Chief Pharmacist

BERKSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Reading; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK seeks an experienced Chief Pharmacist to lead pharmacy services across mental health and community care. The role involves managing a team, overseeing operations, and ensuring high-quality service delivery. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in leadership, medicines optimisation, and be a registered UK pharmacist. This position offers flexible working options and a supportive environment for professional growth.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave

NHS pension scheme

Learning and career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at popular retailers

Generous maternity and paternity leave

Free parking

Qualifications

• Registered UK pharmacist with substantial post-registration experience.
• Experience in multidisciplinary leadership and service development.
• Expertise in NHS governance frameworks and budget management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on medicines optimisation across the Trust.
• Advise on pharmaceutical policy and practice to high-level stakeholders.
• Lead and manage pharmacy staff teams to ensure quality service delivery.
• Manage pharmacy budget and procurement efficiently.

Skills

Leadership

Medicines optimisation

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Post-graduate clinical/mental health pharmacy qualification

Registered UK pharmacist

Job description

Do you want to join a team committed to delivering cutting-edge pharmacy services and practices with high end-user satisfaction? We're looking for an experienced aspiring Chief Pharmacist to join our forward-thinking Trust. We have a quality improvement culture, "better never stops" is at the heart of everything we do. Berkshire Healthcare is a CQC Outstanding trust, a Global Digital Exemplar, and a leading provider of community and mental health services. We are proud to be one of only eight trusts nominated as an Advanced Trust, ranked third nationally among Mental Health and Community Trusts, and the highest scoring for staff recommending their organisation as a great place to work.

As Chief Pharmacist for services across Berkshire in mental health, community, and primary care, you will lead a team of 47 WTE staff, manage a £3M budget, oversee operational services (including medicines procurement, supply, transport, & Clozapine clinics), lead medicines optimisation services (covering safety, education & training, digital prescribing, advanced clinical pharmacy, medicines information, & governance), work closely with acute providers, commissioners, external partners & academic collaborators, and deliver innovative, system-wide medicines optimisation enhancing patient care.

If you’re passionate about patient care & staff development, we would love to welcome you to our team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on all aspects of medicines optimisation across the Trust.
• Advise the Chief Executive, Medical Director, Trust Board, and clinical services on pharmaceutical policy and practice.
• Lead pharmacy staff, including operational, clinical, and medicines information teams, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
• Oversee safe and effective management of controlled drugs as the Trust's Accountable Officer.
• Support the Clozapine Service, clinical trials, and implementation of NICE technology appraisals.
• Develop partnerships with ICBs, acute trusts, commissioners, and academic institutions to improve system‑wide prescribing.
• Manage the pharmacy budget, procurement, and medicines information services, ensuring cost‑effectiveness and patient safety.
• Ensure clinical governance, audit, and risk management standards are met across all pharmacy services.
• Drive digital innovation, quality improvement initiatives, and workforce development across the pharmacy team.

Qualifications

• Be a registered UK pharmacist with a post‑graduate clinical/mental health pharmacy qualification.
• Have substantial post‑registration experience, including multi‑disciplinary leadership and service development.
• Expertise in medicines optimisation, budget management, and NHS governance frameworks.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and interpersonal skills with ability to influence across complex organisations.

We have identified that this role has underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and 'Other' Ethnic Groups.

At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs. Watch our careers video to learn more. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.

If you need help with your application, please contact us on [email protected]. Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers. For information on how we store your information, please review our privacy statement. No agencies, please.

Values

• Caring for and about you is our top priority.
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services.
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions.

Benefits

• Flexible working options to support work‑life balance.
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell.
• Generous NHS pension scheme.
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles.
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services.
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants.
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality.
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
• Free parking across Trust sites.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.