Lead Pharmacy Technician: Operations & Compliance

UPMC; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC Health System seeks a Lead Pharmacy Technician to oversee patient-focused pharmaceutical services within a designated area of the pharmacy, coordinating daily activities with pharmacists and pharmacy management in Pittsburgh.

The role emphasizes mentoring, developing policies to improve workflow, ensuring regulatory compliance, and leading quality initiatives that enhance patient care and operational performance across the department.

Responsibilities

• Assist in filling medication orders through accurate labeling, counting, packaging, and stocking practices.
• Participate in medication distribution, including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts, and controlled substances in accordance with department policies and federal/state regulations.
• Support the procurement, storage, preparation, accountability, and distribution of investigational and study medications.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels in pharmacy stock rooms, automated dispensing systems, and medication carousels.
• Ensure accurate recordkeeping, auditing, storage, and distribution of controlled substances in compliance with federal, state, and departmental regulations.
• Demonstrate advanced technical competency in specialized areas such as sterile compounding, IV admixtures, automation systems, packaging operations, operating room support, and controlled substance management.
• Coordinate daily workflow, prioritize responsibilities, and develop tools, guidelines, policies, and procedures to improve efficiency and maintain regulatory readiness within the designated area.
• Provide leadership and technical direction for medication preparation and operational activities.
• Train, mentor, and support Pharmacy Technicians, ensuring competency and adherence to departmental standards.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives and support new programs to enhance pharmaceutical care, operational performance, and patient outcomes.
• Ensure medications are stored securely and in compliance with Department of Health, Joint Commission, State Board of Pharmacy, and other regulatory requirements.
• Maintain required documentation, including inventory records, refrigerator and eyewash logs, billing records, and patient information.
• Comply with all applicable regulations and policies, including HIPAA, OSHA, CMS, FWA, and other federal and state requirements.
• Complete departmental documentation, reporting, and billing accurately and within established timelines.
• Demonstrate professionalism and a strong service-oriented approach when interacting with patients, visitors, and healthcare team members.
• Foster positive working relationships and provide constructive feedback consistent with UPMC values and a culture of service excellence.
• Support departmental initiatives and collaborate with colleagues to improve workflow, productivity, and patient care.
• Process pharmacy sales transactions and follow established cash-handling procedures.
• Prepare operational reports and maintain pharmacy computer systems, records, and databases.
• Regularly inspect designated work areas to ensure cleanliness, organization, and compliance with operational standards.

Job description

Purpose:
The Lead Pharmacy Technician provides pharmaceutical care to patients within the UPMC Health System by demonstrating proficiency in knowledge, skills, and leadership in a designated area of pharmacy operations. Examples of areas that a Lead Pharmacy Technician may include the sterile products area, RobotRX operations, general pharmacy operations, operating room, non-sterile product packaging areas, and controlled substances. The Lead Pharmacy Technician is responsible for coordinating daily activities with pharmacists and pharmacy management, mentoring and instructing new technicians in designated areas of responsibility, and developing policies and procedures optimize general workflow and better provide effective patient care and pharmacy services. These services are provided in compliance with state and federal regulations, The Joint Commission Standards, and the mission and policies of the hospital and department.

Key Responsibilities:

Medication Preparation & Distribution

• Assist in filling medication orders through accurate labeling, counting, packaging, and stocking practices.
• Participate in medication distribution, including medication cassettes, emergency medication carts, and controlled substances in accordance with department policies and federal/state regulations.
• Support the procurement, storage, preparation, accountability, and distribution of investigational and study medications.

Inventory & Controlled Substance Management

• Maintain appropriate inventory levels in pharmacy stock rooms, automated dispensing systems, and medication carousels.
• Ensure accurate recordkeeping, auditing, storage, and distribution of controlled substances in compliance with federal, state, and departmental regulations.
• Demonstrate advanced technical competency in specialized areas such as sterile compounding, IV admixtures, automation systems, packaging operations, operating room support, and controlled substance management.

Operations, Leadership & Training

• Coordinate daily workflow, prioritize responsibilities, and develop tools, guidelines, policies, and procedures to improve efficiency and maintain regulatory readiness within the designated area.
• Provide leadership and technical direction for medication preparation and operational activities.
• Train, mentor, and support Pharmacy Technicians, ensuring competency and adherence to departmental standards.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives and support new programs to enhance pharmaceutical care, operational performance, and patient outcomes.

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure medications are stored securely and in compliance with Department of Health, Joint Commission, State Board of Pharmacy, and other regulatory requirements.
• Maintain required documentation, including inventory records, refrigerator and eyewash logs, billing records, and patient information.
• Comply with all applicable regulations and policies, including HIPAA, OSHA, CMS, FWA, and other federal and state requirements.
• Complete departmental documentation, reporting, and billing accurately and within established timelines.

Customer Service & Collaboration

• Demonstrate professionalism and a strong service-oriented approach when interacting with patients, visitors, and healthcare team members.
• Foster positive working relationships and provide constructive feedback consistent with UPMC values and a culture of service excellence.
• Support departmental initiatives and collaborate with colleagues to improve workflow, productivity, and patient care.

Financial & Administrative Responsibilities

• Process pharmacy sales transactions and follow established cash-handling procedures.
• Prepare operational reports and maintain pharmacy computer systems, records, and databases.
• Regularly inspect designated work areas to ensure cleanliness, organization, and compliance with operational standards.