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Department

* This is a hybrid role located in Denver, Colorado with a requirement of being in the office 3 days per week.

Job Summary

In accordance with Federal, State and local laws and regulations, the Director of Pharmacy for Denver Health Medical Plan (DHMP) leads the strategic vision and operational execution of pharmacy benefits ensuring alignment with clinical excellence, financial sustainability, and member centric outcomes. This role manages end-to-end pharmacy benefit design, oversight, and performance management across the entire health plan ecosystem from formulary strategy and Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) partnership to member experience and quality improvement. This role bridges clinical rigor with business impact, managing multiple lines of business inclusive of Medicare, Medicaid, CHP+, Exchange and Commercial plans. Working collaboratively with other departments, this role drives optimization of medication access, adherence and cost savings. Using Pharmacogenomics principles and evaluating industry trends, the Senior Director leads a team to review, analyze and monitor pharmacy cost and utilization data to inform and execute on short-term and long-term business goals.

Essential Functions:

• Pharmacy Services Strategies & Oversight:
  • Provides strategic oversight of all pharmacy functions, including Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) performance, formulary strategy, benefit design, and cost containment. Oversees formulary management and 340B program strategy, including specialty drug utilization, biosimilar uptake, opioid safety, and behavioral health pharmacy integration
  • Designs and implement pharmacy financial incentive programs, such as prescriber performance bonuses, shared savings models tied to utilization efficiency, outcomes-based rebate innovation, and value-tiered network designs to improve access and affordability
  • Designs utilization management protocols that enhance formulary compliance through prior authorization oversight of both outpatient and medical pharmacy
  • Provides oversight of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, ensuring formulary governance, clinical alignment, and rapid adoption/evaluation of emerging therapies
  • Oversight of diverse Pharmacy Department staff who manage prior authorization review, utilization management protocols, care coordination, Medication Therapy Management (MTM), and medication adherence services
  • Sets clear expectations for staff by developing job specific customer service expectations and behaviors for each position supervised; clearly communicates expectations to each employee and establishes the expectations as job requirements and performance appraisal components; delegates responsibility/authority whenever possible
  • Conducts all performance evaluations on time, working with each employee at least annually to set specific behavioral goals.
  • Defines role-based expectations, facilitates training, promotes retention, and supports staff development
  • Foster positive employee engagement inclusive of departmental collegiality and organizational belonging.
  (30%)
• PBM Partnership and Management:
  • Negotiate and manage PBM contract with explicit quality and performance targets, ensuring alignment with health plan clinical, regulatory, and cost-saving objectives
  • Assists in rebate and budget development, processing and monitoring.
  • Negotiates Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and contract terms in coordination with Legal, Finance, and operational leaders. This includes overseeing any new Request for Proposals (RFP) or contract re-negotiations with the PBM
  • Monitors vendor performance against defined metrics and escalates gaps for resolution.
  • Collaborate with quality, care management and member services to integrate pharmacy data into holistic health strategies
  (25%)
• Quality and Performance Ownership:
  • Development and implementation of strategies for the evaluation, performance and enhancement of current and new pharmacy programs including Medication Adherence Programs and Disease Management.
  • Monitors the managed care pharmacy industry, Health Care Reform and pharmacy benefit design trends to identify new business opportunities and improve the quality and cost effectiveness of the current DHMP Pharmacy program.
  • Evaluates priorities, performance measures, pharmacy cost metrics and savings opportunities for DHMP using LEAN principles.
  • Collaborate with Quality Improvement team to support performance on measures including CAHPS, HEDIS, CMS Star Ratings and other value-based metrics related to pharmaceutical use
  • Set, track and report on pharmacy department operational performance goals to meet or exceed Quality metrics and DOI regulatory requirements.
  • Compiles data and analysis to for the NCQA accreditation process.
  (30%)
• Organizational Leadership & Governance Engagement:
  • Prepares and presents monthly, quarterly, annual and ad-hoc reports upon request.
  • Maintain internal policies and procedures which meet regulatory compliance and industry standards
  • Reviews and communicates cost control measures, department objectives and effectiveness, as well as personnel productivity to promote organizational goals
  • Directs special financial, operational, regulatory, case management, quality, technology and other projects and programs as assigned
  • Serves as a voting member of DHMP Compliance, QIC, Medical Management, Network Management, and P&T committees
  • Maintains bidirectional communication with executive leadership highlighting progress on strategic goals and any challenge areas
  Ensures alignment with Denver Health Medical plan (DHMP) and Denver Health Hospital Authority (DHHA) business priorities. (15%)

Education:

• Doctorate degree Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) required

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years administrative Pharmacy Department management experience within a Managed Care Organization, PBM, Medicaid, and/or Medicare Program in a leadership role required
• 1-3 years Director level or higher management experience including: administrative, direct supervisory, regulatory, contract, rebate management and program development duties preferred required

Licenses:

• PHA-Licensed Pharmacist - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Analytical, Business Development, Pharmacoeconomic and Critical thinking skills required.
• Excellent verbal/written communication, contract negotiation, vendor management, presentation, training and organizational skills necessary.
• Ability to multi-task, develop regulatory guidelines, prioritize, delegate, create and implement standardized processes and operational workflow.
• Industry experience with claims adjudication, NCPDP standards, Medication Therapy Management (MTM), NCQA, HEDIS, Pharmacy Benefit design, Formulary management, Provider Networks, Prior Authorization Management, Drug Utilization Review, Customer Service and application of Commercial Health, Medicare, Medicaid and CHP+ programs including regulatory requirements.
• Able to identify the need for new policies and procedures to meet Medicaid, Medicare and Department of Insurance (DOI) requirements as well as write and review existing documentation.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple complex projects, and provide clearly articulated updates to Executive Leadership.

* This is a hybrid role located in Denver, Colorado with a requirement of being in the office 3 days per week.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future - with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development - while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays

• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks

• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%

• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.

• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center

• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Tuition reimbursement & assistance

• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways

• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net health care system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

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About Denver Health

Take your career to the next level at Denver Health, where we offer a robust benefits package and endless opportunities for growth. Denver Health is a nationally-ranked, locally-trusted, premier healthcare institution located in the heart of Denver, Colorado.Twenty-five percent of all Denver residents, or approximately 150,000 individuals, receive their health care here. We are known as an integrated health care system that encompasses multidisciplinary academic specialties, a community health system, a level I adult trauma center, pediatric emergency and urgent care center home to Denver Public Health and many of the nation's leaders in medicine.Denver Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer At Denver Health we pride ourselves on our commitment to diversity. Equal opportunity is a fundamental principle of Denver Health. As an equal opportunity employer, Denver Health is committed to recruit, hire, promote and administer all human resource actions in a non-discriminatory manner. Denver Health is committed to providing equal opportunities in all business practices and to all persons regardless of age, race, color, national origin, genetic information, religion, sex, pregnancy, disab...ility, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or veteran status (collectively “protected status”). Denver Health strives to maintain a work environment that is free from unlawful harassment and discrimination and will not tolerate any such conduct by employees or directed at employees within the scope of their employment. Read the full Human Resources Employee Principles and Practices policy.

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