Pharmacist Specialist (Medication Safety Officer)

As the subject matter expert, the Pharmacist Specialist leads in their specialized area of pharmacy practice. In collaboration with teams and leaders, this role assists and is accountable for implementing departmental strategy, optimizing outcomes, achieving financial targets, and ensuring operational excellence. The Pharmacist Specialist serves as a liaison with external stakeholders to advance department goals, coordinates team participation in internal and external committees (e.g., UCOP, P&T), and facilitates resident/student activities, research, and medication evaluations aligned with departmental needs.

Responsibilities

• Promote positive patient outcomes through clinical practice, education, system thinking, leadership, and project management.
• Ensure organizational compliance with federal/state regulations and accreditation requirements (e.g., FDA, CDPH, BOP, TJC) for medication management.
• Review, analyze, and trend data to identify gaps; lead or participate in process improvement activities.
• Coordinate pharmacy regulatory and safety-related activities, programs, and initiatives.
• Interact with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, Licensing and Accreditation, Legal, Risk Management, and Pharmacy.
• Assist in expert review of regulatory actions and collaborate with stakeholders to interpret, assess impacts, and implement regulatory changes.
• Allocate time as follows:
  • 20% Clinical Services
  • 20% Operational Excellence
  • 20% People (leadership, mentorship, team coordination)
  • 20% Financial Stability
  • 20% Innovation (research, process improvement, regulatory compliance)

Requirements

• California Board of Pharmacy License eligible; must possess a valid license at time of hire.
• Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm D) from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education-certified school of pharmacy, or equivalent training.
• Completion of Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) residency at an ASHP-accredited program, or 5 years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience.
• Three years of work experience in pharmacy operations or administration.
• Two years of experience with a regulatory and safety component in a healthcare setting, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in quality improvement, project management, and/or professional service.
• Proficiency with data management, analysis, and project management software (e.g., MS Word, Excel, Visio, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Qualifications

• Ability to foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Collaborative teamwork in a multidisciplinary environment; ability to manage projects, deadlines, and priorities with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated leadership and management of professionals through influence and collaboration.
• Independent problem-solving: define problems, identify resources, implement solutions, and ensure resolution.
• Decision-making skills to exercise delegated authority and seek assistance when needed.
• Discretion to maintain patient confidentiality and a professional, respectful work environment.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills for interfacing with executive leadership and external regulators.
• Ability to work under pressure on high-visibility regulatory issues with strict deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of California pharmacy regulatory processes and federal/state/local regulations for medication handling and controlled substances.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills; ability to maintain composure during peak workloads and interruptions.
• Coaching and mentoring skills for pharmacy residents, students, and staff.
• Knowledge of:
  • Proper handling and storage of pharmaceuticals, including drug supplies.
  • Regulations, methods, and procedures for preparing non-sterile and sterile pharmaceuticals.
  • Change management and process improvement methodologies.
  • Prescription/non-prescription drugs, their indications, efficacy, dosage, mechanisms, contraindications, and side effects.
  • Influence of patient factors (age, sex, disease states, concurrent therapies) on drug activity and disposition.
  • Medical terminology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, medical therapeutics, and disease states.
  • Physiology, anatomy, pathology, chemistry, and mathematics as they relate to pharmacy practice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy or Specialty Practice (if available), or equivalent.
• Pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) or equivalent experience within the previous three years.
• Medication Safety Officer or equivalent experience.
• Ability to interpret regulatory standards and apply them to UCDH practices.

About the Department

UC Davis Health is a nationally recognized leader in high-quality, patient-centered care, located in the Greater Sacramento area of Northern California. The health system includes a Comprehensive Cancer Center, internationally recognized MIND Institute, and a nationally ranked pediatric hospital. The 646-bed acute care hospital serves an ambulatory care region spanning 33 counties across 65,000 square miles.

The Department of Pharmacy is a dynamic, integral part of UC Davis Health, employing over 600 professionals. It focuses on patient-centered medication management to optimize outcomes through practice, education, research, and leadership across the care continuum. The department operates the largest pharmacy residency program in the country, with 46 residents in 13 programs, and provides comprehensive pharmaceutical services 24/7, including inpatient, outpatient, infusion, and home infusion services.

Pay

Monthly salary range: $9,834.48 – $21,525.54.

Schedule

• Full-time (100% time).
• 8-hour shifts.
• 100% on-site at Sherman Way Building (HSP056).

Benefits

• High-quality, low-cost medical plans for employees and dependents.
• UC-paid dental and vision coverage for employees and family.
• Retirement plans, including Pension and Retirement Savings Plans.
• Supplemental insurance: life, disability, pet, legal, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity.
• Paid leave: Pregnancy/Parental Leave, Family & Medical Leave, Adoption Assistance, and Pay for Family Care and Bonding.
• Lactation Support Program and family care discounts.
• Employee Well-being resources and on-site Employee Assistance Program (free mental health services).
• Paid holidays and generous vacation/sick time (per UC policies or collective bargaining agreements).
• Continuing Education allowance and Staff Education Reimbursement Program.
• Free professional development courses and learning opportunities.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility and Student Loan Debt Counseling.

Physical Demands

• Standing: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Walking: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Sitting: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Lifting/Carrying:
  • 0–25 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
  • 26–50 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
  • Over 50 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Pushing/Pulling:
  • 0–25 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
  • 26–50 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
  • Over 50 lbs: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Bending/Stooping: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Squatting/Kneeling: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Twisting: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Climbing (e.g., stairs/ladders): Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Reaching overhead: Occasional, up to 3 hours.
• Keyboard use/repetitive motion: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.

Environmental Demands

• Loud noise levels: Occasional, up to 3 hours.

Mental Demands

• Sustained attention and concentration: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.
• Complex problem-solving/reasoning: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.
• Ability to organize and prioritize: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.
• Communication skills: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.
• Numerical skills: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.
• Constant interaction: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.
• Customer/Patient Contact: Frequent, 3 to 6 hours.
• Multiple concurrent tasks: Continuous, 6 to 8+ hours.