Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Leicester, LE5 1WWView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Salary
£79,504 to £91,609
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
23 October 2026
3 days leftJob description
We are seeking an experienced and ambitious pharmacy leader to join our senior Pharmacy Leadership Team as Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optim...
As a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, the Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation will provide strategic and operational leadership across medicines governance, medicines optimisation and pharmacy assurance functions.
- Provide leadership for medicines governance, medicines safety, medicines cost-improvement schemes and assurance activities across the Trust.
- - Lead and develop the Trust's approach to medicines optimisation, ensuring alignment with national policy, legislation and best practice.
- - Act as a senior professional adviser on medicines legislation, medicines risk management and regulatory compliance.
- - Oversee key medicines governance portfolios including controlled drugs, homecare services, procurement, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions and medical gases.
- - Chair and support key governance groups including pharmacy quality, medicines safety and medicines optimisation forums.
- - Lead quality improvement, assurance and service development programmes that improve patient outcomes and support organisational priorities.
- - Develop strong working relationships with senior clinicians, executives, corporate services and external partners to influence Trust-wide decision making.
- - Deputise for the Associate Chief Pharmacist and Chief Pharmacist as required.
The Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation is a senior leadership position within the Pharmacy team, providing strategic leadership across medicines optimisation, medicines governance, assurance, quality and patient safety. The post holder will work closely with the Chief Pharmacist and Associate Chief Pharmacist to develop and deliver the Trust's medicines optimisation strategy whilst ensuring compliance with professional, statutory and regulatory requirements.
The role is responsible for providing senior oversight and assurance for a broad range of medicines governance functions, including controlled drugs, medicines safety, procurement, homecare services, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions, medicines-related policies and medical gases. The post holder will provide expert advice on medicines legislation and governance and act as a recognised source of professional expertise across the Trust.
The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of medicines optimisation and governance strategies, ensuring effective systems are in place to support safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines. They will monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement and provide assurance regarding medicines-related risks across the organisation. They will deliver medicines-related cost-improvement programmes (CIP) for the trust.
The post holder will provide leadership for key governance and assurance structures, supporting the delivery of medicines safety priorities, quality improvement programmes and organisational objectives. They will work collaboratively with clinical, operational and corporate teams to ensure medicines governance considerations are embedded within wider Trust initiatives, including digital transformation, innovation and service redesign.
A key aspect of the role will be influencing and engaging at senior levels both within and outside the organisation, representing pharmacy at Trust, system and regional forums and building effective partnerships across organisational boundaries. The post holder will contribute to strategic planning, service development and transformation programmes while fostering a culture of continual improvement, patient safety and professional excellence.
The successful candidate will join the organisation during a period of significant opportunity and change, including continued digital transformation, evolving medicines optimisation models, workforce innovation and major service developments. They will play a central role in ensuring that medicines governance, quality and assurance arrangements remain robust, innovative and responsive to future healthcare needs.
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
- high-quality care for all
- being a great place to work
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate
- we are proud
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https: //www.uhleicester.nhs.uk
Communication
Essential
- Ability to work on own and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Able to communicate well both one to one and to a group of people (public speaking), including communication of sensitive or contentious information that may be challenged
- Good negotiating skills.
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Training, coaching and mentoring skills.
- Leadership
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Proven ability to motivate staff
- Evidence of team building and leadership skills
Desirable: - Teaching; - Research
Qualifications
Essential: - Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent; - Registered with GPhC; - Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice
Desirable: - Leadership/ management qualification relevant to the NHS
Experience
Essential
- Wide ranging recent clinical pharmacy experience
- Recent experience of operational and strategic planning
- Experience of successfully supporting a clinical management group or equivalent
- Audit work and report writing.
- Significant senior experience within the hospital pharmacy environment.
- Significant and recent (within the last 5 years) in a leadership role within hospital pharmacy
- Project and Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Interpretation of data
- Strategic planning.
- Process redesign
- Experience of leading change management processes.
- Introduction of major change and evidence of setting up work studies and audits to support bids and service change
- Experience in data analysis and the development of options appraisals with a "value for money" approach
Desirable
- Significant recent experience as either a Deputy Chief Pharmacist or Principal Pharmacist
- Experience within both clinical and technical areas of pharmacy practice
Planning and Organization
Essential: - Effective prioritisation and time management; - Ability to forecast and innovate, including long term service planning
EDI
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high-quality care and interactions with others
Others
Essential
- A clear understanding of standards of probity and business conduct.
- Team management skills and experience.
- Adaptable and flexible.
- Proven ability to influence and negotiate with relevant senior clinicians, managers, key stakeholders.
- Organisational awareness.
- Able to asses & manipulate a broad range of complex information quickly & accurately including e.g., clinical, finance, activity, performance data.
- Able to make effective judgements based on limited information
- Able to engage staff both within, & outside of, pharmacy.
- Able to provide strategic leadership to senior clinical teams.
- Highly effective interpersonal & communication skills, both written & oral.
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
9 October 2026
Last checked
9 October 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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