Pharmacist (Compliance Officer)

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) is seeking a highly motivated, skilled, solution-oriented, and enthusiastic professional to join our regulatory department and serve as a Pharmacist-Compliance Officer within our Professional Licensing Division for our central office near Valley Junction in Des Moines, Iowa.

Who We Are

DIAL’s mission is to Achieve Compliance through Education, Regulation, and Due Process for a Safe and Healthy Iowa. Our goal is to be an effective, efficient and approachable regulatory agency.

DIAL is a multifaceted regulatory agency charged with protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Iowans, and is comprised of eight core operational divisions: Administrative Hearings, Building & Construction, Health & Safety, Investigations, Labor/OSHA, Licensing, Workers’ Compensation, and Administration.

The Compliance Bureau of the Licensing Division is responsible for fielding complaints, completing regular inspections, and overseeing the investigatory process. Investigation types include, but are not limited to, patient boundary issues, competency concerns, drug diversion, and failure to comply with Board orders. Compliance Officers perform inspections and surveys of licensed pharmacies, drug wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, and controlled substance registrant offices and businesses, checking compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding the practice of pharmacy and the distribution of prescription drugs and controlled substances. Appropriate reports are completed, enumerating any identified deficiencies and follow-up to ensure appropriate response and remediation.

The Pharmacist – Compliance Officer position reports to a Compliance Unit Supervisor and will serve as an inspector and investigator for the pharmacy board within division guidelines. A background in sterile and non-sterile compounding, pharmacy supervision, and drug and controlled substance accountability audits, including detailed reporting is desirable. This position will be located at 6200 Park Avenue in Des Moines but Compliance Officers are home domiciled after an initial 6-month training period.

What We’re Seeking

The successful candidate for this fast-paced position is a pharmacist who has an interest in regulation and compliance of all state and federal laws, rules and regulations regarding the practice of pharmacy and the distribution of prescription drugs. They need to be highly motivated, organized, and detail-oriented. Applicants should have a proven track record of completing tasks timely, excellent customer service, and strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desired skills and abilities include:

• License to practice Pharmacy in the state of Iowa is required
• Strong understanding of all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations to ensure the safe practice of pharmacy in the State of Iowa
• Investigate consumer complaints related to the practice of pharmacy and the legal distribution in and into the state of Iowa
• Ability to conduct controlled substance accountability audits to ensure compliance with state rules and regulations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Conduct business in a professional, courteous and approachable manner
  • Display high standards of professional and ethical conduct
  • Detail oriented and committed to providing high quality service
  • Ability to work collaboratively with team members, supervisors, and both internal and external partners

What You’ll Do

• You will be an integral member of our Licensing Division’s compliance team, providing direct support to the agency’s operations by:

• Inspecting the Board's licensees and registrants on a routine basis to ensure compliance with Iowa rules and regulations related to the practice of pharmacy and the legal drug distribution in and into the state Iowa.
• Conducting controlled substance accountability audits to ensure compliance with state rules and regulations regarding the procurement and dispensation of controlled substances.
• Providing support to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support personnel, and other health care providers in all matters relating to pharmacy, including, but not necessarily limited to: drug utilization; prospective drug use review; proper storage of drugs, chemicals, and biologics; record keeping for prescription drugs and controlled substances; patient counseling; related cognitive services; rule clarifications; technical and non-technical pharmacy functions.
• Investigating consumer complaints related to the practice of pharmacy and the legal drug distribution in and into the state of Iowa.
• Objectively writing reports to inform the Board of activities pertaining to the practice of pharmacy and the legal drug distribution in and into the state of Iowa.

• Managing case load to ensure that public protection is prioritized.
• Ensuring work is conducted in a thorough, objective and timely manner and materials are organized in an appropriate format.
• Assisting with review of new and renewal pharmacy and wholesaler license applications reporting disciplinary or regulatory actions since last application submission, investigates or follows up with applicants for additional information, and reports findings to the Board for their review and consideration.
• Collecting data related to the practice of pharmacy to assist the Board with making pharmacy policy decisions.
• Participating in the rule-making process, including attending and participating in discussion at the Board’s rules committee meetings; assisting Board members and staff in periodic reviews of current rules, identifying areas in need of updating or change; responding to questions from professionals regarding rule changes.
• Maintaining a strong working knowledge of all statutes, administrative rules, and professional standards to ensure the safe practice of pharmacy in the State of Iowa.
• Developing and maintaining knowledge of relevant professional terms and procedures.
• Presenting evidence of potential violations to the leadership and the board as needed.
• Working with other state regulatory boards and agencies, prosecuting attorneys, and law enforcement as assigned.
• Serving as a resource to other bureaus as needed.
• Assisting the AG's office as needed with preparation of cases.
• Providing testimony in contested case hearings as needed.

What We Offer

When you join DIAL, you help to make Iowa safer and healthier, while enjoying an outstanding benefits package! In addition to providing a positive work environment, we offer a great compensation package for all our full-time employees, including:

• Robust benefits, including excellent health, dental, life and vision insurance.
• Teleworking options after the first six months.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave accrual.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package.
• Optional 401A plan with employer contribution.
• Retirement Investors Club (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan).
• Employee Assistance Program for support when you need it most.
• Access to an on-site employee fitness center
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, and more)
• For additional information on benefits click here.

Excited to pursue the next step in your career? Apply today!

Background check required.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Licensure as a Pharmacist by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)

Additional Qualification Requirements

Employees of the Department of Public Health are expected to live in and travel in a specified area in the State of Iowa.
For specific positions a thorough background investigation will be conducted.