VP, Pharmacy Services

University Medical Center, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

University Medical Center, Inc. is seeking a System VP of Pharmacy to lead pharmacy operations across its academic health system. This role requires strategic direction and oversight of clinical quality, financial stewardship, and compliance. The candidate should possess extensive leadership experience in complex pharmacy operations within an academic medical center context.

The position demands a PharmD, a strong leadership commitment, and a current Kentucky pharmacist license. The role involves collaboration with diverse health professionals to enhance patient care.

Qualifications

• 10+ years progressive senior leadership in complex pharmacy operations.
• 5+ years experience at the enterprise/system scope in an academic medical center.
• Current Kentucky pharmacist license.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise pharmacy governance including P&T Committee.
• Establish system-wide clinical practice standards and protocols.
• Oversee 24/7 acute care operations and medication-use processes.

Skills

Strategic direction

Operational excellence

Clinical quality

Financial stewardship

Pharmacy governance

Compliance

Leadership

Education

PharmD from an ACPE-accredited program

Advanced degree (MBA, MHA, MS in Health-System Pharmacy Administration, MPH)

Job description

Primary Location: University Hospital - UMC Address: 530 South Jackson Street Louisville, KY 40202 Shift: First Shift (United States of America)

Job Description Summary: UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with five hospitals, four medical centers, nearly 200 physician practice locations, more than 700 providers, the Frazier Rehab Institute and Brown Cancer Center. With more than 12,000 team members—physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly skilled health care professionals—UofL Health is focused on one mission: delivering patient-centered care to each and every patient each and every day.

Job Description: The System VP of Pharmacy is the senior-most pharmacy executive for the academic health system, responsible for strategic direction, operational excellence, clinical quality, and financial stewardship across the enterprise’s pharmacy portfolio—including acute care, ambulatory, specialty, retail/community, oncology/infusion, and 340B programs. This leader advances the academic mission through residency programs (PGY1/PGY2), clinical research, and interprofessional education, while ensuring regulatory compliance and a robust medication safety culture. The role partners closely with nursing, medical staff, finance, compliance, research, and population health to improve outcomes, patient experience, affordability, and access across the system and its affiliated schools/colleges.

Essential Functions

1. Lead enterprise pharmacy governance, including P&T Committee, Medication Safety, Formulary Management, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Oncology Therapeutics Council, and Controlled Substances Oversight.
2. Establish system-wide clinical practice standards, collaborative practice agreements, and evidence-based protocols across acute, ambulatory, and oncology settings.
3. Serve as principal advisor to executive leadership on the evolving therapeutics pipeline (cell/gene therapy, high-cost specialty), biosimilars, and site-of-care optimization.
4. Oversee 24/7 acute care operations, sterile and non-sterile compounding, IV admixture services, medication-use processes, and perpetual readiness for Joint Commission/CMS.
5. Lead oncology/hematology pharmacy (infusion centers and inpatient) with strong coordination on regimens, REMS, safety checks, hazardous drug handling, and clinical trial dispensing.
6. Scale specialty pharmacy services, prior auth/financial counseling, hub relationships, REMS adherence, and patient-reported outcomes.
7. Integrate retail/community pharmacy strategy (employee Rx, discharge meds-to-beds, adherence programs) with revenue cycle and population health.
8. Optimize technology and automation: EHR/EMR, BCMA, CPOE, ADCs, IV workflow systems and clinical decision support.
9. Provide executive oversight of 340B compliance (eligibility, contract pharmacies, GPO exclusion, diversion/duplicate discount prevention, manufacturer restrictions strategy).
10. Chair or co-chair 340B governance, ensure robust internal audit cadence, response to HRSA audits, and margin protection with data-driven optimization and ethical stewardship.
11. Promote inter-professional education and scholarly output (publications, presentations, posters).
12. Role-model the system’s leadership commitments and core behaviors.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.

Other Functions

• Embed a culture of safety, inclusion, just culture, and continuous improvement, drive engagement and well-being.
• Champion technician career ladders, credentialing/privileging for pharmacists, and clinical practice.
• Own the system pharmacy P&L drug spend, forecasting, contracting, and 340B savings strategy.
• Drive formulary value, biosimilar adoption, white/brown-bagging policies, site-of-care shifts, and product standardization.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Payer Strategy, and Revenue Cycle on rebates, charge capture, prior authorizations, and coverage policy impacts.
• Ensure compliance with Joint Commission medication management, CMS CoPs, FDA/DEA, REMS, Board of Pharmacy rules (Kentucky), and HRSA 340B.
• Oversee controlled substances diversion prevention, investigations, and performance improvement.

Education

PharmD from an ACPE-accredited program required. Advanced degree (MBA, MHA, MS in Health-System Pharmacy Administration, MPH) preferred.

Experience

10+ years progressive senior leadership in complex pharmacy operations; 5+ years at enterprise/system scope in an academic medical center or multi-hospital system.

License

Current Kentucky pharmacist license. Board certification (e.g., BCPS, BCOP, BCACP) strongly preferred.

Additional access to UofL Health is provided through a partnership with Carroll County Memorial Hospital.