NICU Clinical Pharmacist Specialist

Location: Houston, TX 77030
Employment Type: Full-Time
Category: Pharmacy

** Only local candidates will be considered**

About the Organization

Our client is a leading healthcare organization dedicated to delivering high-quality, efficient, and compassionate care to patients and families throughout the community. The organization operates a comprehensive children's hospital with a 118-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and provides specialized care across a broad range of pediatric services.

The organization is committed to clinical excellence, patient safety, innovation, professional development, and collaborative care. Its children's hospital has received national recognition for clinical excellence, including strong rankings for pediatric specialties and recognition for the quality of its neonatal services.

The Pharmacy team works closely with physicians, nurses, residents, students, and other healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based medication management and improve patient outcomes.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a residency-trained Clinical Pharmacist to join its 118-bed NICU team. This position will provide specialized clinical pharmacy services to critically ill neonatal patients while collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary care team.

The ideal candidate will have PGY2 residency training, preferably in pediatrics/neonatal pharmacy, or a PGY1 residency with 2–3 years of NICU experience.

The position is scheduled for five 8-hour day shifts per week, with an on-call rotation approximately every 8–9 weeks.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive clinical pharmacy services to NICU patients and healthcare professionals.
  
• Develop, implement, and monitor clinical pharmacy programs designed to improve patient outcomes and medication safety.
  
• Participate in multidisciplinary patient care and serve as a clinical resource for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, residents, and students.
  
• Evaluate medication therapy and recommend appropriate drug regimens based on clinical evidence.
  
• Identify and implement opportunities for medication-use improvement and cost containment.
  
• Develop and evaluate drug utilization, restricted-drug, and medication-use programs.
  
• Conduct utilization reviews for expensive, high-risk, or potentially inappropriate medications.
  
• Participate in clinical research and quality-improvement initiatives evaluating clinical and economic outcomes.
  
• Educate and mentor pharmacy students, residents, and pharmacy staff.
  
• Support pharmacy residency and student training programs and serve as a preceptor when appropriate.
  
• Develop and deliver educational programs for physicians, nurses, and pharmacy professionals.
  
• Collaborate with internal teams to improve clinical pharmacy services continually.
  
• Maintain effective communication between the pharmacy department and patient-care teams.
  
• Help ensure continuity of medication management between the NICU, Pharmacy, and other care settings.
  
• Participate in orientation, continuing education, competency programs, and professional development activities.
  
• Promote safe, compassionate, personalized, and efficient patient care.
  
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
  

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy with equivalent experience, or
  
• Clinically oriented Master of Science degree, or
  
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).
  
• Completion of an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency or fellowship is preferred, or equivalent clinical experience.
  

License & Certification

• Active Texas Pharmacist License required.
  
• Pharmacy sterile-product certification through an in-house program or another appropriately accredited program.
  

Experience & Skills

• Strong clinical pharmacy knowledge and patient-care skills.
  
• Experience working in a hospital or healthcare environment.
  
• Strong understanding of pharmacy and hospital information systems.
  
• Ability to work effectively with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, residents, students, and other healthcare professionals.
  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  
• Ability to promote teamwork and build effective professional relationships.
  
• Strong customer-service orientation.
  
• Ability to lead or facilitate multidisciplinary work groups.
  
• Familiarity with the healthcare reimbursement environment.
  
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• PGY2 residency training in Pediatrics, Neonatal Pharmacy, or a related specialty.
  
• OR PGY1 residency with 2–3 years of direct NICU experience.
  
• Previous experience providing clinical pharmacy services in a Level III/IV NICU or comparable neonatal-care environment.
  
• Experience with neonatal medication management, clinical protocols, medication safety, pharmacotherapy, and drug-utilization programs.
  
• Previous experience preceding pharmacy students or residents.
  
• Clinical research or quality-improvement experience.
  
• Experience developing educational programs for healthcare professionals.