The Pharmacy Manager, Specialty Pharmacy Medication Access Services is responsible for leading, optimizing, and scaling UVA Health’s centralized specialty pharmacy medication access operations. This role ensures timely insurance approvals, prior authorizations, and proactive coordination & contracting with payers, providers, biopharmaceutical companies, and clinical pharmacists to expand patient access to high-cost and limited-distribution therapies.

This dynamic leader will oversee a growing team of Medication Access Technicians (MATs) & Pharmacists and collaborate closely with clinical teams to support UVA Health’s rapidly expanding specialty pharmacy footprint. The position will also drive performance in alignment with URAC and ACHC accreditation requirements, supporting key initiatives such as payer & LDD contracting expansion, support the Rare Disease Program, EPIC Compass Rose & benefits workflows, and value-based care models.

Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Oversight
•\tLead and manage the Medication Access Services Team (pharmacy technicians and pharmacists), ensuring timely completion of benefit investigations, prior authorizations, and reauthorizations.
•\tOversee daily workflows and escalation processes, ensuring alignment with specialty pharmacy accreditation standards and internal service level agreements.
•\tServe as the primary operational liaison between the medication access team, clinical pharmacists, and specialty care providers.
•\tMonitor payer trends and proactively identify access barriers, delays, or denials, implementing solutions to minimize disruption to patient therapy.
Strategic Growth Enablement
•\tSupport the growth of UVA’s specialty pharmacy services by ensuring readiness to capture volume from new payer & LDD contracts and programmatic growth (e.g., Rare Disease, MSOT initiatives).
•\tCollaborate with pharmacy leadership team to align medication access operations with volume forecasts and clinic expansion plans.
•\tOptimize staffing and workflows to support UVA Health’s direct patient services and limited distribution drug (LDD) network participation.
Operational Optimization & Compliance
•\tImplement and refine standardized access workflows to meet turnaround time expectations, ensuring rapid medication access for patients with chronic and complex conditions.
•\tEnsure compliance with URAC, ACHC, and payer-specific patient management program (PMP) requirements, including warm handoffs and documentation standards.
•\tCollaborate with the PICDS team to leverage analytics and reporting tools that monitor access performance, turnaround times, and payer responses.
Team Development & Performance Management
•\tRecruit, train, and develop MAT pharmacy technicians & pharmacists, ensuring competency in specialty access workflows and payer requirements.
•\tCreate a performance-based culture with defined metrics, scorecards, and quality assurance reviews.
•\tLead cross-functional training and engagement initiatives to strengthen coordination between medication access, dispensing, and clinical teams.
Patient-Centered Service Excellence
•\tDrive initiatives to improve the patient onboarding experience, ensuring timely medication starts and reducing delays from insurance or authorization issues.
•\tPromote adherence and retention through proactive outreach, refill coordination, and automation programs aligned with patient care plans.
•\tServe as a champion for patient advocacy, especially for those on high-cost, high-touch, or rare disease therapies.
•\tImprove already industry leading patient and provider net promoter scores (NPS)

Job Description

Oversees daily pharmacy operation.

Complete essential human resource functions associated with staff supervision and team leadership.

Performs and monitors drug distribution procedures in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations as well as The Joint Commission, Medical Center and departmental policies, and all applicable regulatory bodies.

Serves as the team leader to provide leadership in the delivery of pharmacy services.

Supports educational mission through training of pharmacy residents, students, and pharmacy technician trainees and continuous professional growth.

Enhances the quality of delivery of care.

In addition to the above duties, additional duties may be assigned.

Position Compensation Range: $133,016.00 - $212,825.60 Annual

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Pharmacy degree (B.S. and/or Pharm.D.) from an ACPE accredited College of Pharmacy required. Master's degree preferred.
Experience: 1 year of experience required, management experience preferred. Specialized residency training in pharmacy administration will be considered in lieu of experience.
Licensure: Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Pharmacy License required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.