Position overview

The Pharmacy sits within the Division of Medical Services. The CHS Pharmacy Department comprises a multidisciplinary team providing a broad range of clinical and operational services.

This position will work within Aseptic and Production Services to support the safe, efficient and compliant manufacture and supply of medicines. The service includes cytotoxic compounding, non-cytotoxic aseptic production (e.g. IV additives), parenteral nutrition, clinical trials manufacturing, non-sterile compounding and prepacking.

This role provides a mix of advanced operational production services and clinical liaison, contributing to high quality and cost-effective medicine use. A key focus is strengthening governance frameworks, supporting compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), optimising workflow efficiency, and contributing to workforce development through education and training.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Under limited direction of the Lead Pharmacist – Aseptic and Production and the Deputy Director of Pharmacy (Operations), you will work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, efficacious and patient-centred services. You will:

1. Provide advanced level pharmacy services across aseptic and production units, including cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic compounding, parenteral nutrition, clinical trials manufacturing, non-sterile compounding and prepacking.
2. Clinically review and validate prescriptions for compounded medicines, including parenteral nutrition, ensuring appropriateness prior to preparation, and undertake validation and release of compounded products within scope of practice.
3. Supervise day-to-day workflow within production areas, including oversight of pharmacy technicians and junior pharmacists, and act as shift lead as required to coordinate workload and escalate issues.
4. Ensure all production activities comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), CHS policies, and relevant professional standards, supporting maintenance of accreditation requirements.
5. Participate in governance and quality systems, and continuous improvement activities including internal and external audits, inspection readiness, and implementation of recommendations to maintain compliance.
6. Support environmental monitoring and contamination control processes, including interpretation of results and investigation and resolution of non-conformances.
7. Ensure adherence to Good Documentation Practice and maintenance of accurate and complete production records.
8. Provide expert advice on the safe, appropriate and timely use of compounded medicines, including liaison with clinical areas such as oncology, ICU and nutrition support services.
9. Prioritise workload and coordinate production activities to ensure timely supply of medicines and optimise efficiency, including minimisation of wastage of high-cost medicines.
10. Contribute to development and review of policies, procedures, protocols and standard operating procedures related to production services.
11. Support workforce capability through structured training, competency assessment and credentialing of pharmacy staff, and contribute to education activities.
12. Contribute to service development, innovation, and optimisation of facilities, workflows, equipment and production systems.
13. Liaise with quality assurance, technical and engineering services to support safe and compliant operation of aseptic facilities and equipment.
14. Provide services on weekends, public holidays and after hours, including participation in an on-call roster.
15. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

For a level 2 pharmacist position increment - able to demonstrate competency against the National Standards for Advanced Pharmacy Practice at the Transition Level.

For a level 3 pharmacist position increment - able to demonstrate competency against the National Standards for Advanced Pharmacy Practice at the Consolidation Level, which may include a post graduate qualification at diploma level or above.

The competencies defined within the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia¹ includes the following 5 Domains:

Domain 1: Professionalism and ethics

To comply with legislative standards, including a legal responsibility to work within their competence, and commit to life-long learning and professional development to maintain and build competence. And to uphold ethical standards, demonstrate the professional behaviours reasonably expected of a registered health professional and strive to improve quality and safety within the health system.

Domain 2: Communication and collaboration

To communicate and work effectively with professional colleagues, patients (which includes carers, guardians, and families), other clients as well as members of the general public.

Domain 3: Medicines management and patient care

Apply their expertise to promote wellness or work in direct consultation with patients or in collaboration with other health professionals to improve health. Including participation in public health and health promotion activities, the assessment of patients to develop a patient-centered medication management plan and the provision of medicines (prescription and non-prescription) and compounded products.

Domain 4: Leadership and management

Demonstrate self-leadership as well as their leadership role in sharing a vision for the future and promoting the use of initiative and innovation to respond to change and drive progress. This includes applying management skills to undertake organisational and business planning, including the management of finances, human and other resources, the professional environment, and the service delivery arrangements.

Domain 5: Education and research

To contribute to the education of professional colleagues. Including the ability to analyse and synthesise information from medical and pharmaceutical literature, identify and respond to gaps in the evidence-base by conducting research, share research findings and apply evidence in practice.

Reference: 1.  National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia. Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. 2016.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or eligible for registration as a Pharmacist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• A postgraduate qualification at diploma level or above in a field relevant to the role. e.g. clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical science)
• AdPha Foundation Residency or Advanced Training Residency Program
• Formalised certification in a pharmacy specialty such as that offered by the US Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties
• Training or certification relevant to aseptic compounding or production services

Experience

Essential

Experience of working professionally as a registered pharmacist in an Australian hospital environment (or in a country where reciprocal arrangements apply with the Australian Pharmaceutical Council Competency Stream Skills Assessment method).

The successful applicant will be appointed to the relevant level 2 or 3 pharmacist position increment based on their qualifications and experience:

• For a level 2 pharmacist position increment – minimum of 3 years’ full time equivalent experience as a registered pharmacist in a hospital setting (as previously defined) including 6 months in aseptic production.
• For a level 3 pharmacist position increment – minimum of 4 years’ full time equivalent experience as a registered pharmacist in a hospital setting (as previously defined) including 2 years full time equivalent experience in aseptic manufacturing.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.
• Experience in cytotoxic and aseptic compounding
• Familiarity with GMP principles and production standards
• Experience in quality improvement, governance or workflow optimisation initiatives
• Demonstrated emerging or established leadership capability as a hospital pharmacist
• Developed or emerging leadership skills and motivation with the ability to participate in the department's quality improvement projects, educational programs, and research activities.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work, including on call and working across hospital sites as necessary.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Demonstrated high level knowledge, expertise and skills in aseptic and production pharmacy services, including cytotoxic compounding, aseptic manufacturing and parenteral nutrition, with application of relevant standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and quality management systems.
2. Demonstrated understanding of governance and compliance frameworks, including environmental monitoring, deviation management, audit processes, and adherence to relevant professional and regulatory standards (e.g. AdPha guidelines, Pharmacy Board requirements).
3. High level interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with multidisciplinary teams and provide expert advice on the safe, appropriate and timely use of compounded medicines.
4. Demonstrated leadership, supervision and contribution to service improvement, including staff development, workflow optimisation, quality improvement initiatives, medication safety activities, and participation in policy development, research and accreditation processes.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.