SC
START Center for Cancer Research
Los Angeles, California

Clinical Pharmacist PRN

PharmacistNo weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$100-$115/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

The START Center for Cancer Research (“START”) is the world’s largest early phase site network, fully dedicated to oncology clinical research. Throughout our history, START has provided hope to cancer patients in global community practices by offering "Hope Through Access” to cutting edge trials throughout the United States and Europe.

We are hiring a Clinical Pharmacist, Investigational Drug Section (IDS) (California and/or Per Diem ONLY).

The Clinical Pharmacist PRN is responsible for all facets of medication order verification, dispensing and documentation process for investigational drugs, conventional chemotherapy and supportive care medications provided by the IDS.

The pharmacist may be involved in the provision of pharmaceutical care including assisting with patient interviews, maintenance of current medication lists, providing patient medication education, providing drug information to the healthcare team and patients.

The pharmacist will practice with a high degree of autonomy, guided by IDS SOPs and quality assurance verification guidelines. This role is responsible for the daily supervision of staff assigned to medication preparation, dispensing, and operation of the IDS in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.

The annual base salary for this role is $100/hour- $115/hour. However, base pay may vary depending on multiple individualized factors including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Work Schedule

  • M-F, Minimum 1-2 days per week (8 hour shifts) with potential for additional shifts based on business need.
  • Location: Los Angeles, California

Essential Responsibilities

Verify medication orders including accuracy of dosages and calculations, review of basic patient eligibility criteria, including but not limited to accurately signed / dated study consent form(s), laboratory values within treatment criteria, all appropriate tests have been completed, resolution of known toxicity from previous chemotherapy, and an absence of serious known drug interactions.

Oversee the preparation and dispensing of all medications from the IDS, including supervision of certified pharmacy technicians during preparation of IV admixtures and oral medication dosages, insuring compliance with all steps of the double-check verification process prior to releasing dosages from the IDS.

Provide pharmaceutical care including patient medication and supportive care counseling, and drug information to the healthcare team and patients.

Oversee drug inventories including documentation of current inventory, projection of expected usage in concert with ordering, receiving, storage and dispensation tracking of Phase I and conventional medications.

Assist pharmacy technicians in maintaining adequate investigational documentation, records, weekly inventory, and interactions with study personnel

  • Review new protocol(s), protocol amendments and associated forms.
  • Maintain and generate reports using the IDS drug accountability program.

Contribute to the effective operation of the pharmacy department. Enter accurate medication computer order entries and accurate maintenance of reported patient home medications in the EMR.

Required Education and Experience

  • Graduate of an ACPE accredited School of Pharmacy.
  • Current State license.
  • Previous hospital/clinic pharmacy experience.
  • Familiarity with sterile compounding requirements for chemotherapy agents, USP<797>, USP<800>, laminar airflow hood(s) / biological safety cabinet(s); telephone and copier / scanner / facsimile machine.
  • Computer skills, including use Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Power Point and Access.
  • Familiarity with the use of electronic medical record program(s), pharmacy software programs and study IRT systems.
  • Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles.

Preferred Education and Experience

  • Sterile compounding & chemotherapy certification.
  • Intravenous sterile product training.
  • Prior experience in clinical trials and management of investigational drugs.
  • Specialty residency in oncology and/or current BPS Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP).

More About START

START clinical trial sites have conducted more than 1,000 early-phase clinical trials, including dozens of therapies that were approved by the FDA or EMA. START represents the world’s largest roster of early-phase principal investigators across its Network of clinical trial sites.

Committed to accelerating passage from trials to treatments, START delivers hope to patients, families, and physicians around the world via our mission of “Hope Through Access”.

As an example, in San Antonio, where START was founded, START treated the first patient ever with Keytruda – one of the most effective cancer drugs in medical history.

Learn more at STARTresearch.com.

Ready to be part of a team changing the future of cancer treatment?

Join us in our mission to conquer cancer, one clinical trial at a time. Your expertise and dedication can help us bring hope and healing to patients worldwide. Please submit your application online.

We are an equal opportunity employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Key Responsibilities

Responsible for medication order verification, dispensing, and documentation of investigational drugs and chemotherapy. Oversees the daily operation of the IDS, including the supervision of pharmacy technicians and drug inventory management.

Requirements

Requires a degree from an ACPE accredited School of Pharmacy and a current state license. Experience in hospital pharmacy, sterile compounding, and familiarity with GCP principles are required.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Investigational Drug DispensingPatient CounselingClinical Trial ManagementElectronic Medical Records (EMR)Oncology Pharmacy

Oncology — Pharmacist Career Context

Of the 40 active Oncology listings this role was benchmarked against, 33% are remote, 50% have no call, 65% require no weekends.

In California, the Oncology weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$177k (20 salary observations; 46 listings), vs ~$148k nationally (180 salary observations; 527 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-03-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Oncology pay on WeekdayDoc is down 4.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

START Center for Cancer Research holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 80/100, 14 active listings.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Clinical Pharmacist PRN at START Center for Cancer Research a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Oncology (Pharmacy) — ranked against 149 active Oncology (Pharmacy) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top contract/1099 Pharmacist Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution32 jobs · 31 employers

9
<$170k
13
$170k-190k
5
$190k-210k
5
$210k-230k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks25 jobs

401k / retirement match
92%
Sign-on bonus
20%
CME allowance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$91.56-$123.6/hr
#2

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Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 6.0
Better work-life than 70% of Oncology (Pharmacy) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 149 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Los Angeles

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$923k
Typical market rent
$2,778/mo
Residents’ average commute
31 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.