Program Director-Drug Diversion

The salary range for this position is $65.47 - $91.66 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Description

The Program Director - Drug Diversion reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Program Director - Drug Diversion provides oversight and direction for the daily operations of the Drug Diversion Program across the NM Enterprise. The Diversion Program Director is accountable for all aspects of drug diversion education, prevention, monitoring, investigation and reporting across the Northwestern Medicine Health system.  The Program Director will have system visibility and will work with leaders and staff within various departments across the system to promote a safe care environment for Northwestern Medicine’s staff, trainees, patients, visitors and any other groups that could be impacted by drug diversion.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement and lead a system-wide diversion prevention program alongside oversight group, including infrastructure, standardization of policies and protocols, reporting pathway, diversion education resources and governance.
• Develop and lead framework to ensure the effective prevention, detection, and mitigation of drug diversion risks.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders (e.g., medical staff, human resources) to ensure a consistent approach to the support resources for confirmed, aligned with NM’s Just Culture Algorithm, while ensuring patient and staff safety and well-being.
• Responsible for serving as the subject matter expert and facilitator for the System Drug Diversion Oversight Committee.
• Responsible for leading, directing and managing Drug Diversion Program personnel and ensuring team member engagement. 
• Provides leadership and actively participates in multidisciplinary education activities and establishment of best practices relating to drug diversion.
• Implements a comprehensive surveillance and auditing program for detection of drug diversion across the system, including oversight for any technology solutions
• Achieves results: Collaborates with system functions, business units, and procedural areas to ensure effective diversion prevention controls are in place for the purchasing, receiving, distribution, administration, wasting, and return of controlled substances.
• Deploys to locations when necessary to assist with drug diversion and/or DEA Compliance concerns.
• Monitors program effectiveness and achievement of goals through the development and tacking of diversion program KPIs
• Lead activities for the Drug Diversion program including, as necessary, budget development, resource allocation, management, information distribution, and meeting facilitation.
• Creates and maintains a system-wide drug diversion dashboard on institution-wide diversion-related data.
• Presents diversion-related metrics to Controlled Substances Oversight Committee and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Coordinates and, as needed, participates in the investigation process of drug diversion incidents, and conducts risk rounds in high-risk areas.
• Ensures that internal and external regulatory reporting occurs in partnership with appropriate parties as required following each diversion event in alignment with policies.
• Demonstrates knowledge of institutional, departmental, program and project goals: Recommends solutions that add value, strengthen project or operational outcomes, and exhibits an understanding of sponsor or user needs. 
• Works collaboratively with all relevant departments and serves as a diversion resource for all staff.
• Presents institutional drug diversion reports and answer inquiries from senior leadership as requested to keep appraised of drug diversion prevention efforts across the system.
• Maintains current knowledge of relevant DEA, FDA, Department of Health, Boards of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Medicine, the Joint Commission (TJC), and EPA regulations related to controlled substance management and diversion.
• Serves as a liaison within the community and works cooperatively with other community organizations and leaders in addressing drug diversion prevention.
• Knowledge in and ability to apply principles of project management, risk management, and change management.
• Sets explicit priorities, establishes effective action plans, and anticipates obstacles and alternatives for challenging but realistic work goals.
• Demonstrate organization, facilitation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrates ability to direct and mobilize an organization by strategic thinking, decisiveness, enthusiasm, competence, and integrity.
• Demonstrates the ability to deal with the changing environment and to lead/facilitate and manage change efficiently and effectively where appropriate.

Qualifications

 Required:

•  A degree in pharmacy (PharmD) or nursing (BSN or MSN)
•  A minimum of three years of dedicated pharmacy or drug diversion program experience or a minimum of five years' experience in healthcare leadership and management
• Knowledge and understanding of medication dispensing technology
• Experience in drug diversion prevention process
• Ability and willingness to work on call
• Demonstrated analysis and problem-solving skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point
• Demonstrated investigative and project management skills
• Demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization
• Familiarity with Joint Commission Medication Management Standards, DEA, EPA and FDA regulations, and the Medicare Conditions of Hospital Participation
• Ability to facilitate change process and work collaboratively with diverse, multidisciplinary teams

Preferred:

• Master's degree in related field preferred
• Previous personnel management experience

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.