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Lead Staff Pharmacist - Accredo - Elmhurst, IL

Cigna · Elmhurst, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You'd oversee pharmacy technicians. How do you build quality assurance into their work without slowing production?

What they are checking: Leadership that balances accuracy with the daily production and service levels the role maintains.

Tell me about a time you improved a workflow in a pharmacy.

What they are checking: Continuous improvement in a high-volume production pharmacy, where small workflow changes affect safety and speed.

How do you stay calm and accurate during a high-volume day?

What they are checking: Focus and composure that prevent errors under pressure.

What would you do

A patient calls about a dispensing error. How do you handle the call and what happens after?

What they are checking: Patient safety, honest communication and proper error reporting and follow-up.

You notice a technician keeps making the same data entry error. What do you do?

What they are checking: Coaching and process fixes rather than just correcting each error.

How do you prioritize when you're short-staffed and orders are piling up?

What they are checking: Managing workload while keeping specialty patients' therapy on time and safe.

This position moves to Elgin in January 2027 and includes on-call weeks once or twice a month. How does that work for you?

What they are checking: Honest commitment to the location change and on-call duties stated in the posting.

About the work

Walk me through verifying a controlled substance prescription. What would make you stop and call the prescriber?

What they are checking: Knowing the red flags and legal requirements for controlled substance validity.

What's your experience with specialty medications, such as handling, storage and shipping requirements?

What they are checking: Knowledge of cold chain and handling needs for specialty drugs in mail-order fulfillment.

How do you handle a prescription where the sig doesn't match the usual dose for that drug?

What they are checking: Clinical judgment in interpreting prescriptions and verifying with prescribers.

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The full job description

As published by Cigna.

This is a full-time onsite Lead Staff Fulfillment Pharmacist position at our Elmhurst, IL location. *This position will be moving to our Elgin, IL facility in January 2027. The shift for this position is Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5 pm including a 1-week on call rotation 1-2 times per month. POSITION SUMMARY The Lead Staff Pharmacist interprets physicians’ prescriptions, contacts doctors or other prescribers and/or patients to verify information on prescriptions and expedite processing of order. This position is responsible for dispensing medications within corporate and regulatory guidelines. The Staff Pharmacist will track order status and outstanding issues. This individual may take calls from customers regarding lost orders or dispensing errors, maintain daily production, quality and service levels, vary work priorities and activities to accommodate business needs. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS • Provide oversight and quality assurance to pharmacy technicians • Interpret physicians’ or prescribers’ prescriptions • Contact doctors and/or patients to verify information on prescriptions such as drug strength, prescription sig., and drug name in order to expedite processing of orders • Verify and confirm validity of controlled substances • Verify prescription information entered in the system by data entry or order entry • Back up other pharmacists as needed, perform additional duties as assigned by management, or train less experienced pharmacists • Maintain quality and efficiency expectations • Adhere to all state and federal regulations surrounding pharmacy practice • Training of other pharmacists and/or technicians in functions • On-Call Responsibilities QUALIFICATIONS • Graduate of ACPE Accreditation School of Pharmacy with a B.S. Pharmacy or PharmD degree • Minimum of 1-year relevant experience • Current resident pharmacist license in good standing; must be willing to obtain additional licensing, as needed • Advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively with other departments to resolve issues • Good oral and written communication skills • Ability to read and interpret prescriptions • Strong focus on customer service, quality and accuracy • Ability to manage timelines and meet tight client deadlines • Ability to adapt in a changing environment • Ability to work a flexible schedule for peak volume times and PTO coverage ABOUT ACCREDO Through our range of health care products and services offered, Accredo team members provide in-depth care for patients with chronic health conditions like hemophilia, oncology, rheumatoid arthritis and growth hormone deficiency. In addition to health care products, we provide comprehensive management services – including outcomes measurement, counseling, clinical care management programs, social services and reimbursement services. By performing in these very high-touch roles, employees have a daily opportunity to make a positive impact on their patients’ lives. If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload. For this position, we anticipate offering an hourly rate of 54 - 91 USD / hourly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location. This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan. At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year, paid holidays, and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs, click here . About Evernorth Health Services Evernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, creates pharmacy, care and benefit solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Join us in driving growth and improving lives. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email seeyourself@thecignagroup.com for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes. The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.

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