Director of Pharmacy - Congress - Pharmacy Management

El Rio Health; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 138,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits

Free health classes

Competitive salaries

Job summary

El Rio Health in Tucson, AZ seeks a Director of Pharmacy to provide administrative, strategic, and operational oversight across the Pharmacy Department. You will guide budgeting, policy development, and cross-functional collaboration to optimize patient care, formulary management, and regulatory compliance.

This executive role requires strong leadership and clinical understanding to drive efficiency and clinical outcomes.

Qualifications

• MBA or related field preferred.
• Ten years of management experience in healthcare/pharmacy.
• Five years of pharmacy experience.
• Pharmacist license in Arizona required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Level I fingerprint clearance card required.

Responsibilities

• Develops and directs quality standards for Pharmacy Departments and programs.
• Leads integration of Continuous Quality Improvement into operations.
• Ensures HIPAA and confidentiality compliance across departments.
• Oversees planning, coordination, and operation of all pharmacy locations and services.
• Manages budgets and ensures financial stewardship within departments.
• Develops and implements plans to optimize clinical and operational performance.
• Maintains compliance with Arizona State Board of Pharmacy regulations and accreditation standards.
• Prepares complex reports for executive leadership and boards.

Skills

Budget management

Leadership

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Education

MBA or related field

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Job description

Introduction

Are you are looking for a career with one of Tucson’s largest, most highly regarded healthcare organizations that offers generous benefits, competitive salaries, free health classes and makes a difference in the lives of more than one in ten Tucsonans?

Overview

Salary: $137,524 - $226,779, depending on qualifications

Schedule: TBD

The Director of Pharmacy provides administrative, strategic and operational oversight for our Pharmacy. The Director of Pharmacy provides managerial leadership for the planning, monitoring, and oversight of operations, including the implementation and assessment of operational and administrative services; ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and services to El Rio Health patients. In this role, the Director of Pharmacy guarantees that the Pharmacy, departments provide optimal patient care and services that comply with all legal, accreditation, and certification requirements. The Director of Pharmacy demonstrates evidence-based decision-making regarding pharmacy operations, as well as controlling expenses while maximizing patient benefit through the formulary system. This requires an in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical supply chain, clinical therapeutics and physician prescribing habits, the medication-use process, medication-use policy, available technology for delivering and supporting patient care, thereby contributing to the overall success of the organization. As a licensed Pharmacist, the Director of Pharmacy is responsible for fulfilling all of the essential functions, responsibilities, and authority of a pharmacist. The Director of Pharmacy leads cross-functional teams to drive operational efficiency, improve patient outcomes and meet organizational goals. The Director of Pharmacy develops and manages budgets, ensuring financial stewardship across all assigned departments while also pursuing innovative ways to leverage technology and AI to drive efficiencies and optimize pharmacy operations to maximize both clinical impact and resource stewardship across our entire health network.

The Director of Pharmacy in this position works with general direction and has discretion and independent judgment authority with respect to matters of significance in regard to pharmacy operations and pharmaceutical patient care, resolving any work problems involving departures from standard policies, interpretations, or procedures for which the Director of Pharmacy is responsible for within the scope of authority as defined by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy and the policies and procedures of El Rio Health.

Responsibilities

• Develops and directs the quality standards of all functions and services of the Pharmacy Departments and associated programs.
  • Oversees that all goals and objectives specified for the respective departments and programs are successfully accomplished to the highest service level possible and in accordance with the established priorities, budgets, and outcomes.
• Establishes and leads the integration of Continuous Quality Improvement principles into the operations of the pharmacy through measurement, monitoring, and assessment of processes and outcomes.
• Ensures all departments, programs, and staff fulfill patient confidentiality standards by controlling the environment and information being disclosed to authorized individuals ensuring compliance with all HIPAA and corporate compliance standards, as well as accepted confidentiality standards.
• Directs and oversees the planning, coordination and operation of all pharmacy locations, services, and activities of the Pharmacy, Advanced Practice Pharmacy and associated service programs.
  • Facilitates the administrative collaboration between medical, behavioral health, outreach, and support staff with administrative and service departments.
  • Oversees and ensures pharmacy operational compliance with 340B Drug Pricing Program regulations, standards, and laws; as well as any standards and requirements for third party funding sources.
  • Ensures that the Pharmacy and Advanced Practice Pharmacy Departments are in compliance with all Federal and State laws and rules governing pharmacy operations and controlled substance inventories, distribution, and records management.
  • Provides staff with timely information relative to new drug formulary, as well as policies and standards of care that relate to medication use and safety.
• Develops and implements plans to optimize clinical and operational performance.
• Establishes safeguards that the organization remains aware of and in compliance with Arizona State Board of Pharmacy regulatory rules and regulations, and accrediting agencies; that organizational or departmental policies and procedures are being followed, and that individual behavior within the department meets the defined Standards of Conduct.
• Prepares professional written communications and/or materials, financial statements, or reports on pharmacy activities, progress towards defined goals and objectives, changes in departmental status, or any other ad-hoc reports requested for distribution to Executive Leadership and Governing Board, management, internal/external clients, or external funding agencies or organizations.
  • Directs the development of complex and detailed statistical/analytical reports and/or summary information utilizing principles and practices of professional and technical report writing.
• Oversees the management and supervision of department leaders, staff members, and department performance.
  • Guarantees the successful recruitment, orientation, and training of department members for the various required duties, responsibilities, and assignments within the department.
  • Supervises and provides direction to department leaders relative to performance management and completion of evaluations, employee discipline, as well as problem and/or conflict resolution; makes decisions as to the employment or retention status of department members; Observes and evaluates department leaders in a positive and effective manner, to include providing continuous feedback and communication.
  • Reviews individualized staff performance appraisals on an annual basis; reviewing and approving disciplinary actions as required, in consultation with Human Resources.
• Ensures that all staff members are currently licensed or certified, meeting all continuing education and recertification requirements.
• Directs the development of competence assessment programs that ensure all pharmacy staff perform all duties and responsibilities with the utmost efficiency and safety, as well as, are in compliance with all applicable policies, procedures and standards of the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy and El Rio Health policies and procedures.
• Serves as liaison and principal point of contact to government agencies or other legal entities on matters related to El Rio Health pharmacy and clinical pharmacy operations.
• Participates in development of proposals for new and continuing pharmacy and clinical operations and/or programs.
• Serves as liaison and representative for departmental programs at community or public engagements:
  • Facilitating training and informational workshops or community publicity campaigns that illustrate pharmacy services, pharmaceutical patient care models provided through El Rio Health programs.

Requirements

• Manages budgets, resource allocation, and expenses to maximize efficiency and profitability
• Directs all Pharmacy Departments revenue and funding expenditures to ensure compliance with the assigned budget, providing directions for remaining within the assigned department budget while ensuring department success.
  • Leads the development, preparation, and reconciliation of the department annual budget(s).
  • Plans and implements cost reduction strategies when required.
  • Implements and monitors a purchasing program to ensure no significant inventory build with monthly utilization reports. Ensures that best pricing is attained, and that contract pricing is within established limits.
• Consults with Executive Leadership on identification of internal/external funding sources supporting sustainment of services or defined strategic service and programmatic goals.
• Leads the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, and processes that promote safe, efficient, and cost-effective medication use and that comply with all federal, state regulatory requirements and standards.
• Leads and directs the long and short-term strategic planning development and implementation for the Pharmacy Department.
• Leads initiatives to improve revenue cycle and efficiency, such as optimizing provider schedules, minimizing appointment status errors, and increasing copay collection success rates.
• Completes all training and performance activities necessary to maintain licensing as a Pharmacist on a bi-annual basis in compliance with all Arizona State Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment in compliance with all Policies and Procedures including but not limited to work areas, workstations, examination rooms, hand washing, infection prevention and control etc. for this position
• Demonstrates an understanding of and proficiency with the application of all compliance and reporting requirements respective to The Joint Commission Certification (JCC) standards.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Master’s Degrees in Business Administration (MBA) or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Ten (10) years’ management experience; preferably in a pharmacy environment.
• Five (5) years’ experience working in a pharmacy as a pharmacist.

If applicable, equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, and must be directly related to the functions and responsibilities of the job.

Required Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:

• A current Pharmacist License in accordance with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy requirements.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers.
• Level I fingerprint clearance card: current valid and in good standing or have applied for it within seven working days after beginning employment.
• Employees in this position are required to have reliable transportation that can meet any operational reassignments of the organization during the workday. If an employee is driving during work hours, the employee is required to possess a valid driver’s license and must be in compliance with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.

Preferred Education, Experience, Skills, Abilities:

• Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from an accredited College of Pharmacy.
• ASHP accredited Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) in Health-System Pharmacy Administration.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) with the ability to speak, read and write in both languages.