Manager, Medication Access Strategy and Operations

Visante Consulting LLC•Saint Paul, MN

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Manager, Medication Access Strategy and Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for all medication access services, including prior authorization processes for medications billed through pharmacy and medical benefits, patient assistance programs, and coordination with care teams. This role is accountable for ensuring high-quality, compliant, and efficient medication access services that support optimal patient outcomes, client deliverables, and organizational goals. As a key leader within the organization, the Manager, Medication Access Strategy and Operations serves as the primary liaison among the Medications Access Team Supervisors and Medication Access team, clinic and pharmacy leadership, providers, clinical staff, payers, and external partners. The Manager drives collaboration across stakeholders to remove barriers to therapy, improve patient access to medications, and ensure timely, coordinated care. The Manager, Medication Access Strategy and Operations provides subject matter expertise in medication access and affordability services, reports on operational trends, and delivers regular updates to clinic leadership. Key responsibilities include leading and optimizing workflows for medication benefit investigation, insurance authorizations, monitoring patients’ insurance coverage and benefit status, and proactively communicating coverage challenges and resolution strategies to the treatment team. The Manager provides direct leadership and oversight of the Medication Access Team Supervisor and daily team operations, establishes performance expectations, ensures timely service delivery and follow up, and promotes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; four (4) years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Minimum 3 years of pharmacy experience working with healthcare providers on strategic and operational initiatives.
Minimum 1 year of experience in health system pharmacy or specialty pharmacy setting.
Minimum 1 year of supervisory or personnel management experience.
State Board of Pharmacy Technician registration obtained within 2 months of start date.
Active CPhT certification through either PTCB or NHA obtained within 12 months of hire.
Demonstrated leadership capability with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build, manage, and sustain effective client and stakeholder relationships.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and complex initiatives simultaneously, effectively balancing competing demands while meeting deadlines with sound judgment and urgency.
Highly effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver clear, professional communications and presentations to internal leaders, clients, and external partners.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex operational challenges, identify root causes, and implement practical, solution-oriented improvements.
Ability to make sound, timely decisions based on data analysis, experience, risk assessment, and organizational priorities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel) to support reporting, communication, performance management, and presentations.
Experience working with electronic medical record (EMR) systems and healthcare technology platforms to support clinical and operational workflows.
Ability to establish credibility, build trust, and foster effective collaboration across interdisciplinary teams and organizational boundaries

Nice To Haves

Graduate of an ASHP-accredited pharmacy technician training program.
Previous consulting, clinic, or client-facing experience.
Previous experience using Epic Compass Rose Specialty Pharmacy patient management program.

Responsibilities

Provides direction, oversight, and accountability for all medication access and affordability services across multiple client partnerships, including prior authorizations, patient assistance, and other patient support initiatives.
Recruits, hires, trains, and develops high-performing supervisors and team members to support operational excellence and sustained service delivery, establishing clear performance expectations and leading a culture of accountability
Monitors workflows, turnaround times, and service outcomes to consistently meet or exceed establi8shed standards and client expectations.
Establishes, monitors, and reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational trends, using data and insights to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and implement enhancement strategies.
Proactively identifies and resolves operational risks, workflow inefficiencies, and access barriers that may impact patients, pharmacy teams, providers, or clients.
Serves as primary liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders, including clinic leadership, pharmacy leadership, providers, payers, and partners, maintaining consistent and transparent communication to foster strong, aligned partnerships.
Leads the development and continuous refinement of standardized processes for client onboarding, referral workflows, benefit investigations, prior authorizations, documentation, tracking, and communication to ensure quality, consistency, and scalability.
Evaluates medication access and pharmacy support operations to identify opportunities for enhanced efficiencies, productivity, and service quality and implements improvement initiatives.
Partners with clinic, pharmacy, and client teams to design, implement, and optimize medication access and affordability services that support clinical care delivery and patient outcomes.
Provides education, guidance, and subject matter expertise to internal teams and client staff to ensure effective execution of medication access services and best practices.
Serves as internal expert in medication access, affordability services, specialty pharmacy services, and retail pharmacy operations, contributing to organizational knowledge and capability development.
Models and reinforces exceptional customer service in all interactions ensuring professionalism, responsiveness, and a patient-centered approach.
Supports client development, service expansion, and project deliverables through the development of frameworks, best practices, and innovative approaches that enhance value, performance, and sustainability.
Builds and sustains trust-based relationships with internal teams and client stakeholders through credibility, expertise, and consistent follow through to support long-term success.