VHP Pharmacy Services Division Director
Salary
$278,514.08 - $339,903.20 Annually
Location
Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
26-D2P-A
Department
Valley Health Plan
Division
Administration
Opening Date
07/09/2026
Closing Date
7/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
92
Description
Under general direction, plans, develops, directs, monitors, and evaluates the pharmacy services program for Valley Health Plan (VHP), including managing the third-party Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and the VHP Pharmacy services staff.
Typical Tasks
Plans, organizes, evaluates, and directs the work of professional and para-professional personnel;
Selects, trains, and evaluates subordinate staff;
Collaborates with Executive Management and Consultants to develop, manage, and execute comprehensive business plans, pharmacy services, and business operations;
Develops and implements VHP pharmacy policies, procedures, and workflows;
Assures compliance of managed care pharmacy operations with Federal and State laws and regulations, and standards from accrediting bodies;
Designs, develops, and monitors key performance indicators on a scheduled basis to communicate pharmacy performance to health plan senior staff, internal committees, contracted groups, and regulators with regards to pharmacy utilization, quality metrics, pharmacy provider access, and drug trends;
Assumes responsibility of overseeing the third-party Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) personnel engaged in delegated pharmacy activities;
Coordinates matters relating to the utilization and control of medication, special investigational drugs, or non-formulary drugs;
Edits, revises, and maintains the Valley Health Plan formularies and notifies appropriate entities of approved drugs, utilization management edits, and clinical criteria;
Analyzes pharmacy vendor data to determine opportunities for mitigation of fraud, waste, and abuse, and improvement of overall vendor performance and assumes responsibility for implementing process improvements for identified issues;
Develops drug utilization reports identifying strategic initiatives and recommends/proposes solutions to CMO, Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, Special Cases Unit, or other health plan committees to improve clinical outcome, improve efficiency in drug usage, and manage drug cost savings;
Directs the strategy, planning and implementation of VHP pharmacy systems migrations and information technology application enhancements/updates;
Participates, researches, and validates materials for both internal and external program audits, and performs scheduled audits of delegated activities, and reports outcomes;
Serves as a subject matter expert and point of contact for all health plan pharmacy related activities for all internal County Departments and external regulators, partners, or vendors;
Resolves escalated VHP pharmacy issues;
Provides pharmacy guidance to various departments within VHP;
Actively participates as a voting member of Valley Health Plans Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, and standing member for other committees at the health plan and outside the health plan representing pharmacy related performance and activities;
Represents Valley Health Plan Pharmacy Department to internal and external stakeholders;
May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
Performs related work as required.
Employment Standards
Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:
Training and Experience Note: The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are attained through possession of a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree
and
Three (3) years of experience planning, organizing, evaluating, and directing the work of professional and paraprofessional pharmacy personnel, and two (2) years of experience within a managed care organization or health plan pharmacy. The supervisory experience may be inclusive of the managed care or health plan pharmacy experience.
Special Requirements
Possession of a valid license to practice as a Pharmacist in the State of California at the time of appointment.
Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California drivers license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
Knowledge of:
Principles of supervision, training, organization, and personnel management;
Federal and State laws and regulations governing managed care pharmacy services;
Health plans, provider networks, contracts, pharmacy benefits managers, Department of Managed Health Care regulations, utilization management, quality improvement, case management, and other accrediting bodies, including but not limited to National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC);
Established standards in a managed care pharmacy program; drug costs, quality, and compliant service; utilization management, and formulary maintenance;
Functions and services provided by a health maintenance organization.
Ability to:
Develop department goals, policies, and procedures within a managed care organization;
Plan, organize, evaluate, and direct the work of professional and para-professional pharmacy personnel and contractors;
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
Analyze data, assess clinical or operational needs, and establish performance or quality improvement plans;
Operate independently with minimal supervision;
Prepare clear and comprehensive correspondence and reports.
The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more here.
The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.
In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.
Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the CalPERS pension plan. In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.
Health Flexible Spending Account
The Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA) empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.
Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the Employee Childcare Assistance Plan, an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.
Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, Long-Term Disability insurance, California State Disability Insurance, and Integration with Leave. These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.
Employee Wellness
The Employee Wellness Program offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.
Education Reimbursement
A generous Learning and Employee Development program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.
NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.
Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01
Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete.
Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format for EACH employer referenced, in each answer:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
Do you understand the requirement to provide complete answers in order to determine relevant experience for each area in question?
02
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
03
Do you possess a valid license to practice as a Pharmacist in the State of California?
04
If you possess a license to practice as a Pharmacist in the State of California, please indicate your license number. If none, please indicate "N/A".
05
How many years of experience do you have planning, organizing, evaluating, and directing the work of professional and paraprofessional pharmacy personnel?
06
Describe your planning, organizing, evaluating, and directing the work of professional and paraprofessional pharmacy personnel. In your response, please include the name of your employers, job titles, dates of employment, and hours worked per week. If none, type N/A.
07
How many years of experience do you have working within a managed care organization or health plan pharmacy?
08
Describe your experience working within a managed care organization or health plan pharmacy. In your response, please include the name of your employers, job titles, dates of employment, and hours worked per week. If none, type N/A.
09
How did you find out/hear about this job?
10
If you selected an event/fair or other in the question above, please specify. If not, type N/A.
11
Would you like to be contacted for other vacant positions within VHP?
Required Question
Employer County of Santa Clara
Address 70 W. Hedding Street
8th Floor, East Wing
San Jose, California, 95110
Phone (408) 299-6816
Website http://www.sccjobs.org/