Careers for pharmacists

Help us to decide what medicines to fund, manage medical devices in hospitals, write policy, or keep Pharmac running behind the scenes.

Pharmacist? Join Pharmac!

There are many career opportunities available to pharmacists at Pharmac.

We support our kaimahi to flourish and reach their career aspirations. We are a whānau centred organisation and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

We offer benefits like 5 weeks of annual leave, hybrid working, and a hau ora payment to support your wellbeing.

Hear from our kaimahi

Sophie Molloy is a young woman with brown curly hair. She is looking to the right, has a small smile on her face and is wearing large rounded glasses..

Sophie Molloy, Funding Application Advisor

“I enjoy the range of applications I work on. They include anything from vaccines to rheumatoid arthritis treatments. Working with people from backgrounds that differ from my own also means that there are many different perspectives to learn from! It also means that the on-the-ground knowledge I bring as a community pharmacist is highly valued.”

 

EJ is a young man with dark, short black hair. He is smiling and looking slightly to the right..

EJ Gariando, Schedule Advice Lead

“The flexibility that my role provides is a huge change from being a pharmacist. I am now able to provide advice on regulations, manage pharmaceutical enquiries, and build relationships with key stakeholders, all in the comfort of my home - as the role allows me to occasionally work remotely. The fact that I don’t have to be on my feet for more than 8+ hours a day has also been a massive bonus.”

 

Hannah Arnold is a young woman with long blonde hair. She is looking to the right and has a small smile on her face..

Hannah Arnold, Therapeutic Group Manager

“The skills I have developed as a pharmacist are essential to my work as a Therapeutic Group Manager at Pharmac. My pharmacist background helps me to bring a different perspective to the work we do and how this impacts New Zealanders, which is highly valued by my colleagues.”

Roles frequently filled by pharmacists

Schedule Analyst Co-ordinate Pharmaceutical Schedule changes and publications
Schedule Advice Lead Provide advice for Pharmaceutical Schedule enquiries
Tender Analyst Co-ordinate the annual tender process
Therapeutic Group Manager Lead and manage our strategies and decision-making processes for funding and expenditure management, within assigned therapeutic groups
Schedule Development Manager Lead the development and continual improvement of the Pharmaceutical Schedule
Funding Application Advisors Appraise and manage applications for the funding of pharmaceuticals
Exceptions Advisor Coordinate and manage applications for funding of
pharmaceuticals for individuals under the Exceptional
Circumstances Framework
Device Category Manager Lead and manage Pharmac’s processes for device funding and expenditure management
Contract Manager Monitor, analyse, and manage supplier contracts
Procurement Manager Establish national agreements and develop market approaches
Project Advisor Plan and lead projects relating to funding applications and process improvements

Apply for a role at Pharmac

We’re proud of the role we play to protect and improve the wellbeing of New Zealand.

Apply for a role at Pharmac(external link)

TupuToa Internships

Each year we offer three paid TupuToa internships for registered Māori and Pacific tauira. These are twelve weeks long - from November to February. 

The TupuToa Internship Programme(external link)

Hiwinui Heke Scholarships

In partnership with the Māori Pharmacists’ Association, Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Puna Rongoā o Aotearoa (MPA) and Pharmac, this scholarship was established to support the education of Māori pharmacy students studying toward their Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, and to promote pharmacy as a career.

Hiwinui Heke Scholarship