Director of Pharmacy – Acute Care Hospital

Chicago, Illinois

Salary Range: $165,000–$185,000, Commensurate with Experience
Annual Company Bonus: $3,000

An excellent opportunity is available for an experienced hospital pharmacy leader to step into a Director of Pharmacy position in Chicago, Illinois.

We are seeking a strong pharmacy operations leader with an active Illinois Pharmacist license and hospital pharmacy management experience who is ready to take ownership of inpatient pharmacy operations and lead a high-performing department.

While experienced Directors of Pharmacy are encouraged to apply, the organization is also very interested in accomplished Assistant Directors of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Operations Managers who are ready to advance into their first Director-level position.

For a successful hospital pharmacy manager who has been looking for the right opportunity to take the next step in their career, this could be an excellent move.

Position Overview

The Director of Pharmacy will provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for hospital pharmacy services.

This leader will be responsible for ensuring the safe, effective, compliant, and efficient delivery of pharmacy services while developing a strong pharmacy team and maintaining collaborative relationships with hospital administration, physicians, nursing leadership, and other clinical departments.

The Director will balance clinical pharmacy operations, staff leadership, medication safety, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Pharmacy Operating Hours

The pharmacy operates seven days a week:

• Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
• Saturday–Sunday: 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

The Director will be responsible for ensuring appropriate staffing, leadership coverage, workflow, and operational effectiveness throughout pharmacy operating hours.

Key Responsibilities

Pharmacy Operations & Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and direction for hospital pharmacy operations.
• Oversee the safe, accurate, and efficient delivery of inpatient pharmacy services.
• Establish departmental goals and ensure pharmacy operations align with hospital objectives.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, workflow, productivity, and departmental resources.
• Identify opportunities to improve pharmacy processes, efficiency, service, and patient outcomes.
• Ensure appropriate pharmacy coverage based on patient care and operational needs.
• Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Evaluate departmental performance and implement appropriate improvement initiatives.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, coach, and develop pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other pharmacy personnel.
• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and retain qualified pharmacy professionals.
• Establish clear expectations and promote accountability throughout the department.
• Provide ongoing performance feedback and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, professional, and patient-focused department culture.
• Identify and develop future pharmacy leaders.
• Address employee performance and operational concerns appropriately.

Medication Safety & Clinical Quality

• Maintain strong standards for medication safety and quality.
• Support safe and appropriate medication utilization throughout the hospital.
• Partner with physicians, nursing, and other clinical leaders on medication management initiatives.
• Participate in quality, patient safety, formulary, and medication-related committees as appropriate.
• Monitor pharmacy quality indicators and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Promote evidence-based pharmacy practices and continuous quality improvement.

Regulatory & Accreditation Compliance

• Ensure pharmacy operations remain compliant with applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, professional pharmacy standards, and organizational policies.
• Maintain department readiness for regulatory surveys and accreditation reviews.
• Ensure appropriate medication storage, handling, security, documentation, and distribution practices.
• Monitor compliance and implement corrective action when deficiencies are identified.
• Maintain current knowledge of regulatory developments affecting hospital pharmacy operations.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage pharmacy resources while maintaining high standards for clinical care and patient safety.
• Monitor departmental expenses, medication utilization, staffing, and productivity.
• Identify opportunities for appropriate cost management and operational improvement.
• Support formulary management and medication utilization strategies.
• Evaluate staffing, equipment, technology, and supply needs.
• Utilize operational and financial data to support department decision-making.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Develop strong working relationships with hospital administration, physicians, nursing leadership, and other clinical departments.
• Serve as the primary pharmacy leadership resource for hospital operations.
• Collaborate with clinical leaders to improve medication management and patient outcomes.
• Communicate pharmacy initiatives, challenges, and performance effectively to hospital leadership.
• Promote strong relationships between Pharmacy and the departments it supports.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must have:

• Active Illinois Pharmacist license
• Hospital pharmacy experience
• Hospital pharmacy management experience
• Strong knowledge of inpatient pharmacy operations
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing pharmacy staff
• Knowledge of medication safety, regulatory compliance, and hospital pharmacy standards
• Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to develop effective relationships with physicians, nursing leadership, hospital administration, and pharmacy staff

Leadership Candidates Encouraged to Apply

The organization is not limiting the search to candidates who already hold the Director of Pharmacy title.

Strong candidates currently working as any of the following are encouraged to be considered:

• Director of Pharmacy
• Assistant Director of Pharmacy
• Associate Director of Pharmacy
• Pharmacy Operations Manager
• Inpatient Pharmacy Manager
• Hospital Pharmacy Manager

This is particularly attractive for an accomplished Pharmacy Operations Manager or Assistant Director of Pharmacy who has already demonstrated the ability to manage hospital pharmacy operations and employees but has been waiting for the right opportunity to advance into a Director position.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate will be a hands-on hospital pharmacy leader who combines operational expertise with the ability to lead, develop, and engage a pharmacy team.

We're particularly interested in someone who can:

• Take ownership of hospital pharmacy operations.
• Effectively manage pharmacists, technicians, staffing, and workflow.
• Build credibility with physicians, nurses, hospital executives, and pharmacy staff.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing pharmacy professionals.
• Maintain strong medication safety and regulatory standards.
• Identify operational challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Improve pharmacy workflow, productivity, and efficiency.
• Effectively manage departmental resources and expenses.
• Lead quality and medication safety initiatives.
• Maintain regulatory and accreditation readiness.
• Successfully transition from Manager or Assistant Director responsibilities into broader Director-level accountability.

Compensation

Base Salary: $165,000–$185,000

Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's experience, qualifications, and hospital pharmacy leadership background.

Annual Company Bonus: $3,000

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers an attractive combination of competitive compensation, hospital pharmacy leadership, and career advancement potential.

For an established Director of Pharmacy, this is an opportunity to take ownership of hospital pharmacy operations and directly influence medication safety, clinical quality, staff development, operational performance, and patient care.

For a strong Pharmacy Operations Manager or Assistant Director of Pharmacy, the opportunity may be even more compelling. The organization is specifically willing to consider accomplished pharmacy leaders who are ready to make the transition into their first Director of Pharmacy position rather than requiring candidates to already hold the DOP title.

With a $165,000–$185,000 salary range plus annual company bonus, this represents an excellent opportunity for an experienced hospital pharmacy leader looking to advance their career in the Chicago market.

Qualified candidates with an active Illinois Pharmacist license and hospital pharmacy management experience are encouraged to apply for this confidential Director of Pharmacy opportunity.