Pharmacy Services Senior Director

About the role

This is a strategic executive role within Essentia Health’s Pharmacy division that owns the cross-cutting business engine powering all of pharmacy at Essentia. Reporting to the Vice President of Pharmacy, you will serve as the system-level expert on pharmacy economics—how Essentia gets paid, manages costs, strengthens external partnerships, and uses analytics and informatics to drive decisions across both acute and ambulatory pharmacy.

You will thrive in this role if you have deep expertise in the business of pharmacy—payer and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) dynamics, wholesaler and manufacturer relationships, pharmacy contracting, and revenue cycle—and are energized by being the strategic voice on financial decisions shaping an entire system pharmacy enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Lead pharmacy business services across the system, including expense management, revenue optimization, and the financial strategy supporting both acute and ambulatory pharmacy.
• Own pharmacy payer and PBM strategy, serving as Essentia’s primary partner with commercial payers, government payers, and pharmacy benefit managers. Build the negotiation approach to ensure full and accurate payment for services.
• Lead wholesaler, manufacturer, and group purchasing organization relationships, including contract strategy, performance management, and negotiation.
• Direct pharmacy revenue cycle performance, ensuring correct charging, capturing every dollar earned, and continuously improving reimbursement processes.
• Lead pharmacy analytics, informatics, and AI strategy, including dashboard development priorities and data infrastructure supporting business decisions.
• Partner with the Vice President of Pharmacy on planning, monitoring, and managing pharmacy budgets, including financial forecasting and variance analysis.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to line-of-service Senior Directors (acute care and ambulatory), ensuring alignment and value across the enterprise.
• Coordinate enterprise-level pharmacy projects and initiatives spanning multiple business lines.
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing team responsible for pharmacy business services, analytics, and program oversight.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and accrediting requirements governing pharmacy practice and business operations.

Requirements

• Eligible for licensure to practice pharmacy in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or North Dakota.
• PharmD from an accredited school of pharmacy.
• 5+ years of pharmacy business leadership experience, with demonstrated breadth across both acute care and ambulatory pharmacy.
• Deep expertise in pharmacy economics—including payer and PBM dynamics, wholesaler and manufacturer relationships, contracting, and revenue cycle.
• Demonstrated financial management experience with large pharmacy budgets, including planning, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence executive audiences and translate complex pharmacy economics into clear strategy.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing teams in a complex or matrixed organization.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Experience at an integrated health system, IDN, or specialty pharmacy operator known for sophisticated pharmacy business operations.
• Hands-on experience leading payer negotiations, PBM contracts, or pharmacy reimbursement strategy at a system level.
• Background in pharmacy analytics, informatics, or AI-enabled tools used to drive business and operational decisions.
• Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 and PGY2 in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Health Administration, or related discipline.
• Comfort operating with system-level visibility and executive audiences, including the Vice President of Pharmacy and senior finance and operations leaders.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of identifying and operationalizing new pharmacy business opportunities.

Schedule

• Hybrid role with regular in-person presence expected in Duluth, MN to support collaboration with pharmacy and system leadership.
• Day rotation, 80 hours per pay period (full-time, FTE: 1).

Candidates must live within 50 miles of an Essentia Health location, the Twin Cities metro area, or be willing to relocate. Relocation assistance of up to $15,000 is available for qualifying candidates. Residency in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, or Colorado is not eligible for employment in this role.

Pay

Compensation range: $87.66 - $131.49 per hour.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance with supplemental options.
• 401(k) plan with employer contributions.
• Professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs.
• Flexible scheduling and generous time off.
• Wellness resources focused on physical, mental, and emotional health.

Benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact the HR Service Center.