The Specialty Pharmacy Manager will provide leadership and development to clinical pharmacists, pharmacy specialists, pharmacy technicians, and support staff within Specialty Pharmacy Services of the Department of Pharmaceutical Care. The position is responsible for operational oversight of specialty pharmacy services at UI Health Care Medical Center and decentralized specialty pharmacist support services. As the department's primary subject matter expert for specialty pharmacy practice, operations, regulatory compliance, and accreditation standards, the manager will lead the Specialty Pharmacy Quality Committee, and partner with departmental and organizational leaders to advance strategic priorities, patient care services, and program growth.
The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in pharmacy operations and leadership and may bring experience from front-line operations experience, administrative leadership, or a combination of both. Training, orientation, mentorship, and ongoing support will be provided to further develop the administrative, operational, and specialty pharmacy leadership competencies necessary for success in this role.
This position collaborates closely with pharmacy, ambulatory care, and health system leaders to promote safe, effective, and cost-conscious medication use processes while advancing organizational goals related to quality, patient safety, access to care, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Responsibilities include support strategic planning, personnel leadership, program development, process improvement, data analysis and reporting, performance management, and staff development. Success in this role requires strong communication and relationship-building skills, the ability to lead through influence and change, and a high degree of initiative, creativity, independent judgment, and problem-solving capability.
This position is eligible for
hybrid work within Iowa upon completion of orientation and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
Position Responsibilities:Pharmaceutical Care Operations• Assists in the planning of the delivery and improvement of specialty pharmacy services, programs and personnel. Assigns tasks to staff and monitors individual and team progress.
• Assists ambulatory care pharmacy managers to coordinate the overall ambulatory care pharmacy services and to identify and evaluate outcomes measures to maximize productivity, clinical outcomes, and financial impact.
• Works with the appropriate ambulatory care pharmacy managers to coordinate ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services with physicians, nursing, laboratory, and other personnel and develop and assist in the implementation of clinical pathways and therapeutic guidelines. Provides guidance and oversight for ambulatory care clinical pharmacy operations.
• Works with the ambulatory care pharmacy leadership team and clinical pharmacy specialists in the development and implementation of staff competencies and credentialing within ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services.
• Ensures compliance with regulations related to the provision of pharmacy services.
• Creates an environment that encourages high performance and teamwork.
• Works with members of the pharmacy team and other departments to implement systems for patient care.
Education• Educates clinic providers and staff as well as external parties regarding services provided by ambulatory care pharmacy staff.
• Develops understanding and provides education as needed related to other services provided within the clinics.
• Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and residents.
• Provides didactic education at College of Pharmacy as needed and appropriate.
• Creates synergy between practice initiatives and PharmD student and resident rotations.
• Communicates new services or procedures to pharmacy staff and others who may be affected.
Health Care System Improvement• Evaluates problems/concerns identified by staff in collaboration with leadership team to create a safe and effective solution to meet the clinical service goals of the Department and UI Health Care.
• Participates in developing, monitoring, and reporting pharmacy practice standards for the department of pharmacy.
• Provides guidance regarding appropriate expenditure of time and resources for ambulatory care pharmacy services.
• Collaborates with departmental leaders and clinical area leaders to identify high priority outcomes that are actionable by pharmacists who provide ambulatory care clinical services.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of new programs and services.
• Evaluates and analyzes projects, develops project specifications, and creates and implements project plans to successfully meet goals and objectives.
• Plans, implements, and evaluates new clinical and technical processes including multi-disciplinary groups for program/service.
Compliance and Regulatory Management• Acts as the responsible authority of the UI Health Care Specialty Pharmacy Program and Specialty Quality Committee.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and primary contact for specialty pharmacy accreditation standards.
• Assists in evaluation of new medication therapies.
• Involves staff in department quality improvement initiatives.
• Serves as consultant on medication safety and serves on standing committees as needed.
• Provides consultation on department medication safety initiatives and works with team to implement hospital-wide safety initiatives.
• Helps to ensure system compliance with accreditation standards and with federal, state, and local regulations related to medication safety.
Human Resource Management• Hires, develops, and manages the performance of staff.
• Coordinates and leads team and staff meetings for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Assures staff are compliant with UI policies and procedures, laws and regulations.
• Conducts evaluations on personal performance at the work place and recommends improvement plans.
• Works with staff on an ongoing basis to improve performance, guides and coaches staff in solving problems which arise in a day-to-day routine.
• Collaborates with the appropriate ambulatory care pharmacy managers to coordinate scheduling and coverage of ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services.
• Monitors the progress of assignments and performance of daily responsibilities for all assigned personnel, coaches and disciplines staff as necessary.
• Measures employee satisfaction and implementation of improvement initiatives.
Financial Management• Understands billing processes for take-home prescriptions and medications dispensed and administered in the clinics.
• Assists with development of mechanisms to monitor revenue integrity in the clinics.
• Assists with gathering of information on supporting charges or drug utilization.
• Assists with standardized process for medication assistance programs for clinic-administered medications.
Technical Competencies: Accountability• Creates a team environment of accountability and commitment for reaching project goals.
• Responsiveness to concerns identified by department leadership.
• Reinforces positive contributions and recommends adjustments for improving outcomes.
• Documents knowledge that can be transferred to others.
• Helps others identify and work around problems that could impede progress.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking• Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.
• Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns.
• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
Drug Utilization and Review (DUR) / Business Intelligence• Helps in DUR planning.
• Participates in collecting and evaluating data to identify drug use problems.
• Keeps current with outpatient reimbursement guidelines and trends, and recommends changes as needed.
Effective Communications• Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
• Adapts documents and presentations for intended audience.
• Maintains focus on the topic at hand.
Education Requirements:• Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
• Current license or eligibility to be licensed as Pharmacist by Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
Experience Requirements:• Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Administration or Specialty Pharmacy Residency or minimum of five (5) years of experience working in a complex clinical pharmacy environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interest in ambulatory care.
• Ability and willingness to act as preceptor
• Professional experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
Desired Qualifications:• Job-related experience in specialty pharmacy.
• Experience leading multi-site teams.
• A Master of Science in Pharmacy or healthcare/management related advanced degree such as an MHA or MBA is desirable.
• Experience with automation/technology, human resources management, project management and Epic electronic health record is highly desirable.
• Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification.
• Specialty pharmacy accreditation experience with Joint Commission, URAC, and/or ACHC is highly desirable.
Position and Application details:In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission:
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
