Senior Pharmaceutical Officer

Join our Pharmaceutical Services Unit’s Inspections and Investigations team at the Ministry of Health for an ongoing employment opportunity and be part of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day.

About us

• We are seeking individuals who are passionate about safeguarding public health and upholding the safe supply of medicines and poisons in NSW
• Hybrid working environment where you will be required to perform site visits across metropolitan and non-metropolitan locations of NSW.         
• This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic team and be at the forefront of medicines and poisons regulation.

To learn more about the Ministry and what benefits we offer, access our Employee Benefits Handbook.

About this role

In this role, you will be a key member of the Inspections and Investigations Team within the Pharmaceutical Services Unit, contributing to the regulation of medicines and poisons across NSW through the effective management of the licensing scheme. The role reports to the Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Inspections and Investigations.

You will be responsible for assessing and determining licensing applications, renewals and variations for a diverse range of regulated entities, exercising delegated authority and sound regulatory judgement to ensure decisions are lawful, consistent and risk based. You will manage complex or higher risk licensing matters, prepare high quality correspondence and recommendations, and provide clear, authoritative advice to industry and government stakeholders on licensing requirements and obligations.

The role also undertakes planned site inspections to assess compliance with legislative requirements and licence conditions, and provides guidance to licence holders to support safe practices, including the lawful destruction of medicines and poisons.

You will have end to end responsibility for the operation of the medicines and poisons licensing framework, overseeing licensing workflows from application through to determination, renewal and ongoing compliance monitoring. This includes supervising and supporting the Licensing Support Officer to ensure licensing activities are delivered efficiently, records and statutory registers are accurate and current, and stakeholders receive consistent, high quality regulatory service. Through this leadership role, you will help maintain the integrity, effectiveness and credibility of the licensing scheme in a complex and evolving regulatory environment.

This is an ongoing role, graded as Crown Clerk 9/10, starting salary from $129,464 - $142,665 plus Super and annual leave loading, with a 35-hour work week.

For more information, please read the full Role Description.

What you'll be doing

In this role, you will:

• Manage and oversee the end‑to‑end operation of the medicines and poisons licensing framework, including the assessment and determination of licensing applications, renewals, variations and related approvals in accordance with delegated authority.
• Exercise sound regulatory judgement when assessing complex or higher‑risk licensing matters, applying a risk‑based and evidence‑informed approach to support lawful, consistent and defensible decisions.
• Undertake planned site inspections and compliance monitoring activities to assess compliance with legislative requirements, licence conditions and relevant guidelines.
• Provide clear, practical and authoritative advice on the interpretation and application of medicines and poisons legislation to licence holders, health practitioners and other stakeholders via phone, email and written correspondence.
• Supervise and support the Licensing Support Officer, overseeing licensing workflows, prioritising work, resolving escalated issues, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of licensing records and statutory registers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of licensing processes, systems and practices, including identifying emerging risks and supporting improvements to regulatory service delivery.

About you

You are an experienced regulatory professional who brings sound judgement, attention to detail and a strong understanding of medicines and poisons regulation. You are comfortable making decisions within delegated authority, managing complex matters, and balancing regulatory rigour with a practical, service‑focused approach.

You enjoy working collaboratively with regulated entities and colleagues, can explain complex legislative requirements clearly, and are confident supervising staff to achieve high‑quality regulatory outcomes. You are motivated by protecting public health through effective, fair and transparent regulation in a complex and evolving environment.

Essential Criteria – we are seeking candidates who possess:

• Tertiary qualifications in pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, health, law, regulation, or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience in medicines and poisons regulation.
• Demonstrated experience in applying and interpreting medicines and poisons legislation and regulatory frameworks, particularly in relation to licensing, authorisations, or compliance functions.
• Sound understanding of the regulatory role of the NSW Ministry of Health and the operation of government licensing schemes.
• Demonstrated experience in regulatory decision making, including assessment and determination of complex applications within delegated authority.
• Proven ability to provide high quality regulatory advice and contribute to continuous improvement of regulatory processes in a complex operational environment.

How to apply

At the Ministry of Health, we want you to make the most of the opportunities you’ll get to grow your skills and your career, surrounded by authentic, smart people and leaders.|

Please review the role description, submit an up-to-date resume (up to 5 pages), a single page cover letter (1 page) AND a response to the two target questions below (not more than 2 pages):

1. Regulatory improvement often needs to occur while managing risk and maintaining business as usual services. Describe an example where you improved or modernised a regulatory, licensing or compliance process in a constrained or high risk environment. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?
2. Tell us about a time you dealt with a challenging or dissatisfied stakeholder in a regulatory or licensing context. How did you manage the interaction while maintaining professional boundaries and upholding legislative requirements?

Use the link below to access our Capability Application tool, designed to help you excel in the recruitment process. Practice your responses with the example questions provided to effectively highlight your achievements and the strategies you used to accomplish them.

Capability application tool | NSW Public Service Commission

For role related queries or questions contact Stuart Ludington on Stuart.Ludington@health.nsw.gov.au and quote REQ635224.

If you do require any adjustments to the recruitment process during the recruitment process, please contact Frankie De Luca on frankie.deluca@health.nsw.gov.au.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

Additional information

1. This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.
2. There may be opportunities for ongoing employment at grade.
3. For more information on applying visit the Ministry of Health Career portal.
4. Please note the selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

Don't miss your chance to embark on this fulfilling journey! Apply now!

Applications Close: 11:59pm, Tuesday 7 April 2026