Senior Pharmacist - Integration Improvement and Liaison

• Pharmacy Services, Waikato Hospital
• Permanent, full time
• This unique and varied role offers an opportunity to improve medicines safety and patient care at the interface between hospital and community.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As Senior Pharmacist - Integration Improvement and Liaison, you will contribute to initiatives focused on medicines safety and improving transitions of care. This role provides an opportunity to identify opportunities for improvement, develop practical solutions and support best practice in medicines management. From supporting improvement in prescribing processes to identifying trends in discharge prescription errors, you will help implement changes that make a difference.

As a point of contact for pharmacists and prescribers, you will help resolve prescribing and dispensing issues for individual patients, support the safe and effective use of medicines, and help strengthen relationships between hospital and community. Collaborate with hospital teams and external stakeholders to address emerging medicines-related issues and improve systems and processes. 

You will provide education and support to prescribers, answer medicine information queries and contribute to the development and review of resources such as guidelines.

You may work in our on-site community pharmacy at times. Clinical service provision to a selected area at transition of care may also be an option. 

This role includes occasional weekend dispensary shifts compensated at overtime rates, plus participation in the on-call roster as needed.

Key responsibilities:

• Pharmacy contact for resolving questions or issues pertaining to community dispensed hospital prescriptions or patient admissions.
• Contribute to or lead initiatives that support prescribing practices, medicine management and safety at transitions of care.
• Liaise with relevant community healthcare providers regarding developments and issues of mutual interest.
• Provide orientation and education to new prescribers.
• Clinical service provision to selected area at transition of care may be an option.

The salary for this position will be based on experience and in line with the PSA Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical agreement. Additional benefits include kiwisaver contributions (if eligible), professional development, wellbeing support, and access to a range of Health New Zealand staff benefits and national discount programmes.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Service

Health New Zealand Waikato Pharmacy Services provides services to Waikato Hospital and to rural hospitals and care units across the Waikato district. The pharmacy provides a wide range of services through its five teams: Clinical Services, Dispensary and Supply, Oncology, Haematology and Compounding Service, Quality and Safe Use of Medicines (QSUM), and our onsite community pharmacy service, Pharmacy on Meade. This position is based in the QSUM team. 

About Hamilton

Waikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton and is a leading tertiary teaching hospital located in Hamilton, New Zealand, serving as the regional hub for the Midland area, which includes the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, and Taranaki districts. With around 722 inpatient beds, 22 operating theatres, and a dedicated outpatient clinic and procedure centre, Waikato Hospital provides comprehensive hospital services, including radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. As a major teaching hospital with affiliations to the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, and Wintec, it offers a dynamic learning environment and access to research opportunities. The hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities located on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus, with both road and air ambulance support.

Hamilton, where Waikato Hospital is situated, is a vibrant city nestled alongside the scenic Waikato River, offering a perfect mix of nature and culture. Explore the stunning Hamilton Gardens, home to themed gardens from Italy to Asia, or visit the Waikato Museum to delve into the region's rich history. The city also boasts the Hamilton Zoo, where you can walk through an aviary filled with native birds. Hamilton is a lively hub, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, along with events like rugby, cricket, and the famous National Agricultural Fieldays and Balloons over Waikato festival. With its vibrant atmosphere and proximity to outdoor adventures, Hamilton is an ideal place to live and work.

For more information on living and working in Waikato click here

About you

You will be a motivated and collaborative pharmacist who enjoys building relationships, solving problems and finding ways to improve medicines safety and patient care. You will be comfortable working across healthcare settings and communicating with a range of healthcare professionals.

Skills and experience youll need to be considered for the role:

• A New Zealand-registered pharmacist.
• At least five years previous pharmacy experience, ideally including both community and hospital pharmacy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied workload.
• A flexible and proactive approach, with an interest in identifying opportunities for service improvement.
• Confidence interacting with a range of health professionals and addressing medication-related issues constructively.
• An interest in medicines safety, quality improvement, education and improving transitions of care.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click Apply online or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59 pm on 16 November 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Rachael Devey at Rachael.Devey@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.