What are the responsibilities and job description for the DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY position at Southwest General?
Summary
Southwest General Health Center is a 352-bed community hospital located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. One of the last standing community hospitals in Northeast Ohio, we partner with University Hospitals and other local community organizations to provide a full range of services to all who need us. We are certified as a Level III Trauma Center and a Primary Stroke Center, and have been serving our community for over 100 years!
At Southwest General, we believe in the power of teamwork, creating a family-like environment, ensuring a work-life balance, and providing meaningful work to make a real difference in people’s lives.
We value our employees as much as our patients, offering a supportive work culture that encourages growth, development and collaboration. We’re committed to building a team that works together, supports each other, and ultimately, saves lives every day.
At Southwest, you are family.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Pharmacy provides strategic and operational leadership for all clinical and distributive pharmacy services across the hospital. This role is responsible for aligning pharmacy operations with organizational goals, driving high-quality, cost-effective medication management, and advancing patient safety initiatives.
The Director collaborates with medical staff, nursing leadership, and executive teams to develop and implement clinical programs, formulary strategies, and evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes. They oversee regulatory compliance and accreditation readiness, including standards set by DNV, and lead performance improvement and medication safety initiatives.
Responsibilities include financial stewardship, budget development, and optimization of pharmacy resources, as well as leveraging data analytics to monitor performance, reduce costs, and support value-based care. The Director also champions innovation through the integration of pharmacy technology and informatics solutions.
As a leader, the Director is accountable for workforce development, including recruitment, retention, and professional growth of pharmacy staff, fostering a culture of clinical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited College of Pharmacy; Advanced training preferred (fellowship, residency and/or board certification)
Required length of experience: 10 years’ clinical pharmacy experience; at least 2-5 years in a leadership role.
Required licensure, certification, and/or registry: Registered pharmacist, licensed by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
Below are the duties and responsibilities for this position.
- Strategic & Clinical Leadership: Developing clinical care pathways, disease state management, and medication policies to align with organizational goals.
- Operational Oversight: Managing 24-hour pharmacy services, including inpatient dispensing, inventory control, and supply chain efficiency.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with state/federal laws, CMS, DNV, and USP standards.
- Financial Stewardship: Managing the departmental budget, drug spend, contract negotiations, and purchasing.
- Team Management: Leading pharmacy managers, pharmacists, and technicians; fostering staff development.
- Collaboration: Working with interdisciplinary teams (medical/nursing) for quality improvement and patient safety.