Pharmacy Assistant I - Retail

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle (WA) is hiring a Pharmacy Assistant to perform technical pharmaceutical tasks, process refills, returns, and POS transactions. The role supports pharmacists and may advance into the Pharmacy Technician Training program.

The position runs Monday–Friday with rotating shifts at the South Lake Union Campus. The program aims for licensure as a pharmacy technician by Spring 2028, with advancement potential in Fall 2027.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• State of Washington Pharmacy Assistant License.
• Ability to communicate verbally in person, on the phone, and in writing in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
• Ability to use pharmacy point of sale systems in an accurate and efficient manner.

Responsibilities

• Provide good customer service to patients by being attentive and quick to respond at the pharmacy window and follows through on problems.
• Review and monitor patient tickets in the pharmacy’s virtual waiting list responding to messages from patients and updating the prescription status in the pharmacy dispensing application.
• Dispense prescriptions and over the counter medications via point of sale to patients, appropriately referring those that require counseling to a pharmacist for dispensing.
• Process credit cards, handle cash and check payments.
• Complete return to stock of prescriptions. Return medications back on the shelf.
• Assist patients with online processing of prescription refills including billing appropriately and accurately.
• Triage incoming phone calls relating to medications.
• Interact with professional and technical staff in a courteous manner.
• Respond to patient inquiries including requesting new prescriptions from care teams and connecting with appropriate billing team for insurance issues.
• Coordinate dispensing of medications related to a research study with Investigation Drug Services Pharmacy.
• Call interpreters by phone or electronic tablet.
• Clean and restock pharmacy areas.
• Follow inventory control processes for expiration dates and remove outdates.
• Direct clinical inquiries requiring a pharmacist's professional judgment to a pharmacist.
• Answer inquiries not requiring a pharmacist's professional judgment.
• Assist in the training of pharmacy technicians, apprentices, and interns.
• Complete other pharmacy related duties in accordance with regulations under Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission
• Know and follow all Pharmacy Department and Fred Hutch policies and procedures, as well as all applicable state and federal laws.

Skills

Customer service

Verbal communication

Cash handling

Pharmacy POS systems

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Pharmacy POS systems

State of Washington Pharmacy Assistant License

Job description

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

Working under the immediate supervision of a pharmacist, the Pharmacy Assistant role interacts with patients and health care providers to perform a variety of technical pharmaceutical tasks including processing refills, return to stocks, and performing point of sale activities.

This position has the potential for advancement into our Pharmacy Technician Training program which they would become eligible to start in Fall 2027 and be a licensed pharmacy technician by Spring 2028.

This is a full time role working Monday-Friday, rotating 7:45 AM-4:15 PM, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, and 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM at our South Lake Union Campus.

Responsibilities

• Provide good customer service to patients by being attentive and quick to respond at the pharmacy window and follows through on problems.
• Review and monitor patient tickets in the pharmacy’s virtual waiting list responding to messages from patients and updating the prescription status in the pharmacy dispensing application.
• Dispense prescriptions and over the counter medications via point of sale to patients, appropriately referring those that require counseling to a pharmacist for dispensing.
• Process credit cards, handle cash and check payments.
• Complete return to stock of prescriptions. Return medications back on the shelf.
• Assist patients with online processing of prescription refills including billing appropriately and accurately.
• Triage incoming phone calls relating to medications.
• Interact with professional and technical staff in a courteous manner.
• Respond to patient inquiries including requesting new prescriptions from care teams and connecting with appropriate billing team for insurance issues.
• Coordinate dispensing of medications related to a research study with Investigation Drug Services Pharmacy.
• Call interpreters by phone or electronic tablet.
• Clean and restock pharmacy areas.
• Follow inventory control processes for expiration dates and remove outdates.
• Direct clinical inquiries requiring a pharmacist's professional judgment to a pharmacist.
• Answer inquiries not requiring a pharmacist's professional judgment.
• Assist in the training of pharmacy technicians, apprentices, and interns.
• Complete other pharmacy related duties in accordance with regulations under Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission
• Know and follow all Pharmacy Department and Fred Hutch policies and procedures, as well as all applicable state and federal laws.

Qualifications

Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• State of Washington Pharmacy Assistant License
• Ability to communicate verbally in person, on the phone, and in writing in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
• Ability to use pharmacy point of sale systems in an accurate and efficient manner.

Preferred:

• Previous experience in a pharmacy setting

PreEmployment Drug Screening:

As a condition of employment Fred Hutch conducts pre-employment drug testing for this pharmacy role. All offers of employment in the pharmacy department are conditional on the applicant successfully completing and passing a drug test in accordance with the Fred Hutch policy.

The hourly pay range for this position is from $22.22 to $31.63and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security.

• Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).

Additional Information

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at [e-mail] or by calling 206-667-4700.