Lead Pharmacy Technician, Perioperative Service

Lead Pharmacy Technician, Perioperative Services

The Lead Pharmacy Technician, Perioperative Services plays a critical role in supporting safe, timely, and high-quality medication care for our surgical patients. In this dynamic role, you'll be at the center of perioperative pharmacy operations, supporting operating rooms and procedural areas with essential medications that keep surgeries running smoothly. You'll use your advanced technical skills in pharmacy operations, sterile compounding, and controlled substance management while working closely with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and the perioperative teams.

As a leader, you'll help coordinate daily activities alongside pharmacists and pharmacy leadership, mentor and onboard new pharmacy technicians for perioperative medication processes. You'll also contribute to improving policies, procedures, and workflows that promote patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. This position is ideal for a motivated, detail-oriented technician who enjoys leading others, thrives in a fast-paced surgical environment, and wants to make a meaningful impact on patient care.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead and support quality improvement initiatives, oversee daily workflow, and provide technical direction within the designated pharmacy area while assisting in training pharmacy technicians.
2. Manage investigational drug activities, including procurement, accountability, storage, preparation, and distribution.
3. Develop and maintain workflow guidelines, policies, procedures, and tools to maximize productivity, standardize practice, and ensure regulatory readiness.
4. Provide effective communication and service excellence to patients, staff, and peers, consistently representing the department with professionalism.
5. Maintain accurate documentation, billing, inventory levels, and compliance records—including logs, controlled substance documentation, and pharmacy system data.
6. Ensure safe medication distribution processes, including cassette filling, emergency cart preparation, controlled substance delivery, and high-skill tasks such as sterile compounding or automation operations.
7. Uphold all regulatory standards for medication storage and handling, ensuring compliance with Federal and State laws, HIPAA, OSHA, The Joint Commission, and internal policies.

Qualifications:

• Completion of high school diploma or equivalent or completion of an accredited pharmacy technician program.
• Five years of experience as a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Operation Specialist.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in current position.
• Demonstrated competency in all detailed aspects of the Lead Pharmacist Technician's designated area:
• Create and evaluate policy, procedure, and training materials regarding operational workflow
• Take an active role in the training of fellow staff members in one's area of expertise.
• Previous experience in perioperative and sterile products preparation preferred
• Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances: Pharmacy Technician Certification required.
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran