About CPO:
Central Pharmacy Outpatient (CPO), founded in 1972, was created to help provide psychotropic medications to financially eligible patients served by Community Mental Health Centers. The program supports these centers by offering cost‑effective drug purchasing and dispensing, using tools like statewide contract pricing, generic alternatives, formulary management, medication reviews, and credit for returned medications.
CPO runs a mail‑order pharmacy that sends patient‑specific medication packages to participating mental health agencies. Each Community Mental Health Board sets the rules for which agencies can join the program and determines the clinical and income guidelines patients must meet. Generally, eligible clients must fall within federal poverty income limits and meet at least one clinical criterion: having a severe mental disability or emotional disturbance, being at risk of hospitalization without medication, or recently being discharged from a mental health inpatient facility.
What you’ll do at DBH:
Ohio Pharmacy Services (OPS) is seeking a dynamic and detail‑driven Pharmacy Operations Manager to lead pharmaceutical services for Community Mental Health Centers across the state. This role blends leadership, clinical expertise, and operational management to ensure safe, accurate, and compliant medication services. If you enjoy building strong relationships, improving systems, and guiding teams toward excellence, this position offers a chance to make a lasting impact on community health.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Program Oversight
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Direct pharmacy services for Community Mental Health Centers using the Central Pharmacy Outpatient (CPO) dispensing program.
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Provide expert guidance on inventory management, budgeting, staffing, training, and technical standards to support partner health centers.
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Ensure full compliance with all state and federal regulations, including those of the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Participate in formulary development and oversee the use of automated drug dispensing systems.
Staff Supervision & Development
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Lead and support CPO pharmacy staff, including interviewing, hiring recommendations, training, and scheduling.
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Manage daily pharmacy workflow to ensure timely, accurate, and professional drug dispensing.
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Oversee leave requests, timekeeping approvals in Kronos, and performance evaluations in OAKS, including PIPs and career development plans.
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Provide coaching, set annual goals, and guide staff through disciplinary or corrective processes when appropriate.
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Conduct staff meetings and collaborate in annual budgeting.
Regulatory Compliance & Licensing
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Serve as the responsible person on the terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license for the outpatient pharmacy.
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Maintain all required licenses and registrations with state and federal agencies.
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Ensure strict adherence to legal and professional standards for drug security, storage, and handling.
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Develop policies, procedures, and documentation systems to keep records accurate, complete, and compliant.
Clinical & Operational Services
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Act as a key liaison between the pharmacy and Community Mental Health Centers.
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Represent the Central Pharmacy Outpatient program at meetings and conferences.
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Monitor drug therapy for proper dosing, interactions, and safety using patient profiles.
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Advise prescribers and clinical staff on medication concerns and support clinical pharmacy services.
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Oversee daily operations, including production of pharmacy reports, labeling, and meeting dispensing deadlines.
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Maintain inventory control, monitor stock levels, and enforce security measures for all medications.
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Prepare required reports and ensure proper record retention for all dispensing activities.
Training & Professional Collaboration
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Participate in and deliver staff development and in‑service training.
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Work closely with regulatory agencies and professional organizations to uphold legal and professional standards.
This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 18 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (Flexible Schedule).
Additional Salary / Appointment Information:
Unclassified per ORC 124.11 (A)(9)
Why Work for the State of Ohio
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.
Qualifications
Position Qualifications
Current & valid license to practice pharmacy as issued by Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, pursuant to Section 4729.01 to
4729.29, inclusive of Ohio Revised Code; 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in supervision or 3 courses in pharmacy
management &/or administration; 12 mos. exp. as licensed pharmacist.
Or alternative, equivalent evidence of the major worker characteristics noted above may be substituted for the experience
required, but not for the mandated licensure.
Training and Development Required to Remain in the Classification After Employment:
Continuing pharmacy education as required in Section 4729.12 of Ohio Revised code & Sections 4729-07-01 to 4729-07- 07, inclusive of Ohio Administrative Code.
Primary Job Skill: Pharmacy
Technical Skills: 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.
Supplemental Information
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.
ADA Statement
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.
Drug-Free Workplace
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.
