Chief Pharmacist

NHS; Northampton; On-site; GBP 91,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Chief Pharmacist in Northampton to lead pharmacy services. The role demands strong operational leadership, compliance management, and innovation in service delivery. Candidates should possess a relevant pharmacy qualification and significant hospital experience. This full-time position offers a competitive salary between £91,342 and £105,337 annually.

Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) required.
• Extensive post-registration experience in a hospital setting.
• Significant leadership experience within pharmacy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's operational and strategic Medicines Optimisation.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and professional standards.
• Provide pharmaceutical advice to the Trust Board.

Skills

Operational decision-making

Leadership

Pharmaceutical knowledge

Professional development commitment

Education

MPharm Degree or equivalent Pharmacy qualification

Postgraduate clinical diploma/MSc

Postgraduate Management qualification

Job description

Job summary

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Chief Pharmacist to lead our pharmacy services and medicines optimisation agenda. This is an exciting leadership role in a rapidly expanding Mental Health, community and secured services Trust.

The Trust has recently brought its medicines supply service "in-house" and so this pivotal role, offers the opportunity to shape the future of both safe, effective, and innovative medicines use and the medicines supply delivery in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Main duties of the job

As Chief Pharmacist, you will:

Be the Trust operational and strategic lead for Medicines Optimisation,

Provide strategic and operational leadership for pharmacy services.

Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and professional standards in relation to medicines and pharmacy services.

Lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Trust's Medicines Optimisation Strategy.

provide pharmaceutical and medicines management advice to the Trust Board, including assurances of good medicines governance.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across the health and care system.

Support innovation in service delivery, including deployment of EPS, cross-sector integration and the expansion of the Trust research portfolio

About us

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools.We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.

Details Date posted

25 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year pa per rota

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

270-TG249-CORP

Job locations

Berrywood Hospital

Northampton

NN5 6UD

Job description Job responsibilities

As Chief Pharmacist, you will:

Be the Trust operational and strategic lead for Medicines Optimisation,

Provide strategic and operational leadership for pharmacy services.

Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and professional standards in relation to medicines and pharmacy services.

Lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Trusts Medicines Optimisation Strategy.

provide pharmaceutical and medicines management advice to the Trust Board, including assurances of good medicines governance.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across the health and care system.

Support innovation in service delivery, including deployment of EPS, cross-sector integration and the expansion of the Trust research portfolio

Job description Job responsibilities

As Chief Pharmacist, you will:

Be the Trust operational and strategic lead for Medicines Optimisation,

Provide strategic and operational leadership for pharmacy services.

Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and professional standards in relation to medicines and pharmacy services.

Lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Trusts Medicines Optimisation Strategy.

provide pharmaceutical and medicines management advice to the Trust Board, including assurances of good medicines governance.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across the health and care system.

Support innovation in service delivery, including deployment of EPS, cross-sector integration and the expansion of the Trust research portfolio

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Registered Pharmacist General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• MPharm Degree or equivalent Pharmacy qualification
• Postgraduate clinical diploma/MSc relevant to the NHS or equivalent experience
• Postgraduate Management qualification relevant to the NHS or equivalent experience
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Extensive and demonstrable post-registration experience within a hospital setting
• Significant experience working in a senior management / leadership role within pharmacy

Desirable

• Current membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Membership of Royal College of Mental Health Pharmacy
• Experience of developing and monitoring contractual standards and service level agreements
• Experience of business planning, project and management, budget setting and financial management

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Take operational decisions to ensure an effective service
• Ability to provide professional leadership and day to day management within the medicines management team
• A broad technical and pharmaceutical knowledge relating to the promotion of high quality, effective and cost-effective use of medicines
• Act as an autonomous practitioner in the delivery of a full clinical pharmacy and medicines management service. Practice within standard operating procedures in accordance with professional standards and national guidance

Desirable

• Experience of developing and delivering training packages for staff and service users

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Registered Pharmacist General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• MPharm Degree or equivalent Pharmacy qualification
• Postgraduate clinical diploma/MSc relevant to the NHS or equivalent experience
• Postgraduate Management qualification relevant to the NHS or equivalent experience
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Extensive and demonstrable post-registration experience within a hospital setting
• Significant experience working in a senior management / leadership role within pharmacy

Desirable

• Current membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Membership of Royal College of Mental Health Pharmacy
• Experience of developing and monitoring contractual standards and service level agreements
• Experience of business planning, project and management, budget setting and financial management

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Take operational decisions to ensure an effective service
• Ability to provide professional leadership and day to day management within the medicines management team
• A broad technical and pharmaceutical knowledge relating to the promotion of high quality, effective and cost-effective use of medicines
• Act as an autonomous practitioner in the delivery of a full clinical pharmacy and medicines management service. Practice within standard operating procedures in accordance with professional standards and national guidance

Desirable

• Experience of developing and delivering training packages for staff and service users

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Berrywood Hospital

Northampton

NN5 6UD

Employer's website

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Berrywood Hospital

Northampton

NN5 6UD

Employer's website

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)