Pharmacist I

Actalent; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 76,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Actalent is recruiting a Pharmacist I for a contract-based position in North Chicago, IL. The role focuses on accurate prescription review, safe medication preparation, and customer support in a high-volume distribution setting.

The position requires an active IL pharmacy license, at least one year in retail pharmacy, and comfort working under a contractor pay structure. Expect rotating 8-hour shifts within an extended operating window and a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Active Illinois pharmacist license required, license number to be included on the resume.
• Minimum 1 year of retail pharmacy experience, preferably in high-volume settings.
• Experience in mail-order or specialty pharmacy environments is a plus.
• Ability to stand for the majority of the workday and push carts up to ~30 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Review prescriptions for accuracy and appropriateness.
• Prepare medications and oversee compounding processes.
• Supervise pharmacy staff handling mixing, packaging, and labeling.
• Provide drug information and counseling to customers and colleagues.
• Maintain quality assurance, controlled substances security, and proper waste disposal.

Skills

Pharmacist license IL

Retail pharmacy experience

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Contractor pay structure

Education

PharmD

Tools

Pharmacy software

Job description

Job Description

The Pharmacist I provides professional pharmacy services in a high-volume distribution environment, ensuring accurate prescription review, safe medication preparation, and excellent customer support. This role is ideal for a licensed pharmacist who is ambitious, eager to learn and grow, and comfortable working within a contractor pay structure. The position involves rotating 8-hour shifts within an extended operating window and requires the ability to stay on your feet throughout the day while contributing to efficient pharmacy operations.

Responsibilities

• Review prescriptions issued by physicians or other authorized prescribers to verify accuracy, completeness, and appropriateness of therapy.
• Determine required formulas, ingredients, and processes needed to prepare prescribed medications according to standard pharmacy practices.
• Compound medications using established formulas and procedures, including weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients to ensure identity, purity, and strength.
• Direct and oversee pharmacy workers engaged in mixing, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals to maintain quality and compliance with procedures.
• Answer questions and provide clear, professional information to pharmacy customers regarding drug interactions, side effects, proper dosage, and storage requirements.
• Maintain established procedures related to quality assurance, including the security and accountability of controlled substances and the proper disposal of hazardous waste drugs.
• Enter and maintain accurate data in pharmacy systems, including patient information, prescribed medications, and costs, to support files, charge systems, and inventory management.
• Assay medications as needed to confirm identity, purity, and strength in accordance with pharmacy standards and regulatory requirements.
• Instruct interns and other medical personnel on pharmacy-related matters, including medication handling, safety protocols, and operational procedures.
• Multi-task effectively in a high-volume environment, managing prescription review, data entry, customer inquiries, and coordination with pharmacy staff.
• Collaborate with team members in a distribution area to ensure timely and accurate processing of retail, mail-order, and specialty pharmacy orders.
• Push carts containing medications and supplies as needed, typically every few hours, to support workflow and distribution activities.
• Adhere to all internal policies, regulatory requirements, and professional standards governing pharmacy practice.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills when interacting with colleagues and, as needed, patients and providers, ensuring clear and professional exchanges of information.
• Exhibit self-motivation and a proactive approach to learning, process improvement, and professional development within the pharmacy setting.

Essential Skills

• Active pharmacist license in the state of Illinois; license number must be included on the resume.
• At least one year of employment history, preferably with a retail pharmacy organization.
• Retail pharmacy experience, such as work in chain or community pharmacies handling high prescription volumes.
• Ability to stand and remain on your feet for the majority of the workday.
• Capability to push carts that may weigh up to approximately 30 pounds, with no heavy lifting required.
• Strong multi-tasking skills, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with customers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals.
• Self-motivating work style, with the ability to work independently while contributing positively to the team.
• Comfort with working as a contractor and with a contractor-based pay structure.
• Proficiency with pharmacy operations, including prescription review, compounding, data entry, and inventory processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in mail-order or specialty pharmacy environments, particularly handling high-volume orders.
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree or equivalent professional pharmacy education (if applicable to licensure).
• Familiarity with prior authorization processes and coordination with payers or providers.
• Experience providing medication counseling on drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and storage.
• Experience in industrial or distribution-focused pharmacy settings is welcomed, especially where high-volume order processing was involved.
• Interest in ongoing professional growth, learning new systems, and adapting to evolving pharmacy practices.

Work Environment

This role is based in a pharmacy distribution area that operates extended hours, with typical 8-hour shifts that may fall anywhere between early morning and late evening. Standard schedules run Monday through Friday, with 8-hour shifts structured in 8.5-hour blocks including a 30-minute lunch break. Shifts can vary within a window generally between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., with examples such as 7:00 a.m.3:30 p.m., 9:00 a.m.5:30 p.m., and 11:00 a.m.7:30 p.m., and may rotate weekly. Training is typically conducted on an 8:00 a.m.4:30 p.m. schedule. In some cases, operating hours may extend between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., while maintaining an 8-hour work shift. Overtime is not required but may be offered based on business needs. The environment is active and fast-paced, requiring you to be on your feet for most of the day and to push carts with medications and supplies periodically, usually every few hours. Work is performed in a professional pharmacy distribution setting with established procedures for quality assurance, controlled substance security, and hazardous drug disposal. The dress code aligns with standard professional pharmacy attire appropriate for a clinical and distribution environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of North Chicago, IL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $60.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 5, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in North Chicago, IL.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.