Pharmacy Technician - Regular and Per Diem Pool

County of Ventura, CA; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational Incentive

Bilingual Incentive

Merit Increases

Deferred Compensation

Health Plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Pension Plan

Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Disability Plans

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance

Job summary

Ventura County Health Care Agency is hiring a Pharmacy Technician to assist in medication preparation and distribution under pharmacist supervision. The role supports outpatient, inpatient, or infusion pharmacy operations across Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital.

No experience is required, but candidates must possess and maintain a California Pharmacy Technician License. The position offers full-time or part-time options with comprehensive benefits and a union-negotiated

Qualifications

• Must possess and maintain a current California Pharmacy Technician License.
• No experience required.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Answer and triage phone calls for the pharmacy department.
• Transcribe physician orders to medication profiles and assemble orders for pharmacist review.
• Fill initial drug orders and deliver medications to nursing units after pharmacist review.
• Package, label, and prepare drugs in unit dose forms using packaging equipment.
• Maintain inventory and stock, including handling of controlled substances per policies.

Skills

Clear communication

Pharmacy terminology

Aseptic technique

Pharmacy calculations

Computer skills

Education

California Pharmacy Technician License

Tools

Sterile compounding hood

Unit-dose packaging machines

Electronic health record (EHR)

Job description

The Ventura County Health Care Agency (HCA) is an integrated public health care system committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to the diverse communities of Ventura County through its hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, behavioral health services, public health programs, and health plan. The agency includes Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), the county’s premier academic teaching hospital and designated Level II Trauma Center, and Santa Paula Hospital (SPH), a modern community hospital that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, including emergency care and specialty services. Together, VCMC and SPH are dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care, advancing medical education, and improving the health and well‑being of Ventura County residents.

THE POSITION

Under direct supervision of a registered pharmacist, the incumbent performs a variety of tasks to assist in the operation of the Ventura County Medical Center/Santa Paula Hospital Outpatient, Inpatient or Oncology Infusion Pharmacy.

WHAT WE OFFER

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package to full‑time & part‑time employees. Aside from our base salary range, an employee within this position may also be eligible for the following:

• Educational Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree that is not required for the classification.
• Bilingual Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending on the applicable memorandum of agreement and the needs of the department. In order to qualify for this incentive, incumbents in eligible positions must take and pass the applicable bilingual fluency exam with a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher. Proficiency levels by exam are $0.69/hour (Level I), $1.00/hour (Level II), or $1.32/hour (Level III).
• Merit Increases - New employees serving their initial County service probationary period are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately six months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. If you participate in the County sponsored 401(k) plan, the County will match a part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per pay period basis. Following five (5) years of continuous County service, an additional 2% non‑elective contribution will be made to the 401(k) plan.
• Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical plan under the County’s Flexible Benefits Program. County now pays 100% of dental, and vision premiums.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre‑tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participate in the County's defined benefit pension plan that provides lifetime payments to retirees. Members are "vested" after attaining five years of retirement service credit. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.
• To learn more about the benefits, please follow the link: https://vcportal.venturacounty.gov/CEO/HR/MOA/docs/SEIU_MOA_2025-2029.pdf (Download PDF reader)

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Pharmacy Technician is responsible for medication preparation and distribution under the guidance and supervision of the Pharmacists, Pharmacy Supervisor, and/or Director of Pharmacy Services.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES

Pharmacy Technician - $22.61 - $31.65 Hourly

Pharmacy Technician PDP - $33.63 Hourly

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT

Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center/Santa Paula Hospital

Pharmacy Technician is represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

NOTE: This classification is within a bargaining unit that is subject to an agency shop arrangement which mandates a Regular employee to either join Local 721 of SEIU and pay dues as a member OR either pay a service fee to Local 721 or direct that an amount equivalent to the service fee be distributed to a qualified charitable organization.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed‑term), Intermittent, Per Diem Pool, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one (1) regular vacancy.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE: 8/12/2026

CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.

(Previously: 8/26/2026 at 5:00 p.m.)

DUTIES

• Answers and triages phone calls made to the pharmacy department;
• Transcribes physician orders to medication profiles and assemble orders for pharmacist review;
• Fills initial drug order and deliver medication(s) to nursing units and other patient care areas after review by the pharmacist;
• Uses a variety of packaging machines, weighing, labeling, and measuring devices to package/tag or otherwise prepares drugs in unit dose forms;
• Performs non‑discretionary aspects of dispensing function in an outpatient pharmacy;
• Maintains stock and removes expired medication(s) from the automated dispensing cabinets or floor stock in various units throughout the hospital including proper handling of controlled substances according to hospital policies and procedures;
• Operates computer terminal for order entry, label generation, and documentation;
• Cleans and maintains sterile compounding hood and sterile compounding areas daily according to established policies and procedures;
• Maintains adequate inventory of supplies, drugs, and equipment necessary for sterile compounding;
• Prepares and labels compounded sterile products including chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs using proper aseptic techniques;
• Processes medication charges or credits when appropriate;
• Assists in preparation and maintenance of department records;
• Assists in maintenance of inventory and stock, including ordering, distributing, receiving, unpacking, marking, pricing, controlling, and record keeping;
• Performs and documents monthly unit inspection of assigned area(s) for medication outdates and cleanliness;
• Works closely with providers, nursing staff, patient, patient’s family, and outpatient pharmacies in obtaining best possible medication history for newly admitted patients including proper documentation on the electronic health record;
• Reports to immediate supervisor of any malfunctioning equipment;
• Observes and reports to immediate supervisor any unusual circumstances including those relating to drugs, drug requests, usage, or security within the hospital;
• Assists in maintaining the pharmacy work areas in a neat, clean, and orderly condition; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and ensure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

No experience required; however, candidate must possess and maintain a current California Pharmacy Technician License.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to lift 25 pounds.

DESIRED

• Experience in an inpatient pharmacy setting with knowledge of general inpatient pharmacy procedures and practices

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• basic medical terminology and abbreviations;
• methods and procedures involved in proper handling and storing of pharmaceutical and supplies;
• basic pharmaceutical nomenclature;
• state and federal pharmacy regulations as they pertain to specific assignments;
• units of measurement by weight and volume;
• basic arithmetic;
• aseptic technique and manipulation of sterile solution;
• aseptic method of intravenous product preparation.

Skill/Ability to

• use basic weight and measuring devices;
• perform weighing, measuring, compounding pharmaceuticals, and document with accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness;
• perform routine mathematical calculations;
• operate a computer;
• type simple forms, records, and reports;
• understand and apply policies and procedures pertaining to the job assignments;
• communicate clearly and effectively;
• understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• work cooperatively with hospital staff and patients;
• lift up to 25 lbs.

FINAL FILING DATE

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

(Previously: Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.)

APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying

All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%

A job-related written examination will be administered to test candidates' knowledge of generic drug names, pharmacy calculations, pharmacy procedures, conversions, filing, and interpersonal relationships. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

How to Prepare for a Written Test: https://hr.venturacounty.gov/how-to-apply/written-test

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Vivian Merida via email at [e-mail] or by telephone at [phone].

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.