Ohio Pharmacy Services Chief - Mental Health Administrator 6 (PN: 20038196)

Ohio Pharmacy Services Chief
Mental Health Administrator 6

Who we are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

DBH Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

What you’ll do at DBH:

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is seeking an experienced, visionary leader to serve as the Chief of Ohio Pharmacy Services (OPS). This executive‑level role oversees all statewide pharmacy operations, including inpatient, outpatient, and wholesale distribution services, and ensures that OPS fulfills its mission to support Ohio’s behavioral health system, correctional institutions, youth services, and community partners.

This is a high‑impact leadership position responsible for strategic direction, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and the advancement of pharmaceutical services across multiple state agencies.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Statewide Oversight

• Lead all pharmacy and administrative operations for OPS, including Inpatient Pharmacy, Outpatient Pharmacy, and the OPS wholesale distribution warehouse.
• Direct statewide planning, development, and marketing of OPS services in alignment with Ohio Revised Code 5119.44 and the Department’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee pharmaceutical distribution and services provided to:
  • DBH regional psychiatric hospitals
  • Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) facilities
  • Department of Youth Services (DYS) facilities
  • Community agencies participating in the DBH Community Medication Program
  • Additional state, county, and local partners

Pharmaceutical Contracting & Supply Chain Management

• Develop and manage the State of Ohio’s pharmaceutical contract portfolio.
• Implement purchasing and distribution strategies that ensure cost‑effective, compliant, and uninterrupted access to medications statewide.

Operational Excellence & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all OPS operations meet federal and state laws governing pharmacy practice, drug distribution, controlled substances, and pharmaceutical recordkeeping.
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and quality standards for inpatient, outpatient, and distribution operations.

Team Leadership & Administrative Management

• Supervise managers of Central Pharmacy Inpatient (CPI), Central Pharmacy Outpatient (CPO), the Pharmacy Service Center (PSC), and all other operations of OPS.
• Oversee budget development, payroll, accounts receivable/payable, and financial performance.
• Review forecasting, cost analyses, financial statements, and cash‑flow reports.
• Lead hiring, performance evaluations, leave approvals, and organizational structure recommendations.

Clinical Pharmacy Services & Collaboration

• Collaborate with state agency partners to provide clinical leadership for pharmaceutical services
• Collaborate with physicians and healthcare teams to promote optimal patient outcomes.

Communication, Reporting & Representation

• Prepare and review medical, administrative, and operational reports.
• Represent DBH at meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.
• Respond to inquiries from clinicians, public officials, and the general public.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Deputy Director.

This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 16 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (Flexible Schedule).

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information:

Unclassified per ORC 124.11 (A)(9)

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Position Qualifications

Completion of undergraduate core program in business administration/management sciences or 12 mos. exp. in program & policy development for operational unit or program of firm or agency & monitoring implementation; 12 mos. trg. in budgeting & spending or 12 mos. exp. determining budgetary needs & spending for operational unit or program of agency or firm; 6 mos. trg. in manpower planning or 6 mos. exp. scheduling personnel for adequate coverage & making staff projections; 3 mos. trg. in employee training & development or 3 mos. exp. writing training materials or conducting training.

Primary Job Skill: Mental Health
Technical Skills:  Pharmacy, Regulatory Compliance, Interviewing, Medical Terminology
Professional Skills: Attention to Detail, Developing Others, Leading Others, Responsiveness, Verbal Communication, Written Communication

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Application Procedures
To be considered for this position, you must apply online through this posting website (careers.ohio.gov). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. We will not give credit for your qualifications, experience, education, and training in the job selection process if there is no evidence provided on your application. In addition, “see resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application. You may check the status of your application by signing into your profile on this website (careers.ohio.gov). We will communicate with you through the email you provided in your profile and job application. Be sure to check your email regularly.

Background Check Notice
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment &/or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at [email protected] or 614-466-8884.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this class will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.