Lead Pharmacist - Clinical Trials

About Austin Health and the Pharmacy Department

Austin Health is a leading provider of tertiary healthcare services, professional education, and research, operating across three campuses in Melbourne's north-east and serving the wider state. The institution values a diverse, highly engaged, and collaborative workforce unified by the mission of promoting healthy, fulfilling lives.

The Pharmacy Department, situated under the Division of the Chief Medical Officer, delivers comprehensive and high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients at Austin Health. The team comprises pharmacists, technicians, and support personnel working across all campuses to ensure effective medicines management and excellent patient care.

Role Overview

The Lead Pharmacist - Clinical Trials is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and expert leadership in Clinical Trials Pharmacy Services. This role ensures the safe, compliant, and efficient handling of investigational medicines throughout the clinical trial lifecycle, including ethics submissions and international audits. Managing over 300 commercial and investigator-led studies, the position oversees study initiation, investigational product oversight, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, financial management, workforce leadership, and service advancement. Collaboration with investigators, sponsors, research personnel, and executive leaders is essential to drive patient safety, clinical governance, innovation, and continuous improvement aligned with legal, ethical, and accreditation standards.

Candidate Profile

• At least 8 years of experience as a hospital pharmacist, with proven leadership roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in clinical trials pharmacy with increasing responsibility over a minimum of five years.
• Strong administrative and organizational aptitude, capable of effective communication and collaboration with pharmacy teams and other healthcare professionals.
• Experienced in management functions including financial oversight, human resources, and workforce leadership.
• Proficient interpersonal skills including communication, negotiation, team-building, and conflict resolution.
• Dedicated to patient safety and clinical excellence.
• Resilient under pressure, adept at prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of hospital pharmacy services.
• Familiarity with drug and therapeutics committees, medication safety initiatives, quality use of medicines, continuous quality improvement, and risk management procedures.
• Committed to ongoing professional development and staying current with best practices.

Benefits

• Enhanced net income through extensive salary packaging for living costs, meals, and holiday accommodation.
• Access to wellness programs including discounted gym memberships, health insurance offers, and comprehensive wellbeing initiatives.
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, convenient public transport access, and parking facilities.
• Opportunities for mentoring and career progression.

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity

Austin Health embraces cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and promotes an inclusive environment welcoming applicants from diverse backgrounds including disability, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+, various ages, and cultures. All candidates passionate about healthcare and willing to grow are encouraged to apply.

Additional Requirements

Appointments are conditional on successful National Police Check and, where applicable, a Working With Children Check. Austin Health is committed to upholding child safety standards and ensuring recruitment accessibility through reasonable adjustments upon request.

Application Details

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as applications will be reviewed continuously and the position may close prior to the stated deadline. For inquiries or accommodations in the recruitment process, contact the Deputy Director Pharmacy (Operations), Jennifer Rivera.