Director Pharmacy

About the role

The Director of Pharmacy provides strategic leadership, operational management, regulatory compliance, and clinical oversight for the Pharmacy Department at Cibola General Hospital, a rural Critical Access Hospital. This role ensures the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of medications across inpatient, emergency, swing bed, outpatient, and specialty clinical services. The Director leads pharmacy personnel, oversees medication-use systems, ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, supports quality improvement initiatives, and collaborates with medical staff and hospital leadership to achieve organizational goals. As the organization’s pharmacy subject matter expert, the Director promotes evidence-based medication practices to enhance patient outcomes and regulatory readiness.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate all pharmacy department activities and develop departmental goals and strategic initiatives aligned with organizational objectives.
• Ensure safe and effective medication distribution systems throughout the hospital, including oversight of inpatient pharmacy operations, automated dispensing systems, emergency medication management, and controlled substance monitoring.
• Maintain adequate staffing and establish schedules to ensure continuous pharmacy services; participate in hospital leadership meetings and interdisciplinary committees.
• Serve as a resource to physicians, nurses, and clinical staff regarding medication-related matters; maintain departmental policies, procedures, and competencies.
• Promote evidence-based medication therapy management and pharmaceutical care; review medication utilization and identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes and safety.
• Support antimicrobial stewardship, opioid stewardship, and medication safety initiatives; participate in the development of treatment guidelines, protocols, and order sets.
• Provide drug information and consultation services to providers and staff; support medication reconciliation and transitional care processes.
• Ensure compliance with New Mexico Board of Pharmacy regulations, CMS Conditions of Participation, Critical Access Hospital requirements, DEA regulations, Joint Commission standards (if applicable), 340B Drug Pricing Program requirements, HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, and state and federal controlled substance regulations.
• Maintain required records, inspections, audits, and reporting; coordinate regulatory surveys and corrective action plans when necessary.
• Lead medication safety initiatives; monitor medication error reporting, investigation, and corrective actions; participate in performance improvement activities and quality committees.
• Serve as a key resource to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee; assist with formulary management and medication-use evaluations; present pharmacy-related quality, utilization, and financial reports; recommend therapeutic substitutions and formulary changes based on clinical evidence and organizational needs.
• Develop and manage the pharmacy operating budget; monitor medication expenditures and identify cost-containment opportunities; oversee pharmaceutical purchasing and inventory management; optimize participation in the 340B program when applicable; manage vendor relationships and pharmaceutical contracts.
• Recruit, hire, train, orient, supervise, and develop pharmacy staff; conduct performance evaluations and competency assessments; promote employee engagement, accountability, and professional development; ensure staff maintain required licenses, certifications, and continuing education.
• Collaborate with Information Technology and Clinical Informatics teams regarding pharmacy systems; maintain pharmacy software, automated dispensing technology, and medication management systems; support optimization of electronic health record medication workflows.
• Participate in emergency preparedness planning and response activities; provide after-hours consultation and leadership support as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited School of Pharmacy; PharmD preferred.
• Current unrestricted Pharmacist License in the State of New Mexico, or eligibility to obtain licensure prior to hire; current DEA registration or ability to obtain if required.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive hospital pharmacy experience, including minimum three (3) years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience in an acute care hospital setting.
• Experience with medication-use systems, regulatory compliance, and pharmacy operations.

Preferred Experience

• Critical Access Hospital experience.
• Rural healthcare experience.
• 340B Program management experience.
• Experience with automated dispensing systems and EHR platforms.
• Residency training (PGY1 or PGY2) preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of hospital pharmacy operations and clinical pharmacy practice.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state pharmacy regulations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Ability to manage budgets and financial performance.
• Knowledge of medication safety and quality improvement methodologies.
• Ability to analyze data and implement performance improvements.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with physicians, nurses, executive leadership, and community stakeholders.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods; frequent use of hands, fingers, and computer equipment.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 40 pounds; ability to access all patient care and pharmacy areas.
• Ability to respond to emergencies throughout the facility.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to pharmaceuticals, hazardous medications, cleaning agents, and biological substances; exposure to patients with communicable diseases.
• Frequent interruptions and changing priorities typical of a healthcare environment.
• May require occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities.