Sr. Director, Pharmacy - Prior Authorization & Call Center

Your Role

The Blue Shield of California (BSC) Pharmacy team is passionate about making a meaningful impact by reimagining pharmacy care. Ensuring every member has safe, equitable access to sustainably affordable pharmacy benefits is at the heart of everything we do. The Senior Director, Pharmacy Prior Authorization and Call Center will report to the Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Services at BSC. In this role you will manage a team of over 200 employees and in collaboration with the Medical Director, be responsible for designing, executing, and optimizing prior authorization and call center processes to ensure clinically appropriate, cost effective, and compliant patient care. You will work cross functionally and partner with vendors as appropriate to optimize patient access while supporting affordability of medications covered under pharmacy and medical benefits for all lines of businesses.

Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow - personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high-performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.

Your Knowledge and Experience

  • Requires a current active and unrestricted California Registered Pharmacist (RPh) license
  • Requires a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an accredited school of pharmacy in the U.S.
  • Requires 12 years of prior experience in: a managed care health plan or pharmacy benefit management companies or other relevant settings; pharmacy prior authorization program and call center operations; developing and implementing strategic operational plans to optimize efficiency and cost outcomes
  • Requires 6 years of prior people management experience with direct responsibility for supervising, coaching, and evaluating direct reports
  • Prior experience in vendor management and oversight preferred
  • Thorough knowledge regarding therapeutic use of drugs and available national guidelines preferred
  • Knowledge of pharmacy benefits, formulary, network programs for drugs covered in pharmacy and medical benefits preferred
  • Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to leverage performance data to drive operational improvements
  • Excellent interpersonal, written & verbal communication skills
  • Strategic and analytic thinking; problem-solving skills informed by data and evidence

Hybrid

This role requires employees to be in-office based on our hybrid workplace model, balancing purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. For most teams, this means coming into the office two days each week.

Employees living more than 50 miles from an office location will work with their manager to determine in-office time based on business need.

#LI-JS1

Your Work

In this role, you will:

  • Lead and manage the prior authorization team to meet clinical, regulatory and business objectives of the prior authorization program
  • Lead and manage the pharmacy call center team to support inbound and outbound provider calls to coordinate access to appropriate drug therapy for members
  • Implement and maintain medication coverage policies for drugs in the pharmacy and medical benefits that promotes evidence-based coverage decisions
  • Collaborate with analytics and business areas to drive evaluation of prior authorization program outcomes and performance, and identify opportunities to improve
  • Develop and implement Prior Authorization vendor oversight program and process to ensure compliance with expected clinical and regulatory standards
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with BSC Medical Directors, Appeals and Grievance and care management teams to share accountability for evidence-based decision-making, promote adherence to BSC coverage policies, facilitate care coordination and optimize customer experience
  • Implement strategies and technology enhancements (e.g. automation, AI) to improve program effectiveness and operational efficiency
  • Participate in regulatory or quality audits that involve the review of utilization management program
  • Build a high performing team and drive leadership principles among managers, and foster a great workplace to do meaning work

Your Work

In this role, you will:

  • Lead and manage the prior authorization team to meet clinical, regulatory and business objectives of the prior authorization program
  • Lead and manage the pharmacy call center team to support inbound and outbound provider calls to coordinate access to appropriate drug therapy for members
  • Implement and maintain medication coverage policies for drugs in the pharmacy and medical benefits that promotes evidence-based coverage decisions
  • Collaborate with analytics and business areas to drive evaluation of prior authorization program outcomes and performance, and identify opportunities to improve
  • Develop and implement Prior Authorization vendor oversight program and process to ensure compliance with expected clinical and regulatory standards
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with BSC Medical Directors, Appeals and Grievance and care management teams to share accountability for evidence-based decision-making, promote adherence to BSC coverage policies, facilitate care coordination and optimize customer experience
  • Implement strategies and technology enhancements (e.g. automation, AI) to improve program effectiveness and operational efficiency
  • Participate in regulatory or quality audits that involve the review of utilization management program
  • Build a high performing team and drive leadership principles among managers, and foster a great workplace to do meaning work

Skills:
Access Authorization, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automation, Business Skills, Call Center Management, Call Center Operations, Call Centers, Clinical Practices/Protocols, Communication Skills, Compensation and Benefits, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Customer Experience, Drug Therapy, Formulary, Health Plan, Interpersonal Skills, JavaScript, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Managed Care, Medications, Network Programming, Operational Improvement, Operational Strategy, Operations Planning, Patient Care, People Management, Pharmacy, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Process Improvement, Program Evaluation, Regulations, Strategic Analysis, Strategic Planning, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Strategy, Utilization Management, Vendor/Supplier Management, Writing Skills


Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association


At the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), we provide business strategy, technical support and consulting expertise to 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the nation, employing more than 1,000 of the best strategic thinkers in the industry. We are a Brand manager that sets quality control standards for the 36 independent companies that use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Brands, and we serve as a trade association that represents these Blue companies. It is through our involvement that the Blues companies share a united vision and strategy while also benefiting from the local strength of all member companies.

Company Size:
2,000 to 2,499 employees


Industry:
Insurance


0


Website:


Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

Clinical Appeals RN - Fully Remote - 4 or 5 work days per week - Weekends required

American Express Online Remote Data Entry Specialist (Remote Part/Full Time Job) (Work From Home)

Remote Entry-Level Customer Support – No Experience Required

Leadership Trainee (Remote) - No Experience Needed & Start ASAP + Bonuses

Certified Pharmacy Technician - Data Entry in Crestwood, IL: Join arenaflex's Dynamic Team and Revolutionize Healthcare Administration

Online Data entry work from home daily payment

Remote Search Consultant - Direct Hire Recruiter/Inside Sales - Remote (must reside in Dallas)

Target Remote Jobs, Target Careers From Home Apply For It ( Language Specialist )

Remote Online reputed company Chat Jobs No Experience – Easy Jobs Hiring Near Me – No Experience Needed

Merchandiser (PT or FT on Flex Schedule)

Netflix Job Binge Watching $30/Hour Job ID- 982 Job ID- 3220

Courtesy Bus Driver

Manager - International Account Development (Virtual - East Coast/Midwest)

Utilization Review Nurse, PRN

Supplier Quality Management Engineer

Watch Netflix (Tagger): $12-$46

Data Entry Specialist (Remote)

Chat Moderator (Fully Remote)

Hiring Now - Work from Home - No Experience

Growth-Driven Call Center Manager Internship

Amazon Delivery Driver

Amazon Data Entry Jobs From Home – Apply Now

Dallas Area Part-Time:Amazon Fresh Delivery Driver

Remote Customer Service Representative – Product Testing

Remote Order Tracking Support - Female Friendly

In-Home Product Tester – No Fees, No Experience, $25-$45/hr

Production IT Field Tech III - Onsite & Remote Support

Work From Home

Virtual Receptionist – Flexible Schedule

Video Data Capture Associate (iPhone Users)

Public Affairs Specialist III

Remote Medicare Appeals RN – Fast-Paced, Impactful Review

Gastro Account Representative - CuraScript - Hybrid (Lake Mary, FL)

Central Hotel Services, Analyst (Remote Opportunity)

[Remote] Manager, Customer Products and Solutions (2026-8099)

[Hiring] HVAC Sales Consultant @Thirty Madison Ventures

Remote AGNP Didactic Faculty (Adjunct)

amazon work from home $15+/ Hour (Sign on Bonus!)!

Remote Data Entry Pro: Flexible Hours & Weekly Pay

Senior Title Examiner - Complex Projects at First American: 100% Remote (AZ, CA, NV)

Online Startup Generalist (India)

(UPS Remote) – Data Entry Operator Part-Time Job

RN Telephonic Nurse - Accredo - Work from Home, Anywhere, USA (Compact Nursing License Required)

Long-Term Care Registered Nurse (VA Reviewer)

reputed company, GA - Work from Home Roadside Assistance Dispatcher

Remote Sales Position - No Experience Needed

Remote Sales Associate: Grow Your Tech Skills

Therapist (Licensed or Provisionally Licensed) - Remote

Controller Minimum Equipment List

Remote Commercial Auto Claims Specialist

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...