Lead Pharmacy Technician

UPMC; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

UPMC Hamot is seeking a Lead Pharmacy Technician to serve as a key leadership resource within the hospital pharmacy team. The role blends advanced technical work with mentorship, driving staff development, regulatory compliance and process improvements to elevate patient care.

The position emphasizes evening leadership, collaboration with pharmacists and nurses, and opportunities to lead automation and inventory initiatives while supporting safe, accurate medication distribution.

Qualifications

• Acute care hospital pharmacy technician experience required or preferred.
• Leadership experience as Lead Technician/Senior Technician/Supervisor or similar role.
• Experience coordinating daily technician workflow and staffing.
• Pharmacy automation experience with Omnicell and/or Pyxis systems.
• Inventory management experience in a pharmacy setting.
• Experience training, mentoring, and coaching pharmacy staff.
• Experience with sterile compounding operations and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Assist in filling medication orders with correct labeling, counting and stocking; initial and date products as required.
• Participate in distribution of medication including cassettes, carts and controlled substances per policy and regulations.
• Assist in procurement, accountability, storage, preparation and distribution of investigational and study drugs.
• Lead department quality improvement activities to enhance pharmaceutical care and operational efficiency.
• Provide direction for technical aspects of medication preparation and ensure safe handling in the designated area.
• Coordinate daily activities, organize duties, and develop workflow guidelines to maximize productivity.
• Train other Pharmacy Technicians and ensure compliance with DH, JCAHO, and state regulations.
• Maintain documentation, including logs, inventories and controlled substance records.

Skills

Leadership experience

Mentoring/Training

Team coordination

Staff scheduling

Collaboration with pharmacists

Tools

Omnicell

Pyxis

Job description

Full-Time Lead Pharmacy Technician | UPMC Hamot

Join UPMC Hamot as a Lead Pharmacy Technician and take the next step in your pharmacy career by serving as a key operational and leadership resource within our hospital pharmacy team. This role combines advanced technical expertise with leadership responsibilities, supporting safe, efficient, and high-quality pharmacy services while helping to develop staff and optimize departmental operations.

The Lead Pharmacy Technician provides pharmaceutical care through demonstrated proficiency in pharmacy operations, workflow coordination, and team leadership. This position partners closely with pharmacists and pharmacy leadership to support daily operations, mentor and train pharmacy technicians, promote regulatory compliance, and drive process improvement initiatives that enhance patient care and operational excellence.

Lead Pharmacy Technicians may provide expertise in areas such as sterile compounding, RobotRX operations, medication distribution, operating room pharmacy support, non-sterile product packaging, controlled substances management, inventory oversight, and pharmacy automation systems.

This position is primarily an evening leadership role and offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on departmental performance, staff development, and patient safety.

Schedule

• Primary shift: 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Occasional schedule flexibility required to support operational needs
• Participation in leadership meetings, projects, and departmental initiatives as needed
• Ability to provide occasional off-shift support, coaching, and coverage when necessary
• Weekends and holidays as assigned

Preferred Experience

• Acute care hospital pharmacy technician experience
• Leadership experience as a Lead Technician, Senior Technician, Supervisor, or similar role
• Experience coordinating daily technician workflow and staffing
• Pharmacy automation experience, including Omnicell and/or Pyxis systems
• Medication inventory management experience
• Experience training, mentoring, and coaching team members
• Experience supporting sterile compounding operations and regulatory compliance
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals

Why Join UPMC Hamot?

• Leadership opportunity within a large regional pharmacy organization
• Career advancement and professional development opportunities
• Participation in departmental committees, strategic initiatives, and operational projects
• Exposure to pharmacy automation, medication safety, inventory management, and regulatory compliance initiatives
• Collaborative team environment with strong pharmacist and technician partnerships
• Opportunities to lead process improvement efforts and support staff development

Eligible candidates may receive a $5,000 sign-on bonus with a two-year work commitment.

Title and salary will be determined based upon education, certification, and relevant pharmacy experience.

Responsibilities:

• Filling:
  • Assist in filling medication orders through correct labeling, counting and stocking practices. Initial and date products as required.
• Distribution:
  • Participate in the distribution of medication including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts and the delivery of controlled substances per department policy and state and federal requirements
• Investigational:
  • Assist in the procurement, accountability, storage, preparation and distribution of investigational and study drugs.
• General:
  • Create and lead departmental quality improvement activities in order to continually improve and evaluate pharmaceutical care as reflected by operational and patient care indicators.
  • Provide direction and leadership for DESIGNATED technical aspects associated with medication preparation in the pharmacy department.
  • Oversee the coordination of daily activities, organization of duties and responsibilities, and the development of workflow guidelines and other necessary tools to maximize productivity in DESIGNATED area.
  • Assist in training other Pharmacy Technicians in determining their ability to function in DESIGNATED area of the Pharmacy department.
  • Ensure that all medications in all areas have been safely and securely stored according to Department of Health, The Joint Commission, and State Board of Pharmacy regulations.
  • Comply with Federal and State laws such as HIPAA, regulations such as OSHA, and PBM contracting requirements such as FWA and CMS.
  • Maintain all pertinent documentation as required.
  • This includes eye wash logs, refrigerator logs, perpetual inventory logs etc.
  • Maintain all patient information and records.
  • Maintain the pharmacy computer system as required.
  • Actively engages in maintenance of data, records and files, and ensures compliance is met through record keeping.
  • Finalize sales using cash register, follow proper cash handling policies and procedures
  • Procure and maintain adequate inventory levels on daily basis in applicable areas such pharmacy medication stock rooms, automated medication carousels, and automated dispensing machines.
  • Demonstrate a high level of accuracy and skill in maintaining controlled substance records and the distribution process for controlled substances. Audit and maintain accurate records for controlled substances.
  • Assure that all such drugs are stored and dispensed in compliance with Federal, State, and Department Regulations.
  • Demonstrate competency in performing high skill level activities in DESIGNATED area such as sterile products/IV admixtures, controlled substances, robot operation, packaging operations, and operating room.
  • Prepare reports as required to support pharmacy activities.
  • Demonstrate a service orientation toward patients, staff and visitors.
  • Conveys a positive, professional image at all times.
  • Demonstrate a high level of knowledge understanding the laws associated with the purchasing and distribution of controlled substances.
  • Provide feedback to the needs of the department and other associates in a respectful and effective manner consistent with UPMC values.
  • Exhibit effectiveness during interactions with other hospital personnel in a manner supportive of our culture of service excellence, with enthusiasm for customer service and a passion to offer an outstanding patient experience.
  • Provide progressive technical knowledge, coordination of activities, support of new initiatives, and creates a shared experience and support among associates within DESIGNATED area.
  • Develop workflow guidelines, policies and procedures, and other necessary tools to maximize productivity, standardize practice, and maintain regulatory readiness in area of responsibility.
  • Oversee and instruct other associates in the DESIGNATED area regarding day-to-day activities.
  • Regularly inspects the DESIGNATED area to ensure that it is clean and well-maintained.
  • Accurately complete departmental documentation and billing by the end of each scheduled shift in accordance with Department procedures.
• Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job. They are not exhaustive lists of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions associated with the job.