Compounding Operations Manager

Pharmacy.ca | Toronto, Ontario

Full-Time | In Person

Reports to: General Manager

Technical & Regulatory Oversight: Designated Pharmacy Manager

About Pharmacy.ca

Pharmacy.ca is an independently owned specialty pharmacy providing patient-centred pharmaceutical care and specialized compounding services. Our operations include a dedicated non-sterile compounding laboratory supporting individualized medications, batch production, and specialized pharmaceutical services.

We are seeking an experienced Compounding Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our non-sterile compounding laboratory and help build the next stage of our growing operation.

This is a hands-on leadership position for a pharmacist or highly experienced pharmaceutical compounding professional who combines strong technical knowledge with the ability to lead people, manage production, improve processes, and take ownership of operational performance.

For the right candidate, this role offers a long-term leadership path with potential progression into broader senior leadership responsibilities as the organization grows.

The Opportunity

The Compounding Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, organized, and compliant operation of the compounding laboratory.

Working closely with the Designated Pharmacy Manager, General Manager, and pharmacy team, you will oversee production, people, inventory, purchasing, equipment, documentation, and continuous improvement.

This is not a purely administrative management position. The successful candidate must be comfortable being hands-on in the laboratory when required, while also developing the people, systems, processes, and operational discipline needed to support a growing compounding operation.

We are looking for someone who takes ownership, identifies problems before they become larger issues, and can make sound operational decisions without requiring constant direction.

Key Responsibilities

Compounding & Production Operations

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the non-sterile compounding laboratory.
• Oversee compounding, batch production, and specialized production activities.
• Participate directly in compounding and production activities when operationally required.
• Ensure production is completed according to approved formulations, SOPs, quality procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure appropriate materials, equipment, documentation, and trained personnel are available for scheduled production.
• Monitor production quality, accuracy, timelines, and workflow.
• Investigate production errors, deficiencies, and process issues and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and compliant production environment.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Lead, supervise, train, coach, and develop Compounding Assistants.
• Recruit and support the onboarding of new laboratory personnel.
• Assign responsibilities based on production requirements, employee capabilities, and workload.
• Monitor productivity, quality, attendance, and performance.
• Conduct probationary and annual performance reviews.
• Provide ongoing coaching and address performance or conduct concerns appropriately.
• Develop cross-training and staff capability to strengthen operational flexibility.
• Create a positive, collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture.

Production Planning & Labour Management

• Develop production schedules based on workload, priorities, capacity, staffing, and required timelines.
• Match staffing levels and employee hours to production requirements while maintaining productivity and controlling labour costs.
• Identify workflow constraints, bottlenecks, and capacity issues.
• Adjust priorities and resources as production requirements change.
• Establish practical processes that improve throughput, consistency, and efficiency.

Inventory, Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Manage APIs, excipients, packaging materials, and production supplies.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing stock-outs, excess inventory, expiry, and obsolete materials.
• Monitor supplier lead times and upcoming production requirements.
• Source and evaluate suppliers based on quality, price, reliability, lead time, and continuity of supply.
• Obtain and compare quotations and identify opportunities for cost savings.
• Develop alternative sourcing options to reduce supply-chain risk.
• Maintain accurate inventory records and support regular physical inventory counts and valuations.

SOPs, Documentation, Quality & Compliance

• Develop, write, implement, review, and maintain SOPs, work instructions, production records, logs, forms, and related documentation.
• Ensure employees are trained and competent in applicable procedures.
• Maintain strong documentation and quality-control practices.
• Ensure production activities are properly documented and traceable.
• Work closely with the Designated Pharmacy Manager to maintain compliance with applicable NAPRA standards and other regulatory requirements.
• Support investigations, corrective actions, quality initiatives, and continuous improvement.

Equipment & Process Improvement

• Maintain working knowledge of compounding and production equipment.
• Ensure equipment is appropriately maintained, cleaned, calibrated, and available for production.
• Support the implementation and commissioning of new equipment.
• Evaluate equipment, technology, and automation opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity, capacity, quality, and cost effectiveness.
• Stay current with developments in pharmaceutical compounding technology and industry practices.

Clinical Trial & Specialized Production

• Support clinical trial and specialized batch production activities.
• Review production requirements, timelines, materials, labour requirements, and operational considerations.
• Support preparation of production documentation, labels, packaging, and workflow requirements.
• Coordinate with pharmacists, laboratory personnel, logistics, and administrative teams to ensure projects are completed accurately and on time.
• Work with senior leadership on production planning and costing when required.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a strong pharmaceutical professional with both technical depth and leadership potential.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Ontario-licensed pharmacist (RPh) is strongly preferred.
• Candidates with another relevant scientific or pharmaceutical background may be considered where they have substantial, directly relevant compounding and production experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience in non-sterile and Level C pharmaceutical compounding.
• Strong practical knowledge of pharmaceutical compounding techniques and applicable NAPRA standards and guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience working in a compounding pharmacy, pharmaceutical laboratory, or pharmaceutical production environment.
• Experience supervising, training, coaching, or leading employees.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, implementing, and maintaining SOPs.
• Experience managing production schedules, workload, staffing, and productivity.
• Experience with inventory management, purchasing, and supplier/vendor management.
• Strong understanding of quality-control, documentation, and production practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability and willingness to remain hands-on in the laboratory when operationally required.

Strong Assets

• Previous experience as a Pharmacy Manager, Compounding Manager, Pharmacy Supervisor, Laboratory Manager, Team Lead, or similar leadership position.
• Experience with clinical trial and batch production.
• Experience with pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Experience with Master Batch Records and production documentation.
• Experience with compounding equipment and laboratory technology.
• Experience with equipment implementation, validation, calibration, or commissioning.
• Experience with process improvement, automation, or operational scaling.
• Experience conducting formal employee performance evaluations.

Career Growth and Development

This position offers a long-term opportunity for professional growth and leadership development. We are seeking an individual who wants to grow with the organization, take ownership of operations, and assume greater responsibility over time.

For the right candidate, particularly an Ontario-licensed pharmacist who demonstrates strong performance, technical expertise, leadership ability, and sound business judgment, there is potential to progress into broader senior leadership roles.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build expertise in:

• Pharmaceutical Compounding Operations
• People Leadership and Team Development
• Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance
• Production Planning and Management
• Inventory Control and Procurement
• Vendor and Supplier Relationship Management
• Stock Availability and Out-of-Stock Management
• Expiry Monitoring and Inventory Optimization
• Quality Management Systems Development and Implementation
• Quality Manual Development and Maintenance
• Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency
• Business and Operational Decision-Making
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Development, Implementation and Review
• Regulatory Inspection and Audit Support

We are looking for someone who wants to build, improve, and lead, not simply manage the status quo.

What Success Looks Like

Within this role, success means:

• Production is safe, organized, accurate, and completed on schedule.
• The compounding team is well trained, productive, accountable, and engaged.
• SOPs and documentation are current, practical, and consistently followed.
• Inventory is effectively managed to ensure materials are available when needed, at the optimal cost.
• Equipment and laboratory operations are properly maintained.
• Regulatory and quality requirements are consistently met.
• Operational problems are identified and resolved proactively.
• Labour and production resources are aligned with business requirements.
• Processes continuously improve as the operation grows.
• The laboratory develops into a stronger, more efficient, and scalable operation.

Why Join Pharmacy.ca?

• Join a growing specialty pharmacy with a strong focus on pharmaceutical compounding.
• Take ownership of a meaningful operational leadership function.
• Work closely with pharmacy and senior business leadership.
• Lead and develop a growing compounding team.
• Gain exposure to specialized production and clinical trial activities.
• Participate in operational improvement and future growth initiatives.
• Build experience across both pharmacy and business operations.
• Potential career progression toward leadership roles.
• Competitive compensation based on qualifications and experience.