Description:

Compensation:

• Salary, exempt
• New hires are placed on our starting wage scale of $93,995 to $116,105
• Based on performance, there is room to grow on our full wage scale of $93,995 to $138,195 per year

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; availability for occasional questions on Saturdays as our pharmacy is open then

Who We Are

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center (FQHC) that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing almost 300 caring and compassionate employees, our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

What We Value

• Respect
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Innovation

We have an inclusive culture and strive to demonstrate our Values in Action in all that we do. We value each individual on our team and aim to onboard a diverse workforce of the very best talent, whose ambitions and values align with ours.

Job Summary

As the Pharmacy Operations Manager, you would be responsible for managing the pharmacy operations of UCNW by performing (but not limited to) the duties listed below:

Supervises Pharmacy Assistants and Pharmacy Technicians in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws:

• Assigns duties to employees; provides daily guidance and supervision.
• Reviews employee assignments and provides specific instructions on completion of tasks/responsibilities.
• Provides and/or ensures employees receive instruction/training needed to successfully complete their assigned job responsibilities.
• Ensures that employees are aware of, and adhere to, appropriate company policies and procedures.
• Provides input into the maintenance and upkeep of departmental job descriptions.
• Prepares and conducts performance appraisals, including establishment and implementation of developmental plans, for immediate staff.
• Provides recommendations on hiring, disciplinary actions and terminations; executes corrective action within scope of authority.
• Monitors employee attendance.
• Coordinates and leads team and staff meetings for assigned areas of responsibility.

Assures the service levels for the pharmacies are met:

• Develops and manages the pharmacy ancillary personnel staff schedule to optimize flow, efficiency, patient access and productivity.
• Manages pharmacy ancillary personnel staff leave requests, coverage and schedules in accordance with UCNW’s standards and procedures, balancing patient access, budgetary and revenue implications and staff needs.
• Looks for and implements programmatic opportunities to enhance service levels.
• In collaboration with Pharmacy leadership, addresses performance concerns impacting service levels.

Manages/owns projects, initiatives, annual goals and objectives and grant/contracts for the pharmacy department:

• Provides input to the slate of annual goals & objectives.
• Uses approved tools for project planning.
• Involves and includes key stakeholders.
• Develops and executes project, implementation and training plans.
• Communicates progress and updates with key stakeholders.
• Meets key milestones, deliverables and timelines.
• Completes tracking and reporting requirements.
• Successfully completes projects, initiatives, annual goals and objectives, grant/contract requirements.
• Debriefs on successes and learning opportunities.

Manages customer service and patients’ experience of care:

• Makes sure all departmental patient complaints are investigated and resolved within 30 days.
• Assures patient access to pharmacies during all business hours.
• Develops and implements action plans for underperforming staff and outcomes.
• Looks for and implements strategies and approaches to advance and improve the patients’ experience of care with pharmacy services.

Provides input on & assures achievement of the annual quality performance measures for the department in collaboration with the QI Manager, Pharmacy Director, and Pharmacy Manager:

• Provides input to the selection of annual quality performance measures and targets, prioritizing outcome and benchmarked measures whenever possible.
• Educates pharmacy staff on the measures selected.
• Embeds quality improvement culture within the teams.
• Works with pharmacy leadership and key stakeholders to develop and implement training and action plans for achieving the measures.
• Analyzes and shares quality measure results.
• Adjusts training and action plans based on results.

Manages the financial health of the department:

• Provides CFO with next year’s annual budget requests by requested date every year.
• Aligns purchases and hiring with approved staffing ratios and approved annual budget, including achievement of projected net income and/or expected prescription volumes and revenues.
• Submits written proposals to request exceptions outside the approved budget.
• Collaborates with Pharmacy Director for purchasing decisions on supplies and new equipment.
• Maintains current equipment.
• Recommends scope of services based on reimbursement and patient needs.
• Assures reimbursement for goods and services provided.
• Develops key performance indicators and manage pharmacy performance within established goals and/or benchmarks.
• Reviews payer provider manuals as changes are made and updates procedures and educates pharmacy staff on the operational changes required to satisfy third-party billing requirements.

Manages staff and patient safety for the pharmacies:

• Investigates and resolves all Safety Events.
• Assigns representatives from the pharmacy to participate on the Safety/Wellness Committee.
• Develops and implements action plans to address identified safety concerns.
• Develops and executes staff safety training.

What We Offer

• A friendly & collaborative team environment
• Ongoing, in-house leadership training plus 1-on-1 management coaching with our Organizational Development Specialist
• A competitive compensation package
• Generous paid time off

Generous Benefits including:

Benefits Include:

• Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year of eligibility
• 6 paid holidays
• Generous paid time off with 160 hours accrued in first year (increasing thereafter)
• Other paid leaves for: Bereavement, Jury Duty, Bone Marrow/Organ Donation & Severe Weather Pay
• Life/AD&D insurance
• Variety of optional insurances including Supplementary Life/AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, and Travel as well as Identity Theft Protection
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative transportation incentives
• Healthy Living reimbursement
• Unique programs including Medical Hardship Payroll Loans, Employee Referral Bonus, Will preparation services & a gym discount.
• Employment that counts towards eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness – details can be viewed at Federal Student Aid.

Requirements:

• Possesses advanced general skills, including written and verbal communications skills, computational and computer skills, and mathematical knowledge at a level typically acquired through completion of a general bachelor’s degree program.
• In addition to advanced general knowledge, requires knowledge and expertise in a non-technical general profession (e.g., Pharmacy and/or Health Care), which may include some specific or technical training, but is generally acquired through experience.
• Possesses a full understanding of the theory behind how procedures and practices in Pharmacy and/or Health Care are developed, beyond how they are used at UCNW, in order to effectively make significant contributions to policy and procedure development.
• Management and/or supervisory experience required.
• Current Washington State Pharmacy Assistant license.
• Current valid driver’s license & reliable transportation as this position requires travel between our North Whatcom & Bellingham locations.

Technical Skills:

• Operations and organizational ability sufficient to maintain and improve pharmacy services.
• Strategic planning, risk assessment, process, and systems analysis development.
• Financial analysis and management.
• Purchasing and inventory control.
• Knowledge of 340B program.
• Must have ability to negotiate various issues and contracts with internal and external stakeholders and vendors.
• Personnel management and/or ability and interest to learn.
• Prepares more complex documents and elements in Microsoft Word, Excel, Forms, SharePoint & PowerPoint including advanced functions in addition to basic functions.
• Keyboarding speed of 55 wpm and data entry skills; accuracy is essential.
• Uses Microsoft Outlook
• Uses learning management systems
• Ability to attain proficiency with all electronic clinical systems, including Liberty Software, Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and scheduling systems, in use at the health center.

Communications Skills:

• Possesses ability to effectively communicate not only facts or the results of analysis, but employees’ opinions and extrapolations of information they collect and synthesize/analyze.
• Able to resolve significant conflicts that may arise because of disagreements between employees, between employees and customers/clients, or with the public, other legal entities, or governmental authorities.
• Prepares effectively written communication (e.g., correspondence, memos, letters, emails) conveying information. Prepares results of research and analysis, including the use of tables, charts, graphs, and other visual forms. Prepares results of research and analysis, including conclusions and recommendations, effectively using tables, charts, graphs, and other visual forms.

Effectively communicates information during informal and formal verbal interactions. Prepares and effectively executes presentations of information and analysis to groups. Possesses ability to train staff or others in small and large group settings, as well as in individual interactions.

Candidates with applicable experience or similar qualifications are encouraged to apply!

About Bellingham

Live in a community consistently rated as one of the most desirable in the USA! Nestled on Bellingham Bay at the foot of the Cascade Mountains just a short distance from Seattle, Vancouver, BC, and the San Juan Islands, Bellingham is home to over 80,000 people and surrounded by several charming small towns. Enjoy all the area has to offer:

• Recreational & Outdoor Activities (Hiking, Biking, Skiing, Snow Boarding, Fishing, Sailing, Kayaking, & Camping)
• Excellent Schools (University, Community College, Technical School, & Outstanding K-12 Educational System)
• Small Town or City Living (Unique Shops, Local Festivals, Farmers Markets, Berry Picking, & Community Events)
• Cultural Activities (Theater, Music, Independent Films, Museums, Art Studios, & Diverse Local Restaurants)

To Apply

Please visit our Careers Page to apply at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/01ab991b-8943-482a-9a66-9faa7b131dec/Unity-Care-NW or contact Tami Livingston, Recruiter, at hr@ucnw.org or 360-752-7407. For news on our organization & future job postings, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://bit.ly/363mfhv!

Unity Care NW has an Employee Health Program for the safety of our patients and staff. The program requires all employees to receive annual flu immunizations. UCNW also requires vaccination against COVID-19 as a vital public health measure that has truly been life-saving. We are proud of the leadership role we have played in protecting our community from this devastating virus. Following CDC and state guidelines, we have granted a very limited number of exemptions for employees who qualify.