POSITION DESCRIPTION
Ministry of Health
POSITION TITLE:
DIVISION:
BRANCH:
SUPERVISOR’S TITLE:
SUPERVISOR’S CLASSIFICATION:
Executive Director
POSITION
NUMBER(S):
89456
Pharmaceutical Services
Business Management, Supplier Relations and
Systems
Assistant Deputy Minister
Executive
LOCATION:
New Westminster
POSITION
NUMBER
PHONE NUMBER:
PROGRAM
Prescription drugs constitute the second largest category of health care expenditure in Canada. Provincial Ministries are
faced with the challenge of optimizing the benefits of prescription drugs while managing the risks and complexities
associated with this rapidly evolving sector.
Pharmaceutical Services comprises five branches: (1) Drug Intelligence determining the array of drugs (formulary)
available to BC citizens and covered by the PharmaCare Program; (2) Drug Use Optimization informing and reducing
the demand side of the drug utilization market; (3) Policy Outcomes, Evaluation and Research translating the political
direction into policy and direction for the division; and (4) Business Management, Supplier Relations and Systems.
Business Management, Supplier Relations and Systems negotiates pricing of publicly funded drugs in British
Columbia, manages Pharmaceutical Services’ economic relationships with manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies,
and provides oversight to the electronic information systems used in pharmaceutical management, including the
development of systems supporting electronic prescribing.
PURPOSE OF POSITION
The Executive Director, Business Management, Supplier Relations and Systems leads the negotiation of contracts and
agreements with drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and other stakeholders to ensure the best value possible
for the best available products and services. The position is also responsible for the strategic direction of electronic
information systems like PharmaNet and managing the Division’s relationship with external service providers that support
such systems. Finally, the position is responsible for managing PharmaCare coverage for non-drug medical supplies
(e.g. prosthetics, orthotics and ostomy supplies).
NATURE OF WORK AND POSITION LINKS
The Branch leads negotiations with manufacturers to achieve cost savings on branded drugs similar to those experienced
in other Canadian and international jurisdictions. The Branch is also responsible for managing coverage and pricing for
generic drugs covered by PharmaCare and for establishing the terms of the program’s contractual relationships with
community pharmacies. In working collaboratively with these external stakeholder groups, the Executive Director will be
challenged to strike a balance between achieving cost savings, ensuring continued access to community pharmacy
services across the Province and maintaining a robust formulary that sees patients receiving appropriate therapeutics in a
timely fashion.
PharmaNet is a province-wide network supporting drug dispensing, drug monitoring, and claims processing (28 Million
claims annually). PharmaNet upgrades presently under development will provide important enhancements to system
functionality, although significant work will be required to achieve broad adoption of the new functionality in clinical
practice. Apart from major functionality upgrades, systems changes are required to support implementation of many of
the Division’s program initiatives and the Division relies on this Branch to manage multiple, concurrent system-related
projects.
The Branch is also responsible for managing reimbursement for medical supplies that have been designated as
PharmaCare benefits. The policy issues related to this dimension of the PharmaCare program, including relationships
with service providers, are complex and materially distinct from those pertaining to drug coverage.
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1. Pharmaceutical Companies (Brand, Generic) – Negotiate pricing and Product Listing Agreements for the Province.
Establish pricing and other requirements for PharmaCare coverage of generic drugs.
2. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Associations – Negotiate/consult regarding remuneration and other contractual terms.
Consult on system-related issues impacting community pharmacies
3. Medical Supplies Providers – Consult regarding reimbursement policy, remuneration rates and other contractual
terms.
4. Other Stakeholder Groups – Collect evidence; exchange information and obtain feedback on funding strategies.
5. Minister and Deputy Minister of Health – Recommend strategies that will achieve cost savings for the Province.
6. Federal Provincial and Territorial Partners – Partner with or share strategies on reducing drug costs.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES / DELIVERABLES

Provide leadership for the staff and functions of the Branch. Build a team of committed and engaged staff by
recruiting, selecting, developing, coaching and assessing their performance.

Ensure optimal value for pharmaceutical products and services by negotiating pricing, cost recovery schemes, risk
sharing agreements and other cost-containment measures with drug manufacturers and by directing the development
of Product Listing Agreements;

Develop and administer policies, contracts and processes to manage PharmaCare coverage for multi-source drugs
and achieve optimal value for expenditures on those products.

Develop and manage PharmaCare compensation arrangements for BC pharmacies, including dispensing and service
fees, drug cost reimbursement and contractual relationships.

Develop overarching objectives and strategies to improve the functionality and integrity of the PharmaNet system.
Prioritize PharmaNet system changes and direct the management of systems projects. Manage relationships with
internal and external service providers to ensure that PSD receives sufficient and timely support with system-related
requirements.

Provide oversight for the administration of PharmaCare coverage for designated medical supplies (e.g. prosthetics,
orthotics and ostomy supplies), including the relationship between PharmaCare and service providers in relation to
reimbursement for these products.

On subject matters falling within the scope of the role, represent British Columbia’s perspectives and interests in
interactions with other jurisdictions.

Prepare policy, ministerial speaking notes, discussion papers, briefing notes, cabinet submissions, requests for
legislation and ministerial response letters. Provides advice to the senior Executive, including briefing the ADM, DM
and Minister on emerging issues;

As part of the executive team of Pharmaceutical Services, improve the efficiency and effectiveness and fairness of
pharmaceutical programs and services by developing service plans, budgets, and performance measures;
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Responsible for stewardship of the Branch’s operating budget ($2.3 million).

Develop the cost-benefit analysis for input into budget, project or program decisions.

Negotiates or provides input, as a subject matter expert, into agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers,
distributors and/or pharmacies and recommends acceptance to the ADM.
DIRECT SUPERVISION (i.e., responsibility for signing the employee appraisal form)
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# of Regular FTE’s
Role
Directly supervises staff
3
Supervises staff through subordinate supervisors
7
# of Auxiliary FTE’s
PROJECT /TEAM LEADERSHIP OR TRAINING (Check the appropriate boxes)
Role
# of FTE’s
Supervises students or volunteers
Lead project teams
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Role
# of FTE’s
Provides formal training to other staff
10
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Assigns, monitors and examines the work of staff
3
TOOLS / EQUIPMENT
Laptop, desktop computer, cell phone or other
handheld communication devices
Software, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook Calendar and
e-mail
WORKING CONDITIONS
Regular travel between Victoria and Vancouver and some overnight travel within Canada
WORK EXAMPLES
Explores cost efficiencies on off-patent pharmaceuticals, opportunities for collaboration with third-party insurers, changes
to drug pricing and reimbursement.
PREPARED BY
NAME:
DATE:
Bob Nakagawa
Edited by W.A. Fosdick
April 2007
(Revised May 2011)
EXCLUDED MANAGER AUTHORIZATION
I confirm that:
1. the accountabilities / deliverables were assigned to this position effective: October 1, 2006.
2. the information in this position description reflects the actual work performed.
3. a copy has / will be provided to the incumbent(s).
NAME:
SIGNATURE:
DATE:
R Nakagawa
STAFFING CRITERIA
Education and Experience
Post graduate degree in Economics, Public Administration or Business Administration plus five years relevant experience
or equivalent combination of education and experience.
 Experience with complex negotiations, stakeholder relations and issues management.
 Experience on complex projects (high public profile, large budgets, multi-year and/or divergent stakeholder issues),
and recommending government strategies and remedial measures;
 Progressive experience leading a management team requiring collaboration, collegial challenges and sensitivity to
stakeholder perspectives;
 Experience in preparing high level reports and decision papers for review by others and ultimately for provincial
implementation.
Required Knowledge:





Project management, tracking, reporting and controls;
Contract management including assessing proposals, awarding contracts, supervising contractors, monitoring
implementation and evaluating performance;
Business case analysis and performance evaluation techniques, analytical methodologies and processes; editing
work of others for presentation to senior executives or publication;
Research and investigation techniques, methodologies and processes;
Desk-top self-sufficiency using Microsoft office, (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Preferred Knowledge:




Ministry organization structure, provincial health systems their mandates and programs;
Pharmaceutical sector, industry contacts and supply chain management;
Health service directions, priorities, regionalization and related issues;
Relevant acts, regulations, policies and current issues
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Competencies:
Strategic Orientation (5) - is aware of political climate to undertake policy directions and is able to assess implications of
trends and developments as they affect present policies, processes and ongoing issues on a national stage;
Analytic Thinking (3)– identify key components and underlying issues and ensure systematic analysis of provincial and
territorial systems; determine cause effect relationships and resolve problems in a sound decisive manner; interpret data
and draw logical conclusions using deductive reasoning and critical thinking; able to lead analyses and develop strategies
to implement change or introduction of new policies;
Relationship Building (4)– able to initiate relationships on behalf of the Ministry with people in other provinces and
territories, Health Canada, industry and advocacy groups in order to maintain transparency of decision making and gain
consensus on policy direction;
Flexibility (3) - willingness to be flexible to ongoing changes in responsibilities, assignments and corporate structures;
and willingness to be available and respond to new emerging priorities and re-prioritize existing work in a group
environment;
Impact Influence (5) - able to lead consultations with federal, provincial and territorial officials and effect change and
influence/persuade clients and stakeholders; able to apply influence indirectly in order to effect systemic change and see
projects completed;
Results Orientation (4) – able to work independently while using initiative and resourcefulness in a high volume,
demanding environment; able to organize and manage concurrent activities and projects, keeping team members,
supervisors and colleagues informed of progress and significant issues;
Building Partnerships with Stakeholders (5) – able to build on-going relationships with provincial and territorial
representatives in order to define common interests and gain commitment of resources to develop national strategies;
Results Orientation (4) is able to achieve results through others, especially services delivered through third parties that
are highly visible to the public (HIBC); achieve cost savings through negotiating processes that will be relatively new to all
participants.
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