Director, Pharmacy Operations - Boulder, CO

Director, Pharmacy Operations

Location: Remote/Hybrid (as applicable)
Compensation: $136,000 - $190,000 annually, depending on experience
Employment Type: Full-Time

You NEED both your CA and CO license

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Pharmacy Operations to provide operational, regulatory, and leadership oversight for a high-volume, highly automated closed-door pharmacy serving Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This role is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant pharmacy operations while supporting the clinical and service needs of PACE participants across multiple states.

The Director of Pharmacy Operations will oversee pharmacy production, dispensing workflows, automation systems, quality initiatives, compliance programs, and staff development. This individual will play a critical role in driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and scalable growth in a fast-paced pharmacy environment.

Candidates must maintain active pharmacist licensure in Colorado and California (or be willing to obtain California licensure within six months of hire) and be willing to secure additional state licenses as needed to support organizational compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead and oversee daily operations of a high-volume, highly automated closed-door pharmacy supporting PACE organizations.
• Ensure efficient, accurate, and timely dispensing, packaging, verification, and distribution of medications.
• Direct the performance, optimization, and reliability of pharmacy automation and dispensing systems.
• Implement best practices related to workflow management, production scheduling, inventory control, and automation utilization.
• Maintain operational readiness to meet service-level expectations and PACE program requirements.
• Drive operational efficiency, throughput, and service excellence across all pharmacy functions.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local pharmacy regulations, including Board of Pharmacy requirements, DEA regulations, and PACE program standards.
• Maintain active pharmacist licensure and oversee multi-state pharmacy compliance initiatives.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce pharmacy Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Lead regulatory inspections, audits, accreditation reviews, and compliance assessments.
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement operational updates as necessary.

Quality & Patient Safety

• Champion quality assurance initiatives focused on patient safety, dispensing accuracy, and operational excellence.
• Monitor key performance and quality indicators to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct root-cause analyses and implement corrective and preventive action plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous improvement throughout the pharmacy operation.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop pharmacists, pharmacy supervisors, and pharmacy technicians.
• Manage staffing strategies, workforce planning, recruitment, scheduling, training, and performance management.
• Create a collaborative, engaged, and high-performing work environment.
• Support employee development through coaching, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.

Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with executive leadership to support strategic growth initiatives and operational expansion.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, automation utilization, and overall operational performance.
• Lead implementation of new technologies, process improvements, and workflow enhancements.
• Utilize KPIs, operational dashboards, and data analytics to drive informed decision-making and performance outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with clinical teams, PACE leadership, compliance, quality, supply chain, engineering, and IT departments.
• Ensure pharmacy operations align with organizational objectives, patient care goals, and service expectations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on pharmacy operations, automation systems, and PACE pharmacy workflows.

Required Qualifications

• PharmD or Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy.
• Active Colorado pharmacist license in good standing.
• Active California pharmacist license in good standing, or willingness to obtain California licensure within six months of hire.
• Willingness to obtain pharmacist licensure in additional states as needed.
• Minimum of 5 years of pharmacy management experience in operational, production, or dispensary pharmacy settings.
• Experience leading high-volume, centralized, closed-door, or automated pharmacy operations.
• Strong knowledge of pharmacy regulations, DEA requirements, controlled substance management, and quality standards.
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing pharmacy teams.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with pharmacy robotics and advanced automation technologies.
• Demonstrated success managing, scaling, or optimizing large-volume pharmacy operations.
• Experience supporting PACE programs or similar population health initiatives.
• Multi-state pharmacy operations experience.

Core Competencies

• Leadership & Team Development
• Operational Excellence
• Pharmacy Automation & Technology
• Regulatory Compliance
• Quality & Patient Safety
• Strategic Planning
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Change Management

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead a mission-driven pharmacy operation that directly supports the health and well-being of elderly populations through innovative, high-quality pharmacy services. You'll work alongside experienced healthcare leaders while driving operational excellence, automation strategy, and continuous improvement in a growing organization.

Compensation: $136,000 - $190,000 annually, based on experience, qualifications, and licensure.

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