Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Hiring Continues as Long-Term Michigan Growth Plan Moves Forward

Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, the nation’s largest privately held specialty pharmacy company servicing the needs of patients and physicians nationwide, is on target to meet its long-term growth plan with the announcement that it has an immediate need to fill 100 full-time jobs.

Diplomat, which was honored By Inc. magazine in August as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies for the fourth consecutive year, had just over 400 employees in April 2010 when the Company announced plans to purchase its new headquarters, the former General Motors’ Great Lakes Technology Centre complex on Saginaw Street and hire 1,000 workers over the course of the next five years. That announcement was made in conjunction with Diplomat’s receipt of an 18-year Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credit from the state of Michigan for $61.5 million and $14 million in Career Alliance, Inc. workforce training funds. Additional incentives were also made by the City of Flint to help the Company focus on its immediate expansion efforts.

Today Diplomat employs more than 760 employees, with 680 in Flint. The 100 open jobs are primarily in the areas of patient care coordination, order entry and customer service, but there are also 15-20 LPN and nursing positions open, five sales and account management positions and 10-15 technology jobs that include programmer, quality analyst, data modeler and data architect. Human Resources Manager Tracey Watlington said the Company is seeking to expand its geographic base of employees.

“Diplomat is already well known in Flint and Genesee County and we have had great success in hiring from this area. We also want prospective employees from northern Oakland County, Ingham County, Port Huron, Livingston County, Saginaw County and other areas to know there is a thriving national healthcare company offering meaningful careers within 40 to 50 miles of their home and easily accessible by several freeways,” said Watlington.

All positions currently being recruited for are full-time with a generous health, dental and vision insurance plan, an employer 401(k) match, wellness programs, an on-site fitness center, and industry-leading training through Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy University.

In addition to hiring hundreds of workers, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy CEO and co-founder Phil Hagerman RPh, whose 37-year-old company has always been rooted in Genesee County, says Diplomat is making good on its commitment to help reinvent Flint. In August, the Company hired Flint native Steve Wolbert to be Diplomat’s first Community Relations Liaison. The position has been so successful in the first three months that Wolbert was just promoted to Director of Government Relations and Community Affairs, where he can have an even greater impact on Diplomat’s support of the community. Wolbert reports directly to Hagerman and works to coordinate and strengthen the Company’s philanthropic efforts locally and statewide.

"One of Diplomat’s strategic goals is to go beyond checkbook philanthropy to expand our corporate citizenship initiatives, provide opportunities for jobs, and create a strong community fabric again,” said Hagerman. “Steve has deep ties to the local community and has already spearheaded projects since joining us in August that are putting Diplomat in a leadership role in the transformation of Flint and Genesee County."

Specialty pharmacy is a branch of the pharmaceutical delivery system that focuses on comprehensive and coordinated systems of pharmacological care for patients with serious and chronic illnesses and complex medical conditions. Individuals interested in employment at Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy can apply online at www.diplomatpharmacy.com and click on careers.

SOURCE: Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy