Dir Pharmacy Operations

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

General Summary of Position Responsibility:        

Coordinates the professional and operational activities of the department, assuring high quality, accurate, efficient and complete pharmacy services.  Identifies, evaluates and implements specific pharmacy services which should be provided to patients, including operational process improvement, redesign and project management. Assures that pharmacy practices are compliant with all applicable legal, regulatory, and accrediting agencies.   

Essential Job Functions:

Leadership Competencies:

Personal Leadership

• Acts with integrity

• Builds trusting relationships

• Approachable; seeks to be helpful

• Leads from strengths and strives to improve weaknesses

• Thinks strategically and communicates with others frequently

• Leads with flexibility and adaptability

• Models and holds self accountable for Lurie Children’s values and core competencies (service, innovation, and teamwork)

• Leads with courage and confidence

• Seeks to continuously learn and improve by soliciting and acting on feedback

• Takes initiative to build knowledge by leveraging resources and asking questions

Organizational Awareness and Alignment

• Shares subject matter expertise

• Frequent and clear communication in all directions to ensure alignment

• Identifies and collaborates with stakeholders to achieve results; drives to operational excellence

• Is a good financial steward

• Is an advocate for self and team members

• Understands and models the Lurie Children’s culture by living the service principles and values

• Thinks strategically and shares knowledge; sets and communicates ​while cascading Lurie Children’s strategic goals

• Understands organizational structure and navigates successfully

• Builds and leverages relationships with stakeholders inside Lurie Children’s and beyond own team.

Leading Through Change

• Leads change confidently and with competence by owning the message and “walking the talk”

• Is strategic and helps others by communicating often, including providing rationale and vision for changes

• Asks questions and shares assumptions to support and lead others through

• Is a self-directed learner; gathers knowledge about healthcare climate and cascades to others

• Communicates and facilitates each initiative to adapt to a rapidly changing healthcare climate

• Continuously evaluates and improves upon the change to speed up decision making and ensure the optimal solution is reached

Influencing and Leading Others

• Provides clarity by defining roles, responsibilities, and priorities

• Holds self and others accountable

• Helps team members grow and develop by finding opportunities and giving frequent feedback

• Identifies gaps in team’s skills

• Shares or develops tools and resources to fill gaps

• Leads with compassion and authenticity

• Increases span of influence with stakeholders beyond direct reports

• Actively listens and seeks to understand

• Breaks down complex problems and helps to set goals and expectations

• Engages and empowers others; has a mindset of developing others for their own growth and the organization’s success

• Champion of Lurie Children’s mission and strategic goals by modeling the service principles

• Proactively addresses performance issues and conflict

Area Specific Job Accountabilities:

• Coordinates the operational activities of the department. Assures high quality, accurate, efficient and complete pharmacy services.

• Evaluates current pharmacy services and workflows, identifies, develops, and implements ways to improve productivity and efficiency.

• Works with the Senior Director and Clinical Director to advance clinical pharmacy practice.

• Oversee recruitment, training and scheduling to ensure adequate staffing to perform daily Pharmacy functions. Continually evaluate FTE needs according to workload /productivity and assist the Senior Director with determining FTE needs during each budget cycle.

• Coordinates formal training and competency development for all Pharmacy Staff. May delegate responsibility as appropriate.

• Assure the availability of necessary resources for the safe and efficient operation of the pharmacy.

• Oversee the performance of all aspects of the quality improvement and quality control program of the department; and evaluates the Department’s benchmarking and productivity efforts.

• Evaluates medication use patterns and identifies opportunities for optimizing the economic utilization of medications.

• Assesses drug shortages with the Clinical Director and Pharmacy Purchasing Agent(s). Formulates alternative plans for shortages with clinical impact and coordinates operational tasks needed to manage drug shortages.

• Assures that hospital/department policies and procedures are properly administered; reviews and identifies the need for new policies and procedures; develops new policies and procedures.

• Assures that pharmacy practices are compliant with all applicable legal, regulatory, and accrediting agencies. Remains updated on regulatory requirements, including but not limited to The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 795, 797, 800, IL State Board of Pharmacy, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

• Oversees all controlled substance activities and assures compliance with state and federal laws.

• Conduct annual performance appraisals for direct reports.

• Works with the Pharmacy Management Team, Informatics and Pharmacy Purchasing Agent(s), as it relates to the enforcement and maintenance of the drug formulary, department information systems, automation, and billing; make recommendations for changes as necessary. Coordinates formulary changes within Pharmacy areas.

• Works with the Pharmacy Informatics Coordinator to develop methods and procedures to assure safe and accurate dispensing of medications via automated systems.

• Continually review and assess new and state-of-the-art pharmaceutical compounding, packaging and distributive technologies and automation, for the potential to enhance safety, reduce costs, and improve efficiency for the distribution of medications.

• Coordinates and maintains Emergency Management Programs (i.e. CHEMPACK), disaster planning, and downtime activities.

• Maintains working relationships with administrative personnel, medical staff committees, and practitioners, regarding medication utilization practices, procedures, and activities. Serves on interdisciplinary committees as a pharmacy liaison and subject matter expert on pharmacy services, procedures, and activities.

• Attends and participates in internal or external user groups and professional organizations to enhance professional knowledge.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Graduate from an American Council for Pharmaceutical Education accredited College of Pharmacy required. Advanced degree, residency or specialized training in pediatrics preferred.

• Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Pharmacist by the State of Illinois.

• Prior leadership experience preferred.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Has essential team building skills.

• Knowledge of Pharmacy Operations Best Practices.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Education

Pay Range

$153,920.00-$253,968.00 Salary

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability
• Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Tuition assistance
• Student loan servicing and support
• Adoption benefits
• Backup Childcare and Eldercare
• Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
• Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
• Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: employeehealth@luriechildrens.org

AI Notice 

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.

It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.

For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: peoplequestions@luriechildrens.org