Job Description

The Inpatient Pharmacy Operations Manager provides comprehensive leadership for both the operational and clinical functions of inpatient pharmacy services in a small rural hospital with advanced clinical care. This role is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient medication distribution and high-quality, evidence-based medication therapy. The position directly manages pharmacy technicians and pharmacists, supports advanced clinical services, and serves as a pharmacy lead for Epic Willow inpatient workflows.

This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance operational demands with clinical excellence while supporting education and professional development in a resource-limited environment.

Key Responsibilities

Pharmacy Operations & Distribution

• Oversee daily inpatient pharmacy operations, including medication distribution, sterile compounding, automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs), controlled substances, and inventory management
• Ensure compliance with USP <797>/<800>, Joint Commission standards, and all applicable state and federal regulations
• Lead optimization of medication distribution systems, including ADC configuration, cart fill workflows, and Epic–ADC integration
• Oversee drug purchasing, shortage mitigation, medication waste reduction, and budget stewardship
• Develop, maintain, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) aligned with regulatory, safety, and operational best practices
• Lead operational quality improvement initiatives and track performance and safety metrics
• Provide direct operational support during staffing shortages, off-hours, or high-volume periods

Clinical Pharmacy Services

• Support inpatient clinical pharmacy services across all service lines to ensure safe, effective, and evidence-based medication use
• Lead medication safety initiatives, including adverse drug event review, root cause analysis, and process improvement
• Support formulary management, medication utilization evaluations, and Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee activities
• Provide hands-on clinical pharmacist support during high-acuity periods or staffing shortages

Epic Willow Leadership

• Serve as a pharmacy lead for Epic Willow Inpatient, including both operational and clinical workflows
• Oversee medication records, order routing, dispense workflows, inventory functionality, and reporting
• Lead clinical decision support (CDS), order sets, pharmacist documentation tools, and intervention tracking
• Collaborate with IT and clinical stakeholders on Epic upgrades, optimization, and issue resolution
• Ensure Epic workflows align with regulatory requirements, patient safety goals, and rural staffing realities

Staff Leadership, Education & Development

• Directly supervise pharmacy technicians and pharmacists, including hiring, onboarding, scheduling, training, competency validation, and performance management
• Lead initial and ongoing education for pharmacy staff related to operational workflows, clinical protocols, medication safety, and Epic functionality
• Promote technician skill advancement and cross-training to support both operational and clinical needs
• Support pharmacist professional development, clinical skill advancement, and practice at the top of license
• Provide medication-related education to nursing staff, providers, and interdisciplinary teams as needed
• Support precepting of pharmacy students, residents, or learners when applicable

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with nursing, medical staff, quality, supply chain, IT, and hospital leadership to resolve medication-related issues
• Serve as the primary point of contact for inpatient medication-use processes
• Represent pharmacy leadership on hospital committees and interdisciplinary initiatives

Qualifications

• PharmD required
• Active pharmacist license in CO
• Hospital pharmacy experience required; rural hospital experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated leadership in both pharmacy operations and clinical pharmacy services
• Experience managing pharmacy technicians and pharmacists
• Epic Willow Inpatient experience strongly preferred
• Strong regulatory knowledge, clinical judgment, communication, and teaching skills
• BLS - AHA
• ACLS - AHA

Salary

• $149,700-$224,500
• Annual Bonuses based upon organizations and indevidual performance.

BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage including coverage for eligible dependents
• Employer paid basic life coverage with buy-up coverage options
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health care and dependent care.
• Time away from work: paid time off (PTO), paid family and medical leave (inclusive of Colorado FAMLI), Paid Sick/Bereavement Leave under Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA), leaves of absence.
• Tuition Assistance Available
• Retirement Plan 401(a)
• Retirement Plan 403(b) plans with employer matching contributions.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee discount on Medical Services
• Employee voluntary benefits such as Discounted RFTA bus passes, discounted gym memberships, Corporate Ski passes, free car seat for new babies born

Skills and Certifications
Colorado Pharmacist License in good standing
Pharm D
Active CO Pharmacist License in good standing.

Compensation

Base Salary - USD $149,600 to $224,500

Full-time

Benefits - Full

Relocation Assistance Available - Possible for ideal candidate

Interview Travel Reimbursed - Yes
Candidate Details
5+ to 7 years experience

Seniority Level - Mid-Senior