Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer, Adult Services

University of California San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer leads change and approves new programs and policies across the organization and health system for Adult Services. Establishes and independently approves short- and long-term strategy for the assigned business unit, with full accountability for operational, financial, and regulatory performance across all sites. Exercises autonomous authority over resource allocation, capital planning, and multi-site budget management within the unit. Collaborates with the Chief Pharmacy Officer (CPO) and other ACPOs to align strategy with enterprise priorities while maintaining governance and decision-making authority within the assigned business unit. Leads system-wide standardization efforts and ensures achievement of strategic objectives across sites. This includes oversight of inpatient and ambulatory adult pharmacy operations, budgeting, planning, organizational design, staffing, performance management, and supervision of managers and clinical pharmacy teams supporting adult patient populations. 1) MEDICAL CARE AND PATIENT RESPONSIVENESS Represents the Department in interaction with Health System personnel, community groups, other healthcare organizations and through active participation on committees, task forces, etc., when appropriate or as assigned. Coordinates problem-solving efforts with patient care providers to assure standards for service and quality. Responsive to patients, parents, visitors, and caregivers by assuring that services are provided in a timely manner with courtesy and compassion within a positive environmental setting. Monitors the departmental quality assurance program and facilitates response/solution to quality assurance issues. Assures continuity of department operations by coordinating the technical/administrative support. Develops departmental policies/procedures and goals/objectives that are consistent with those of the Health System. 2) COMMUNICATION Meets regularly with all department members and provides information and updates on Health System/Department activities. Exercises sound judgment in advising Administrators, Department Managers, etc. on key issues. Provides timely written reports that reflect clarity, purpose, and as appropriate, recommendations and/or alternatives. Maintains current knowledge of technical/professional field, the healthcare industry, Health System activities and contributes the same in discussions at a variety of forums. 3) STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS Establishes departmental standards and assures that employees are informed of these and of the expectation of compliance. Administers the management/administrative and personnel policies of the Health System in a consistent and uniform manner. Managing Relationships including relationships with patients, subordinates, peers and supervisors. Build and maintain relationships with others based on mutual respect and trust. Foster collaborative decision-making among staff with diverse backgrounds and interests. Work effectively toward solutions that consider the needs of all parties when conflict arises. Provide regular updates on program process and work with appropriate people to minimize risks and resolve problems. Responsible for updating employee job descriptions that reflects current job responsibilities and to monitor employees’ work performance against such criteria; conduct timely formal performance appraisal of employees. Establishes a work environment wherein training opportunities exist for personnel to enhance their skills. Provides guidance and counseling to personnel in a manner that promotes teamwork and facilitates the resolutions of conflict among staff. Selects and hires new employees and also recommends employee terminations as appropriate. Recruitment and Retention: Ensure that all job postings/requisitions incorporate the language “or equivalent combination of education and experience” in the statement of minimum qualifications and thus not exclude otherwise qualified and often diverse candidates. Develop selection committees, when appropriate, for a departmental position, that are diverse in their composition. 4) LEADERSHIP Serves as a role model for personnel through management practices of honesty, integrity and fairness. Promotes teamwork by encouraging personnel participation in departmental activities and by enhancing their awareness and knowledge of the Health System’s objectives. Demonstrates responsiveness, flexibility, and support of employees. Participates actively with other department managers in addressing Health System-wide issues and/or interdepartmental coordination. Demonstrates sound approach to decision-making with appropriate analysis before-hand. 5) PLANNING Identifies resource needs, operational problems, shifts in technological-treatment trends and develops appropriate plans to address. Assesses service demand and facilitates staffing and/or service adjustments, space utilization, equipment functioning, etc.; coordinates the support services of other departments and/or external agencies. Establishes and evaluates, work-system designs and standards and protocols to enhance departmental productivity with input from employees. Develops long-term plan of department operations, services and programs. 6) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Develops an annual operational budget and capital budget; monitors and controls expenditure levels to assure compliance with approved budget and submits quarterly performance reports to administration. Assesses departmental productivity and appropriately revises workflow systems to enhance efficiency in providing services. Participates in Health System-wide cost containment activities and promotes same among department staff by establishment of specific cost containment objectives. Assists administration in identifying possible new funding sources and revenue enhancement opportunities. 7) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL EXPERTISE Maintains executive-level knowledge of adult pharmacy practice across inpatient and ambulatory settings, including healthcare delivery trends, reimbursement models, and value-based care strategies impacting adult services. Ensures adult pharmacy services remain compliant with evolving federal and state laws, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements, proactively guiding system-wide readiness and risk mitigation efforts. Guides enterprise adoption and optimization of pharmacy information systems, automation, analytics, and emerging technologies to support safe, efficient, and scalable medication-use processes for adult patient populations. Anticipates and prepares adult pharmacy services for emerging roles, responsibilities, and practice models for pharmacists across the Health System, aligning workforce development with strategic clinical and operational priorities.

Requirements

Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm D) or equivalent training.
Registered Pharmacist in the State of California
Post grad 2 In Pharmacy Practice or hospital administration, or equivalent experience.
Seven years of experience (or equivalent) with 5 years in a leadership role
Highly advanced knowledge and applied background in Pharmacy practice.
Extensive business knowledge in systems planning and change management with comprehensive understanding of the organization and functional area.
Highly advanced knowledge of medical center, HR and UC policies and processes.
Extensive knowledge of relevant pharmaceutical protocols including medicine storage, safety, and patient privacy and treatment.
Advanced knowledge of state and national regulatory agency guidelines and state and federal laws related to pharmacy operations.
Highly developed leadership skills to oversee multiple functions through subordinate managers, appropriately granting autonomy while knowing when to intervene.
Advanced strategic development skills to collaborate with senior management across the organization to implement strategic initiatives and long term projects.
Skills in establishing and implementing customer service standards.
Ability to streamline systems and design processes to improve efficiency of pharmacy unit operations.
Interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective relationships and work collaboratively with others
Ability to manage conflict and resolve sensitive, impactful situations.
Critical thinker with advanced analytical abilities to identify and solve complex problems.
Advanced verbal and written communication.
Highly developed negotiation, persuasion and presentation skills.
Advanced user of clinical documentation programs and pharmacy database technology.
Knowledge of alternative industry computer application programs in the industry and ability to identify technological inefficiencies and implement improvements to the pharmacy’s use of information technology.

Nice To Haves

Responsibilities

Represents the Department in interaction with Health System personnel, community groups, other healthcare organizations and through active participation on committees, task forces, etc., when appropriate or as assigned.
Coordinates problem-solving efforts with patient care providers to assure standards for service and quality.
Responsive to patients, parents, visitors, and caregivers by assuring that services are provided in a timely manner with courtesy and compassion within a positive environmental setting.
Monitors the departmental quality assurance program and facilitates response/solution to quality assurance issues.
Assures continuity of department operations by coordinating the technical/administrative support.
Develops departmental policies/procedures and goals/objectives that are consistent with those of the Health System.
Meets regularly with all department members and provides information and updates on Health System/Department activities.
Exercises sound judgment in advising Administrators, Department Managers, etc. on key issues.
Provides timely written reports that reflect clarity, purpose, and as appropriate, recommendations and/or alternatives.
Maintains current knowledge of technical/professional field, the healthcare industry, Health System activities and contributes the same in discussions at a variety of forums.
Establishes departmental standards and assures that employees are informed of these and of the expectation of compliance.
Administers the management/administrative and personnel policies of the Health System in a consistent and uniform manner.
Managing Relationships including relationships with patients, subordinates, peers and supervisors.
Build and maintain relationships with others based on mutual respect and trust.
Foster collaborative decision-making among staff with diverse backgrounds and interests.
Work effectively toward solutions that consider the needs of all parties when conflict arises.
Provide regular updates on program process and work with appropriate people to minimize risks and resolve problems.
Responsible for updating employee job descriptions that reflects current job responsibilities and to monitor employees’ work performance against such criteria; conduct timely formal performance appraisal of employees.
Establishes a work environment wherein training opportunities exist for personnel to enhance their skills.
Provides guidance and counseling to personnel in a manner that promotes teamwork and facilitates the resolutions of conflict among staff.
Selects and hires new employees and also recommends employee terminations as appropriate.
Recruitment and Retention: Ensure that all job postings/requisitions incorporate the language “or equivalent combination of education and experience” in the statement of minimum qualifications and thus not exclude otherwise qualified and often diverse candidates.
Develop selection committees, when appropriate, for a departmental position, that are diverse in their composition.
Serves as a role model for personnel through management practices of honesty, integrity and fairness.
Promotes teamwork by encouraging personnel participation in departmental activities and by enhancing their awareness and knowledge of the Health System’s objectives.
Demonstrates responsiveness, flexibility, and support of employees.
Participates actively with other department managers in addressing Health System-wide issues and/or interdepartmental coordination.
Demonstrates sound approach to decision-making with appropriate analysis before-hand.
Identifies resource needs, operational problems, shifts in technological-treatment trends and develops appropriate plans to address.
Assesses service demand and facilitates staffing and/or service adjustments, space utilization, equipment functioning, etc.; coordinates the support services of other departments and/or external agencies.
Establishes and evaluates, work-system designs and standards and protocols to enhance departmental productivity with input from employees.
Develops long-term plan of department operations, services and programs.
Develops an annual operational budget and capital budget; monitors and controls expenditure levels to assure compliance with approved budget and submits quarterly performance reports to administration.
Assesses departmental productivity and appropriately revises workflow systems to enhance efficiency in providing services.
Participates in Health System-wide cost containment activities and promotes same among department staff by establishment of specific cost containment objectives.
Assists administration in identifying possible new funding sources and revenue enhancement opportunities.
Maintains executive-level knowledge of adult pharmacy practice across inpatient and ambulatory settings, including healthcare delivery trends, reimbursement models, and value-based care strategies impacting adult services.
Ensures adult pharmacy services remain compliant with evolving federal and state laws, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements, proactively guiding system-wide readiness and risk mitigation efforts.
Guides enterprise adoption and optimization of pharmacy information systems, automation, analytics, and emerging technologies to support safe, efficient, and scalable medication-use processes for adult patient populations.
Anticipates and prepares adult pharmacy services for emerging roles, responsibilities, and practice models for pharmacists across the Health System, aligning workforce development with strategic clinical and operational priorities.