Director, Pharmacy Operations

The Director, Pharmacy Operations is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and regulatory leadership for a high-volume, closed-door pharmacy that supports Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This position oversees all pharmacy production, dispensing workflows, automation performance, staff management, and quality initiatives to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of pharmacy services. The Director ensures operational excellence in a fast-paced, highly automated environment while supporting the clinical and service needs of PACE participants.

Candidates must maintain an active Colorado and California pharmacist license in good standing and be willing to obtain additional state licenses to support multi-state compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead and manage daily operations of a high-volume, highly automated closed-door dispensary pharmacy serving PACE organizations.
• Ensure efficient and accurate dispensing, packaging, verification, and distribution workflows.
• Oversee the performance, optimization, and reliability of automated dispensing and packaging systems.
• Implement and maintain best practices for inventory control, production scheduling, workflow standardization, and automation utilization.
• Ensure operational readiness to meet PACE program requirements, pharmacy service standards, and turnaround times.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure full compliance with state and federal pharmacy laws, including Board of Pharmacy standards, DEA regulations, and PACE program requirements.
• Maintain a current Colorado pharmacist license in good standing; obtain additional state licenses as needed for compliance.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aligned with regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Prepare for and lead internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.

Quality & Safety Management

• Drive quality assurance initiatives to ensure accuracy, patient safety, and adherence to clinical and operational standards.
• Monitor key quality indicators, determine root-cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of pharmacists, supervisors, and technicians.
• Oversee staffing levels, hiring, scheduling, training, and performance management.
• Foster an engaged, collaborative, and high-performing team culture that supports operational excellence.

Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with the VP of Pharmacy Operations on strategic planning, resource allocation, and operational expansion.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, throughput, and automation utilization.
• Lead or support implementation of new technologies, workflow enhancements, and operational initiatives.
• Use KPIs and data analytics to assess performance and guide decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with clinical teams, PACE center leadership, supply chain, engineering/IT, compliance, and quality departments.
• Ensure operational alignment with organizational goals, patient safety initiatives, and service expectations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on automation, dispensing workflows, and PACE pharmacy operations.

Qualifications

Required

• PharmD or BS in Pharmacy.
• Active Colorado and California pharmacist license in good standing or active Colorado pharmacist license and willing to obtain the California pharmacist license within 6 months of hire.
• Willingness to obtain pharmacist licensure in additional states as needed for compliance.
• 5+ years of pharmacy management experience, including leadership in operational or dispensary pharmacy settings.
• Experience in high-volume, closed-door, centralized, or automated pharmacy operations.
• Strong understanding of pharmacy regulations, controlled substance handling, and quality/safety requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and motivate diverse pharmacy teams.

Preferred

• Experience with robotics or advanced pharmacy automation systems.
• Demonstrated success operating or scaling large-volume pharmacies.

Core Competencies

• Leadership & People Management
• Operational Excellence
• Automation & Technology Fluency
• Regulatory Compliance
• Quality & Patient Safety Focus
• Strategic and Analytical Thinking
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Change Management

InnovAge is dedicated to empowering seniors to live independently, allowing them to age in their own homes and communities safely. InnovAge offers an alternative to nursing homes through its Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which provides enrolled seniors with customized healthcare and social support at PACE Adult Day Health Centers. These centers are staffed by medical professionals who are committed to creating personalized care plans for each participant. At InnovAge, our team members are our greatest asset and have a significant impact on the lives of our participants every day. When you join InnovAge, you'll work alongside talented, respectful, and passionate colleagues within a patient-centered care model.

InnovAge is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action, and we strive to create a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified candidates for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, pregnancy, or any other protected status. Salaries are determined by various factors such as qualifications, experience, and location, and do not include potential bonuses or benefits. Our extensive benefits package includes medical/dental/vision insurance, short and long-term disability, life insurance and AD&D, supplemental life insurance, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) savings, paid time off, and company-paid holidays.

Applicants are considered until the position is filled.

Compensation Disclaimer

The pay may vary depending on job related factors, such as work location, experience, knowledge, skills, education, certifications, training and internal equity.  InnovAge offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan with company match, short and long-term disability, life insurance, supplemental life insurance, ADD, flexible spending account, paid time off and company paid holidays.

Attention Florida Applicants
This position requires a background screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.
For more information, please visit the Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website:  https://info.flclearinghouse.com

Agency Disclaimer

InnovAge will not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practices, all candidates/resumes submitted by search firms to InnovAge by any means without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the property of InnovAge and no fee will be paid in the event such candidate is hired by InnovAge.