Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - PRN - Stephenson Cancer Center (McAlester, OK location)

General Description:

The Inpatient Pharmacist III is an expert‑level practitioner responsible for advanced operational oversight, high‑level clinical decision‑making, and day‑to‑day leadership of assigned inpatient pharmacy units. This role ensures safe, efficient, and compliant medication‑use processes; supervises pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; resolves complex operational and clinical issues; and partners with nursing and physician leadership to optimize patient care, pharmacy workflow, and medication‑safety performance. The Inpatient Pharmacist III functions with full professional autonomy, supporting departmental strategy and driving high‑reliability pharmacy operations.

Essential Responsibilities:

Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position.  Inability to perform these responsibilities, with or without an accommodation, may result in disqualification from the position. 

Shared Responsibilities:

• Provide expert‑level oversight of medication order verification, compounding, and distribution to ensure accuracy, safety, and compliance with all USP, state, and federal requirements.

• Develop, monitor, and adjust staffing schedules; oversee timekeeping compliance; and coordinate immediate responses to unexpected staffing or workload changes.

• Lead daily operational workflow, identifying inefficiencies and implementing corrective actions to ensure consistent delivery of high‑quality pharmaceutical care.

• Oversee inventory management, ensuring accurate records, proper storage conditions, adequate supply levels, and prompt resolution of discrepancies.

• Ensure completion and accuracy of required quality‑control documentation, including temperature logs, laminar flow hood and biological safety cabinet checks, and medication storage inspections.

• Lead pharmacy huddles and facilitate clear, effective communication of priorities, operational updates, and safety information to the team.

• Serve as an expert resource for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to resolve problems, clarify medication therapy questions, and support high‑quality patient care.

• Serve as an expert preceptor and mentor for pharmacists, residents, technicians, and students, advancing competency and professional growth.

• Maintain expert knowledge of pharmacy practice standards, compounding requirements, medication‑use systems, and evolving clinical drug information.

• Support readiness for accreditation and regulatory surveys through active monitoring of compliance, documentation accuracy, and quality‑safety practices.

• Drive a culture of safety, quality, and evidence‑based practice through leadership, communication, and continuous process improvement.

Investigational Drug Studies (IDS) Pharmacist:

• Provide expert oversight and coordination of investigational drug services across the organization, serving as a subject matter expert in regulatory and operational requirements.

• Lead design, implementation, and maintenance of investigational drug workflows, accountability systems, and documentation processes.

• Direct strategic initiatives to expand and optimize research pharmacy operations, including technology integration, automation, billing workflows, and EHR alignment.

• Lead or participate in protocol development and review for investigational drug studies, ensuring safe handling, labeling, dispensing, and documentation.

• Provide advanced mentorship and performance feedback to IDS Pharmacist I and II staff, residents, and technicians involved in research workflows.

• Oversee initiation, conduct, and closure of complex or multi‑center trials, ensuring compliance with FDA, ICH‑GCP, IRB, and institutional standards.

• Offer expert consultation for investigational product preparation, blinding/unblinding, and placebo design as needed.

• Lead process‑improvement and technology‑enhancement initiatives for investigational drug tracking, temperature monitoring, or electronic logs.

Inpatient Pharmacist:

• Assist with controlled substance oversight, including audit trail review, discrepancy resolution, and compliance with security requirements.

• Lead or contribute to administrative duties such as special projects, process improvement initiatives, and departmental or organizational strategic goals.

• Coordinate response to security issues, complete required reporting, and reconcile discrepancies in accordance with organizational policy.

• Exercise advanced clinical and operational judgment to resolve complex or high‑risk medication‑use issues, workflow interruptions, and emergent patient‑care needs.

• Monitor unit operations for adherence to departmental policies, medication‑safety practices, and hospital standards, taking timely corrective action where gaps are identified.

General Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) or Bachelor of Pharmacy (D.Ph.) degree required.

Experience: At least 5 years of experience as a licensed pharmacist.

License(s)/Certification(s)/Registration(s) Required: Licensure as a Pharmacist by the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy required. Applicants without an active Oklahoma Pharmacist License must obtain licensure within 90 days of hire. Preceptor certification through the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy required within 18 months of hire

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

• Expert knowledge of inpatient pharmacy operations, sterile and non‑sterile compounding, and clinical medication‑use processes.

• Strong leadership abilities, including staff supervision, coaching, conflict resolution, and team development.

• Advanced clinical judgment and decision‑making skills, with the ability to resolve complex clinical and operational problems independently.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams at all levels.

• Deep understanding of hospital regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, controlled substance management, and medication‑safety principles.

• High proficiency with pharmacy information systems, automated dispensing technologies, compounding systems, and electronic health records.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, drive continuous improvement, and maintain high‑reliability operations in a dynamic inpatient healthcare environment.