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Pharmacy Technician, Research

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

BOSTON, MAJob$53–64K/yrSeen 4 days agoSeen in employer's feed 4 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$53–64K/yr
Location
BOSTON, MA
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician Registration Or Trainee RegistrationPTCB Certification Or Massachusetts Pharmacy Intern License

Job overview

The Pharmacy Technician I, Research provides technical support to research pharmacy operations under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The role handles medication orders, inventory, investigational drugs, and sterile and non-sterile compounding, while supporting research pharmacy processes and compliance. Prior pharmacy technician work experience is not required. Candidates need a high school diploma or equivalent and Massachusetts pharmacy registration or trainee status, with certification or an intern-license pathway specified.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Pharmaceutical CalculationsPharmacy Technology SystemsAseptic TechniqueSterile CompoundingNon-Sterile CompoundingTroubleshootingTeamworkOral CommunicationWritten CommunicationCritical ThinkingAttention to DetailClinical Research SystemsSponsor Visit SupportRegulatory Audit Support

Qualifications

High School Diploma or EquivalentMassachusetts Pharmacy Technician Registration or Trainee RegistrationPTCB Certification or Massachusetts Pharmacy Intern License

Full job description

The Pharmacy Department at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute places emphasis on the values of reliability, professionalism, cooperation, teamwork, communication, positivity and inclusiveness. The Pharmacy Technician I, Research is responsible for providing technical support to research pharmacy operations under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

  • Practices as a pharmacy technician in accordance with all federal, state, DFCI and Joint Commission policies, regulations and standards

  • Fills medication orders according to policy, while gaining proficiency with advanced preparations

  • Ensures timely completion of medication orders and/or supplies

  • Utilizes multiple systems such as EHR (Electronic Health Record, Inventory Management Systems and other clinical research systems to complete and document duties. Troubleshoots as necessary

  • Maintains the Pharmacy inventory: sorting, stocking, rotation of stock, expiration date managing, and cycle counting

  • Performs and document quality control steps as required

  • Performs cleaning of sterile and non-sterile areas of the pharmacy as assigned

  • Trains other employees as assigned

  • Communicates and escalates issues or problems

  • Participates in department meetings and functions to promote a successful and efficient pharmacy workgroup

  • May be assigned to cross-cover other locations or areas (e.g. materials management, outpatient, infusion, clean rooms, etc.)

  • Performs other duties as assigned

  • Receives, barcodes, transfers, and destroys investigational drugs in research pharmacy accountability system

  • Performs sterile compounding of hazardous drugs in compliance with USP <797>, USP <800>, DFCI policies and procedures and research protocols, including complex compounding processes such as serial dilution, mixing multiple ingredients, etc.

  • Ensures compliance with shared DF/HCC policies regarding investigational storage, handling, transferring of investigational product

  • Files all paperwork pertaining to inventory control activities

  • Ensures all study medications are maintained in an organized fashion to enable respective staff to clearly identify location of study supply

  • May be assigned to areas of Research Pharmacy such as receiving, processing, monitor visits, clean room, the outpatient pharmacy, or the Chestnut Hill location

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  • Ability to accurately perform pharmaceutical calculations

  • Ability to utilize pharmacy technology systems

  • Ability to develop proficiency and mastery in aseptic technique and the compounding of sterile products

  • Ability to develop proficiency and mastery in compounding of non-sterile products

  • Ability to independently troubleshoot issues and assist in resolution or escalation to the appropriate resource

  • Ability to effectively work within a collaborative team-focused environment

  • Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing

  • Demonstrated critical thinking skills (ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment)

  • Strong attention to detail

  • Ability to utilize clinical research platforms/systems

  • Ability to support sponsor visits and regulatory audits

  • Ability of analytical skills and critical thinking

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Prior work experience as a pharmacy technician is not required. The position also requires Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy Registration as a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Technician Trainee. National Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCB) must be obtained within 2 years of hire, or a Massachusetts Pharmacy Intern License is required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

PATIENT CONTACT: None

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

EEO Poster

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Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

$53,019.20 - $64,313.60

How this job compares

Set against the 13,683 open Pharmacy Technician jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 28, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$53–64K/yr
  • US median$45–72K/yr225 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $59K, is close to the US median midpoint ($58K) — in the middle half of Pharmacy Technician salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 427 open Pharmacy Technician jobs in Massachusetts and 13,683 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Massachusetts
Experience
Pharmacy Technician postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median (2,627 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a high school diploma; 5,060 of the 13,683 open Pharmacy Technician jobs (37%) ask for a high school diploma or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 28, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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