Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer - Ambulatory Pharmacy

Job Summary

The Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer (ACPO) position at University of Michigan Health (UMH) is a key enterprise executive for the Department of Pharmacy (DOP). This role supports the Chief Pharmacy Officer and is responsible for development and oversight of multiple pharmacy-related programs and/or areas including the overall operation of UMH's pharmacy services. Specifically, this position leads planning, organization, and execution of pharmacy-related programs and projects. This position ensures all systems operate in accordance with MM policies and procedures, standards of practice based on alignment with national organizations, and state/federal laws.

The ACPO acts as part of the DOP senior leadership team and works closely with other senior department leaders across the UMH enterprise to ensure safe and effective patient care. This role has responsibility to achieve broadly stated goals directly and through subordinate personnel.  In this role, the ACPO will represent pharmacy to internal and external stakeholders at all levels of leadership within UMH and determine objectives, direct programs, develop strategies and policies, manages human, financial, and physical resources, and functions to meet enterprise objectives. 

Other functions include designing and leading pharmacy functions across multiple sites, accountability for the overall administrative planning and coordination of staffing, fiscal and material resources. Assists with the development and implementation of new services, policies and protocols, and use of technology.

Organizational Relationships:

Has a direct reporting relationship to the Chief Pharmacy Officer.

Partners closely with corresponding leaders in the Region, affiliated medical groups, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Medical School, and other affiliated Colleges and Schools, and corresponding leaders in acute and ambulatory care delivery.

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities*

Characteristics and Duties:

Directs and oversees leaders in assigned areas to ensure appropriate medication management, schedules, workflow systems, budgets, and performance requirements. Develops and implements standards, processes and approaches to deliver timely and quality service.

Supports and ensures execution of strategic plans and programs. Guides and determine decisions related to pharmacy-related services.

The ACPO will serve as adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy.

The ACPO will be expected to assume the role and responsibility for activities as assigned.

Leadership Areas

• Specialty and community (retail) pharmacy
• Home infusion
• Infusion and oncology pharmacy
• Ambulatory clinical pharmacy

Strategic Responsibility

• Develop and execute strategic plans for system-wide ambulatory pharmacy services, including quality care, financial stability and growth and enterprise value.
• Drive innovation and transformation initiatives to advance clinical, operational, and financial outcomes.
• Provide thought leadership in shaping pharmacy's role in integrated care delivery, patient safety, and high-reliability operations.

Operational Management

• Lead and oversee pharmacy operations across all outpatient pharmacies and pharmacy services supporting ambulatory care, ensuring consistent, high-quality services.
• Implement standardized workflows, automation, and technology to enhance efficiency, safety, and scalability.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and identify opportunities for continuous process improvement.

Clinical Oversight

• Ensure delivery of evidence-based clinical pharmacy services including treatment synthesis, medication management, therapeutic monitoring, and transitions of care.
• Support and advocate for the integration of pharmacists into multidisciplinary care teams to optimize patient outcomes.
• Partner with clinical leadership teams across the system to drive medication-related initiatives, including antimicrobial stewardship, formulary management, panel management, and opioid stewardship.

Financial Management

• Drive optimization of pharmacy revenue, expense and margin across the ambulatory pharmacy footprint
• Oversee ambulatory pharmacy budgets across sites, including labor, drug spend, and capital projects.
• Develop and implement cost-savings strategies through inventory optimization, appropriate medication utilization per site of care, biosimilar adoption, and waste reduction.
• Monitor financial performance and adjust tactics to meet budgetary targets while maintaining high care standards.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations (e.g., DEA, FDA, Board of Pharmacy), and accreditation standards (e.g., The Joint Commission, USP <797>/<800>).
• Lead system readiness for inspections, audits, and response to findings with action plans to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Implement guidelines, policies and procedures that promote safe and compliant medication practices.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Lead recruitment, retention, and development of pharmacy leaders, managers, and clinical staff across all sites.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, engagement, accountability, and professional growth.
• Support leadership succession planning, competency development, and staff well-being initiatives.

Collaboration and Communication Across Sites

• Serve as the central point of coordination among pharmacy leaders across ambulatory care to ensure alignment, consistency, and best practices.
• Collaborate with nursing, medical staff, quality, IT, and executive teams to advance system initiatives.
• Represent ambulatory pharmacy in cross-functional committees and system councils.

Innovation and Advancement

• Champion innovative practices in pharmacy automation, clinical decision support, AI-assisted monitoring, and informatics.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies that improve medication use safety and efficiency.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and adaptive change to stay at the forefront of hospital pharmacy practice.

Required Qualifications*

Job Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) 

Education: Doctor of Pharmacy degree (or equivalent) required. Residency (or equivalent experience) is required. Advanced business degree (e.g., MBA, MHA, MS) or candidacy to earn the degree (must be completed within 3 years) required. Minimally eligible for academic rank of Clinical Assistant Professor preferred. 

Licensure/Certification: Current license to practice as a Pharmacist in the State of Michigan 

Experience: At least 10 years of progressively responsible health-system pharmacy leadership; involvement in the training of pharmacy students and residents.

• Effective communication (written and verbal) skills 
• Demonstrated decision-making skills
• Demonstrated success leading projects and initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, safety and service levels in a complex healthcare environment
• Extensive knowledge of medication safety procedures and current trends in contemporary pharmacy service provision
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory board requirements in contemporary pharmacy service provision
• Ability to recruit and retain highly skilled professional staff
• Strong knowledge of pharmacy informatics and technology within pharmacy and health systems
• Knowledgeable about the pharmaceutical supply chain, clinical therapeutics, human resources management, and budget management 
• Proven leadership skills in motivating, developing, and empowering leaders and staff
• Track record of collaboration and effective partnerships with internal stakeholders including: physicians, nurses, hospital administrators and others
• Ability to align operations and establish best practices across the health-system

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.