Associate Director-Pharmacy

NHS Scotland; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Associate Director position within NHS Scotland's Pharmacy Directorate. This role involves providing strategic leadership for education and development within the pharmacy workforce, collaborating with government and professional bodies to enhance care outcomes across Scotland.

Benefits

Flexible working and hybrid options

Annual incremental salary progression

27 Days annual leave, increasing with service

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Substantial post-registration experience and personal credibility in professional education and clinical practice.
• Ability to develop and utilize an extensive professional network.
• Experience at a strategic level across organizations and with external partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for pharmacy education and workforce development in Scotland.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders, including Scottish Government and NHS Scotland.
• Lead on corporate delivery and multi-professional working across directorates.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Education

Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Job description

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Flexible Location: Based throughout Scotland, NES is a remote friendly employer supporting office and hybrid working. Were happy to talk about how you want to work.

Work Pattern: Permanent, Full Time, 37 hours per week

You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.

Who We Are

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.

The Pharmacy Team within NES is responsible through the Executive Medical Director to the NES Board and through the Board to Scottish Government for the commissioning and delivery of postgraduate pharmacy education in Scotland.

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Associate Director post within the Pharmacy Directorate. The purpose of the role is to provide leadership and direction to a substantial portfolio within the Directorate and national responsibilities for education and development of the pharmacy workforce in Scotland.

The post holder will work closely with pharmacy colleagues, the Director of Pharmacy, the NES Executive Team and with Scottish Government, NHS Scotland, Scotlands Universities and Colleges, professional regulators and health and social care sectors across Scotland to provide strategic leadership for education for the health and care workforce in Scotland.

This role will lead on specific elements of corporate delivery and multiprofessional working across directorates to deliver on the NES Strategy. The role will deliver against exciting new strategic responses in relation to workforce transformation, supporting across all sectors of practice to help meet the health and social needs of patients in Scotland. The post will directly support the Postgraduate Pharmacy Dean/Director of Pharmacy and contribute to the corporate/external relationships with key stakeholders and statutory education bodies (SEBs) across the UK.

The post holder will hold current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council and will have substantial post-registration experience and personal credibility in professional education and clinical practice.

First rate communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills will be key to your success. Combined with considerable strategic leadership, change management experience and robust knowledge of professional education, you will possess excellent analytical and negotiation skills and have the ability to influence at the highest level.Flexibility, diplomacy and a commitment to inclusion will inform all that you do.

Do you want to play a key strategic role in contributing to NES ambitions to continue to respond to changing circumstances and opportunities across the health, care and education sectors?

Do you want to provide strategic leadership for education for the health and care workforce in Scotland and represent NES at national and UK wide professional and government forums?

Do you have a clear understanding of, and want to contribute to Scotlands health and social care policy landscape?

Do you have the abilityto think strategically,influence, negotiate and work in partnershipwith others demonstrating visible and dynamic leadership?

Working within the Pharmacy Directorate will give you the opportunity to support better rights based quality care and outcomes for every person in Scotland through a skilled, capable, and resilient health and social care workforce.

Does this sound like you?

What We Love to See

Associate Directors offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, wed love you to apply:

The skills necessary to develop and utilise an extensive and complex professional network of contacts and relationships with government agencies, funding bodies, professional regulatory bodies, other education providers and the health and care service.

A proven and demonstrable ability to function and support others within the context of a rapidly changing environment.

Ability to work at a strategic level across the directorate and organisation as well as with external partners such as Scottish Government, health and care, education partners, and other national bodies including other Boards, social care providers and wider public sector.

Ability to think creatively, analyse information, understand and present complex arguments, make judgements and reconcile competing demands.

Excellent communication, negotiation, organisational, management and leadership skills, along with an excellent understanding of policy, practice, education and professional structures and processes, including regulatory and other professional standards.

Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary

Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines

Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary

Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines

Benefits Which Matter

As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:

Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid working

Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review

Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday

NHS discounts and more

Diversity and Inclusion

Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.

We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience regardless of the outcome.

Its not essential to be in an Associate or Deputy Director role right now. You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work.

If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact Professor Andrew Sturrock, Postgraduate Pharmacy Dean/Director, via

Next Steps

All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.

In person OR online interviews (including a presentation) will take place on week commencing14th July 2025. The presentation topic will be sent to candidates selected for interview.

For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.

Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.

If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: