Chief Pharmacist | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Reading is seeking an experienced Chief Pharmacist to oversee pharmacy services, lead a substantial team, and manage a significant budget. This role demands strong leadership in medicines optimisation and strategic involvement with multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate should be a registered pharmacist with extensive experience in NHS environments, committed to delivering high-quality pharmacy services and patient care.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at popular retailers

Free parking

Qualifications

• Registered UK pharmacist with post-graduate clinical/mental health pharmacy qualification.
• Substantial post-registration experience, including multi-disciplinary leadership and service development.
• Expertise in NHS governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team managing a £3M budget.
• Oversee medicines procurement and Clozapine clinics.
• Provide strategic leadership on medicines optimisation across the Trust.
• Manage pharmacy budget and ensure cost-effectiveness.

Skills

Leadership

Medicines optimisation

Budget management

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Post-graduate clinical/mental health pharmacy qualification

Job description

About the Role

Are you seeking a new and exciting leadership challenge in pharmacy? 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 and a Global Digital Exemplar. We are proud to be one of only eight trusts nominated as an Advanced Trust, ranked third nationally among Mental Health & Community Trusts in the new NHS league tables, and have the highest score in staff surveys for staff recommending us as a great place to work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 47 WTE staff, managing 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
• Deliver innovative, system‑wide medicines optimisation enhancing patient care
• 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.

Inclusion & Diversity

We have identified that this is a role where we have 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.

About Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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.

Our 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.

Ideal Candidate

• Be a registered UK pharmacist with 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.

How to Apply

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point‑by‑point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Equal Opportunity

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

Contact

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact Tolu Olusoga, Medical Director, by emailing: [e-mail].

Application Deadline

This advert closes on Tuesday 16 Dec 2025. The role may close earlier, so please submit your application as soon as possible.