Primary Work Location: Hybrid (Oregon Headquarters). This position is a hybrid role with the possibility of being 100% remote
and open only to candidates residing in states where the organization is authorized to do business.

While qualified candidates from all authorized states are encouraged to apply, candidates residing in Oregon are preferred due to the organization's headquarters location and business operations within Oregon.

Authorized Remote States: Oregon (Preferred), Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington.

Department: Health Plan Operations FLSA Status: Exempt (Salaried)

Division: Health Plan Operations Physical Strength: Light (L)

Reports To: YCCO President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Work Location Type: Hybrid / 100% Remote

Supervisory Role: No Occasional Weekend Work: No

Summary

The Pharmacy Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all pharmacy services supporting members enrolled with Yamhill Community Care (YCCO). This role ensures compliance with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), alignment with Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) contract requirements, and delivery of equitable, high-value pharmacy care in alignment with state and federal requirements. This role oversees Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) subcontractor implementation and internal operations, formulary alignment with the Oregon Preferred Drug List (PDL), and programs addressing cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. This position plays a critical role in advancing Oregon's goals related to health equity, value-based care, and integrated physical, behavioral, and oral health.

Essential Duties

1. Directs all aspects of pharmacy services and business strategy in partnership with identified PBM program.
2. Maintains pharmacy benefit operations including PDL, formulary, drug utilization management program, quality initiatives, and reporting as required by state, federal and CCO contract requirements.
3. Leads process improvement and cost containment initiatives within responsible programs, working with a variety of departments and multi-disciplinary staff.

Job Duties

PBM Vendor Implementation & Oversight

• Leads procurement, contracting, and implementation of a PBM subcontractor in alignment with Oregon Medicaid (OHP) and OHA requirements.
• Ensures PBM and plans operations adhere to Oregon-specific policies, including encounter data submission, transparency requirements, and pass-through pricing.
• Monitors PBM performance against Service-Level Agreements (SLA), financial guarantees, and OHA reporting expectations.
• Oversees pharmacy network adequacy, including access standards in rural / frontier regions.
• Coordinates with OHA on audits, reporting, and compliance reviews related to PBM services.
• Ensures full compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs), OHP contract requirements, and OHA pharmacy guidance.
• Oversees integration of pharmacy services within the CCO model, including physical health, behavioral health, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and dental services.
• Develops and maintains pharmacy service policies, procedures, and guidelines including PDL, formulary, prior authorization (PA) and step therapy criteria, drug utilization, and therapeutic quality interventions.

Pharmacy Benefit Operations

• Manages the review, update, and application of the PDL & Formulary in alignment with the OHA's statewide PDL.
• Participates in OHA's Pharmacy & Therapeutics review committee and applies Committee decisions to internal program functions.
• Implements OHA-directed drug utilization management (DUR) programs, including but not limited to: PA criteria aligned with OHA rules, step therapy protocols compliant with state mandates, quantity limits and safety edits.
• Oversees any CCO-specific formulary changes while maintaining compliance with OHA guidelines.
• Manages member and provider communications for formulary updates and changes.
• Oversight of rebate strategy in coordination with state requirements and supplemental rebate programs.
• Analyzes utilization trends across populations including brand vs. generic, high-cost drugs, specialty medications, and SUD treatments and implement cost-containment strategies aligned with state expectations.
• Develops and implements quality improvement initiatives focused on medication adherence and outcomes improvement programs to address health disparities in medication use and outcomes, prioritizing Oregon's equity goals.
• Collaborate with community partners and providers to improve access for underserved populations.
• Ensures readiness for OHA audits, internal quality assurance monitoring reviews, and accreditation processes.
• Collaborates with internal leadership, medical, behavioral, and dental regional stakeholders, OHA, and other CCOs to lead cross-functional pharmacy activities to ensure regulatory and contract compliance.

Management & Leadership

• Champions the organization's mission, vision, and goals.
• Inspires and motivates employees, aligns teams with company objectives, and helps maintain a positive company culture.
• Communicates clear expectations, goals, and standards to all department staff to ensure alignment and accountability.
• Ensures staff have the necessary training, equipment, tools, and resources to perform their roles effectively by working with Human Resources.
• Analyzes and monitors staff productivity and work quality, reorganizing and distributing work assignments needed for optimal performance

Essential Department & Organizational Functions

• Works to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable services, and working relationships with diverse groups of employees, community partners, and community members.
• Participates in the preparation and submission of regulatory and contract required deliverables.
• Works closely with other YCCO departments, including Compliance to assist with audits; including the External Quality Review (EQR), as needed.
• Supports the organization's quality improvement goals, including contributing to quality incentive programs and supporting measurable progress on quality metrics that advance the health and well-being of the communities we serve.
• Proposes and implements process improvements.
• Meets deadlines for completion of assigned responsibilities and projects.
• Maintains agreed upon work schedule with punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Attends in person Annual Company Conference in Oregon; typically held in the fourth week of September.
• Demonstrates cooperation and teamwork using a professional and respectful demeanor.
• Provides cross-training on specific job responsibilities.
• Meets identified goals that contribute to departmental goals.
• Respectfully takes direction from Supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Deep understanding of OHP and CCO structure.
• Expertise in formulary management aligned to state PDL.
• Experience with health equity and population health initiatives
• Strong vendor management, analytics, and regulatory navigation skills.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of regulatory and survey standards (Medicare, Medicaid, Joint Commission).
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of rapid-cycle process improvement.
• Demonstrate positive and professional written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills.
• Apply advanced critical thinking and conflict resolution skills using creative approaches.
• Ability to utilize negotiation skills, which effectively promote constructive solutions.
• Work collaboratively and professionally across YCCO teams as well as with external partners and the community.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge in areas of: Medicare and Medicaid Utilization Management (UM) regulations, Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) Guidelines.
• Excellent organizational skills including ability to handle multiple priorities and demands simultaneously in a dynamic work environment while maintaining high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, use sound judgment, anticipate next steps and be proactive as part of a diverse team within a Matrix (cross-department) or shared resources across departments work model with a spirit of cooperation.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to communicate both professionally and effectively in all forms of communication.
• Ability to work in an environment with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to remain flexible, positive, and adaptable.
• Ability to work across the YCCO region and to work remotely, as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

There are no direct supervisory responsibilities associated with this role at the time of hire. As the pharmacy program develops, the position may assume leadership of pharmacy personnel if staffing needs warrant, but the existence and scope of such responsibilities remain subject to organizational needs.

Qualifications

Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Education & Experience

Required:

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD),
• Five (5+) years of Pharmacy Benefit experience,
• Three (3+) years of experience supervising or teams.

OR:

• Any combination of education and experience that would qualify candidate for the position.

Preferred:

• Seven (7) - 10+ years of pharmacy leadership experience,
• Experience with Medicaid Managed Care,
• Experience with Oregon CCO model,
• Demonstrated knowledge of OHA pharmacy policies, PDL, and regulatory environment.

Certificates, Licenses and/or Registrations

Required:

• Active Registered Pharmacist (RPh) Oregon registered pharmacist license or the ability to obtain license within six (6) months of hire.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee may occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

This position operates in a professional office environment and requires frequent use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This position may include occasional required or optional travel outside of the workplace, in which the employee's personal vehicle, local transit, or other means of transportation may be used.