Shipping Associate

Pay Range: $17-$21 per hour

Location: Sterling, VA

Work Model: In-person

Employment Type: Full-Time

About Akina Pharmacy

Akina Pharmacy is a nationally-accredited specialty compounding pharmacy on a mission to enrich lives through compounded medicine. Since 2012, we've partnered with prescribers and patients across the United States to deliver expertly compounded sterile and non-sterile medications when off-the-shelf solutions fall short. We call it the Chemistry of Care™: precision and compassion working together.

Our fast-growing team is guided by an ambitious vision, core values, and a high-performance environment built on clear communication, pragmatic decision-making, and accountability. We hold ourselves to the highest standards. In the pharmacy, that means PCAB accreditation and LegitScript certification. With our people, it means empowering them through continuous growth and support. If you're driven by a passion for meaningful impact and want to be part of a vibrant, people-first team where your contribution genuinely matters, we'd love to meet you.

Our Core Values

1. Excellence Always: We hold ourselves to a high standard and continually push it higher. We bring that standard to everything we do—big or small, seen or unseen—and carry it across the finish line. Our relentless determination to be the best is reflected in the way we work, the details we refuse to overlook, and the results we deliver. This is how we earn the trust of our patients, providers, and each other.

2. Called To Serve: We act for the greater good, putting what is best for the company, our team, and our customers ahead of personal comfort or gain. We go the extra mile for others. Serving this way connects us to a purpose greater than ourselves: Enriching Lives. It gives deeper meaning to our work, and it’s why Akina exists.

3. Total Ownership: We take full responsibility for our work, decisions, and results. We don't wait for permission or instructions; we initiate and drive outcomes. When faced with setbacks or challenges, we stay focused on what is within our control and respond with solutions and action. That level of ownership means people can count on us through thick or thin, and gives us the power to take meaningful action as a unified team toward achieving our shared mission.

4. Open and Honest: We listen and seek to understand feedback, new ideas, and perspectives that challenge our own. We speak the truth directly and clearly, hiding nothing and removing all politics from our communication. By choosing vulnerability and transparency over comfort, we make each other better and build the deep trust required to engage in healthy conflict, stay aligned, and solve hard problems.

About the Role

The Shipping Associate is a crucial member of the Akina Pharmacy team, responsible for ensuring that all prescription orders are packaged and shipped with precision, care, and efficiency. This role requires a strong attention to detail, a commitment to maintaining high-quality packaging standards, and adherence to established company protocols and shipping procedures.

As a Shipping Associate, you will assemble, label, and verify outgoing packages to meet Akina Pharmacy’s high standards for accuracy and presentation, ensuring a positive experience for our customers. You will also manage shipping logistics, restock materials, and maintain a clean, organized workspace to support the smooth operation of the shipping department.

If you thrive in a detail-oriented, goal-driven environment and take pride in your work, this position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in delivering exceptional care to our customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Order Preparation and Packaging 
  • Assemble and package prescription orders with precision, including cold-chain and hazmat packaging requirements where applicable, ensuring quality and professional presentation.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance
  • Conduct final checks on labels, documentation, patient match, and special handling requirements (cold-chain, hazmat) per company protocols and job aids before shipping.
  • Document all processes and activities, including outcomes and corrective actions, per FDA, USP, and Akina policies.
• Shipping Logistics and Order Issue Resolution
  • Coordinate outgoing shipments, generate shipping labels, and monitor tracking data to support timely delivery.
  • Identify and resolve order issues before shipment (incomplete orders, damaged items, documentation gaps) and address shipping exceptions after dispatch, coordinating with the pharmacy and customer service teams to keep orders moving.
• Inventory & Workspace Management
  • Monitor and restock shipping supplies and maintain an organized workspace to support efficient daily operations.
• Training, Competency, and Continuous Improvement 
  • Maintain required training and competencies in the electronic quality management system.
  • Participate in LEAN initiatives (Root Cause Analysis, Operational Walkthroughs, Internal Audits) to improve operational efficiency and product quality.

Key Metrics:

• Receive incoming shipments (10-20 per day)
• Prepare, assemble, and label packages for outgoing shipment (200-300 per day)

How Akina Commits to Supporting You:

• Giving clear directions and expectations
• Ensures you have access to the necessary tools
• Delegates appropriately
• Holds effective meetings
• Meets one-on-one with you quarterly or more, if needed
• Rewards and recognizes your performance

About You

Qualifications & Experience:

• Experience in Shipping or Packaging:
  • At least 1 year of experience in a shipping, packaging, or similar role, or the ability to learn and execute detailed shipping processes efficiently.
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy:
  • Proven ability to assemble, label, and verify orders with precision while following detailed company protocols or job aids.
• Physical Capability and Stamina:
  • Ability to stand for extended periods and lift packages weighing up to [X lbs] as part of daily responsibilities.
• Commitment to Quality and Efficiency:
  • Demonstrated understanding of how packaging quality impacts the customer experience, with the ability to work quickly without compromising standards.

Benefits & Perks:

• Medical and Supplementary Benefits: Akina Pharmacy offers two medical plan options with employer premium contributions up to 85%, dental and vision coverage, accident and hospital indemnity, and company paid long term and short-term disability options, available after 30 days of employment.
• Paid Time Off: Take advantage of generous paid time off to recharge, focus on personal priorities, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy six scheduled paid holidays to celebrate and spend quality time with loved ones.
• 401K Match: Invest in your future with our 401K plan, featuring a Safe Harbor match up to 4%.
• Rewards & Recognition: Be celebrated for your hard work and achievements through our dedicated rewards and recognition program.
• No Cost Medication: Employees are eligible to receive prescribed compounded medications at no cost, after 30 days of employment. 

Akina Pharmacy is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Akina Pharmacy accepts applications for this position on a rolling basis.