Senior Director of Pharmacy – Retail, Specialty, and Ambulatory Care
Position Overview
St. Luke’s Health System is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Director of Pharmacy responsible for Retail, Specialty, and Ambulatory Care to lead and advance our pharmacy enterprise. This role is responsible for overseeing and integrating retail, specialty, and ambulatory care pharmacy operations, driving growth, financial performance, and ensuring alignment with the system’s overarching healthcare strategy.
As a key senior leader, the Senior Director will be responsible for developing and executing strategies that expand prescription capture, enhance patient access to pharmacy services, advance pharmacy practice, and maximize financial sustainability. This role will also be instrumental in fostering innovation, operational excellence, and collaboration across departments to advance St. Luke’s pharmacy enterprise.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Growth
- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for retail, specialty, and ambulatory pharmacy services to advance growth, operational efficiency, and expanded patient access.
- Increase retail pharmacy prescription capture rate from 15% toward national benchmarks of 40-50%, with a goal of generating additional revenue.
- Expand specialty pharmacy operations, increasing market capture beyond the current 40% of a $600M opportunity, while continuing 20% year-over-year growth.
- Advance ambulatory care pharmacy services, ensuring strategic alignment between clinic-based pharmacists, retail pharmacy operations, and specialty pharmacy programs to increase prescription capture and improve medication management for patients.
- Support the development of a comprehensive population health pharmacy strategy to align pharmacy services with preventive care, chronic disease management, health equity, and system-wide quality goals.
- Expand and advance mail order and home delivery pharmacy services to improve accessibility, patient adherence, and pharmacy growth.
- Identify emerging pharmacy revenue opportunities, innovative service models, and industry best practices to drive expansion and financial sustainability.
- Establish and track key performance metrics for St. Luke’s six retail pharmacies to guide pharmacy managers in achieving strategic and operational goals.
- Centralize retail pharmacy activities to improve bandwidth and efficiency, supporting the establishment of a central call center, order verification processes, and other centralized functions that allow frontline pharmacy teams to focus on patient care and clinical services.
Advancing Pharmacy Practice & Workforce Development
- Lead efforts to ensure pharmacists practice at the top of their license, expanding their role in medication therapy management, chronic disease management, and value-based care initiatives.
- Expand pharmacist prescribing authority to support primary care access, improving efficiency and patient care within the ambulatory care setting.
- Establish strategies to enhance pharmacy technician roles, including career advancement pathways, new training opportunities, and expanding their scope of work to advance pharmacy operations.
- Implement Product Verification Technician (PVT) roles within retail, specialty, and ambulatory pharmacy to enhance workflow efficiency and allow pharmacists to focus on clinical services.
- Collaborate with clinical teams, providers, and payers to integrate pharmacists into ambulatory and specialty care settings, reinforcing their role in improving medication adherence, patient outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs.
- Continue to support and advance the strategic direction of pharmacy services, ensuring alignment with broader health system priorities.
Safe Practices & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, accreditation standards, and payer requirements for all pharmacy operations.
- Establish and enforce medication safety standards, quality assurance programs, and best practices in medication use across all pharmacy services.
- Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies related to medication safety, regulatory compliance, and patient care workflows.
Operational Oversight & Technology Advancement
- Lead and oversee the retail, specialty, and ambulatory care pharmacy teams, ensuring high-quality service delivery, financial performance, and operational efficiency.
- Advance pharmacy automation, mail order, and home delivery services to improve efficiency, increase prescription volume, and enhance patient convenience.
- Strengthen coordination between specialty pharmacy services, clinic-based pharmacists, and retail pharmacy locations to advance prescription volume growth and patient access.
- Implement process improvements and technology-driven solutions to enhance workflow efficiency, reduce administrative burden, and improve patient outcomes.
- Advance digital health solutions, data analytics, and technology-enabled care models to support pharmacy growth and operational success.
- Support the development and integration of a centralized call center and order verification processes, streamlining operations across all retail pharmacies to improve workflow and allow pharmacists to focus on clinical services and patient interactions.
Leadership & Team Development
- Provide strategic leadership and mentorship to pharmacy managers and directors overseeing retail, specialty, and ambulatory care pharmacy.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture that prioritizes innovation, accountability, and patient-centered care.
- Identify and implement staff development programs, ensuring continued education and advancement opportunities for pharmacy team members.
Qualifications
Required:
- Pharmacy Degree from accredited program, PharmD, preferred
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- 10+ years of progressive pharmacy leadership experience, with a strong track record in retail, specialty, or ambulatory care pharmacy.
- Experience scaling pharmacy operations, driving revenue growth, and implementing strategic initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of payer contracting, pharmacy revenue cycle, and specialty pharmacy accreditation requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional teams and drive operational efficiencies.
- Strong business acumen with experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and performance optimization.
Preferred:
- Experience in health system-based pharmacy leadership.
- Knowledge of value-based care models and population health strategies.
- Familiarity with pharmacy automation, digital health solutions, and innovative care delivery models.
[BD1]should this state PharmD and Master's degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, or related field?