Executive Director-Pharmacy

UnityPoint Health; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401K matching

Dental and health insurance

Job summary

UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, IA seeks an Executive Director of Pharmacy to lead operations across Des Moines and Fort Dodge markets, spanning inpatient, outpatient, retail, outreach, and clinical pharmacy services. You will partner with physicians, nursing, and leadership to advance practice, patient outcomes, and enterprise initiatives.

The role requires a PharmD or B.S. in Pharmacy with licensure in IA/IL/WI and 7+ years of leadership in hospital/outpatient settings.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Pharmacy degree (B.S. Pharmacy or PharmD) and be eligible for licensure in Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin.
• Seven or more years of progressive pharmacy leadership experience in hospital, outpatient, or clinical settings.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and change management.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight for pharmacy operations across the Des Moines and Fort Dodge markets, including inpatient, outpatient, retail, outreach, clinical pharmacy, and automation services.
• Lead, mentor, and develop pharmacy leaders while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with physicians, nursing leaders, and executive leadership to advance pharmacy practice, improve patient outcomes, and support organizational priorities.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, quality initiatives, automation, and standardization across multiple pharmacy locations.
• Oversee departmental financial performance, including budgeting, productivity, inventory management, and resource utilization.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, and professional practice standards.
• Support implementation of enterprise pharmacy initiatives while balancing local operational priorities.
• Build strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams to align pharmacy services with organizational strategic goals.
• Champion innovation and identify opportunities to improve access, efficiency, and the patient experience.
• Serve as a key contributor to strategic planning and the continued growth of pharmacy services across both markets.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Process improvement

Relationship-building

Change management

Education

PharmD or B.S. in Pharmacy

MBA or Business Administration (preferred)

Job description

Overview

UnityPoint Health is seeking an experienced executive leader to serve as Executive Director, Pharmacy for the Des Moines and Fort Dodge markets. This leader will provide strategic and operational oversight for inpatient, outpatient, retail, outreach, and clinical pharmacy services across multiple locations, partnering closely with physicians, nursing leadership, and executive teams to advance pharmacy practice, operational excellence, financial stewardship, and patient care. Reporting to the System Executive Director of Pharmacy, this highly visible role serves as the connection between enterprise pharmacy strategy and market operations, leading a diverse team while driving innovation, regulatory compliance, and collaboration across the Des Moines and Fort Dodge markets. The Executive Director will play a key role in creating an integrated "One Pharmacy" approach while supporting system-wide pharmacy initiatives.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We're proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight for pharmacy operations across the Des Moines and Fort Dodge markets, including inpatient, outpatient, retail, outreach, clinical pharmacy, and automation services.
• Lead, mentor, and develop pharmacy leaders while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with physicians, nursing leaders, and executive leadership to advance pharmacy practice, improve patient outcomes, and support organizational priorities.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, quality initiatives, automation, and standardization across multiple pharmacy locations.
• Oversee departmental financial performance, including budgeting, productivity, inventory management, and resource utilization.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, and professional practice standards.
• Support implementation of enterprise pharmacy initiatives while balancing local operational priorities.
• Build strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams to align pharmacy services with organizational strategic goals.
• Champion innovation and identify opportunities to improve access, efficiency, and the patient experience.
• Serve as a key contributor to strategic planning and the continued growth of pharmacy services across both markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy (B.S. Pharmacy) or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) required.
• Current pharmacist licensure (or eligibility for licensure) in Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin, as applicable.
• Seven or more years of progressive pharmacy leadership experience in hospital, outpatient, or clinical environments.
• Demonstrated success leading complex pharmacy operations, including operational, clinical, and financial oversight.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with strategic planning, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and change management.
• Ability to lead large, complex projects while balancing operational priorities.
• Knowledge of hospital pharmacy operations, regulatory requirements, and quality standards.
• Master's degree (MBA or Business Administration), teaching/precepting experience, and 340B program experience are preferred.