor for follow up.
.Ensures all controlled substances procedures abide by all local requirements, VISN, OIG and VHA handbook expectations and requirements, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, VACO directives, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements, appropriate inventory management practices, and other state and local requirements that apply.
Performs all duties of lower graded technicians, if required Procurement Stock and Maintenance: Utilize appropriate inventory measures such as just-in-time, usage rates, stock levels, contract adherence, return of expired medications, and inventory turns to limit medication waste and comply with all applicable policies.
Manage different stock items within and outside of pharmacy automation and alerts appropriate personnel for reordering purposes or of any issues with restocking. Routinely monitor and report any possible drug discrepancies or diversion to appropriate supervisor or pharmacist. Check for outdated/expired medications prior to dispensing or compounding and as outlined by pharmacy service.
If outdated/expired medications are found, promptly removes from services, and wastes accordingly. Responsible for appropriately restocking various assigned stations satisfactorily prior to shift end. Education: Participate in the training of other pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, PGY-1, and PGY-2 residents at Edward Hines Jr, VA Hospital.
Interfaces with other health-care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy and medical center policies and procedures. Ensure that all facility mandatory training/requirements (e.g., fire and safety, prevention of sexual harassment, customer service and prevention of violence in the workplace) are accomplished within established timetables including proper documentation of compliance in appropriate filing system.
Demonstrates infection control practices for disease preventions (i.e., hand washing, universal precautions/ isolation procedures, including TB requirement/ precautions). Understands and complies with federal, state, and local environmental laws and other requirements, preventing pollution, minimizing waste, conserving cultural and natural resources, and continually improving environmental programs.
Administration/Technical Support: Identify cost reduction/cost avoidance activities on a periodic basis. Open and sort main distributing contents to appropriate areas and packages mail according to mailing system utilized. Perform clerical or other functions as requested. Plan and complete tasks based upon established protocols, standard operating procedures, individual instructions, and/or accepted pharmacy practices.
Regularly attends and provides input on staff meetings as applicable. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Full Time; Mon-Fri 7:00am-3:30pm, 8:00am-4:30pm. (with a rotating weekends/holidays) Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: 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/.
Jeremy.Burton1@va.gov · 708-202-8387 X21341
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $68156 – $88599/yr.
Applications close on 2026-11-09.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-31 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
Apply on official site →