Associate Director of Pharmacy

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 93,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists for an Associate Director of Pharmacy at a leading NHS trust in London. This pivotal role focuses on leading the pharmacy department, enhancing medicines management and optimisation, while collaborating with hospital leadership teams to ensure high-quality patient care. The candidate must have substantial experience in a senior pharmacy role and a proven track record in service development.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent.
• Professional Registration with the GPhC.
• Postgraduate management qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pharmacy department and ensure the delivery of medicines management.
• Oversee the pharmacy services delivery and standards of care.
• Manage the hospital’s drugs budget and provide strategic direction to pharmacy services.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Governance

Medicines Optimisation

Risk Management

Problem Solving

Strategic Development

Education

Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm)

Postgraduate qualification in Clinical pharmacy practice

Postgraduate Management qualification

Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Job description

Job summary

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen due to promotion to a Chief Pharmacist role of the current Associate Director of Pharmacy for the Newham University Hospitals.

We are looking for an experienced, ambitious, and forward-thinking individual to lead the pharmacy department, work with the hospital executive board and multidisciplinary teams to deliver the medicines management and optimisation priorities for the hospital.

Based in the Clinical Support Services Division, you will work closely with the Medical Director & Director of Nursing to develop a positive culture in medicines management that focuses on the provision of high quality safe and effective care to patients. This will also involve promoting continuous improvement underpinned by honest, open communication and team working across disciplines.

The successful candidate will be an integral member of the hospital's and pharmacy senior leadership teams and responsible for leading the strategic and operational delivery of pharmacy services across Newham University Hospitals.

This role will be extremely rewarding, and requires a motivated, dynamic individual who is experienced in working at strategic level with a range of stakeholders and a track record for service development and delivering to agreed targets.

Main duties of the job

The Associate Director of Pharmacy (ADoP) is accountable for the pharmacy services provided on a particular hospital site within Barts Health NHS Trust group of hospitals and is the most senior pharmacist for that hospital.

The post holder oversees the pharmacy services delivery and standards of care and ensures targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are met.

The post holder is responsible to the Group Chief Pharmacist for assurance of delivery of the medicines optimisation and medicines management agenda as well as compliance with statutory, regulatory and mandatory standards of pharmacy practice. The post holder also works with the Group Chief Pharmacist and the pharmacy senior leadership team to deliver the strategic direction and development of pharmacy jointly across the group.

The Associate Director of Pharmacy is accountable for the monitoring of the hospital drugs budget and working closely with the hospital executive team ensuring the effective management of the drug budget, including the delivery of medicines-related cost improvement programmes. The ADoP also provides expert advice and guidance on all pharmacy and medicines related issues to the Hospital Executive Board (HEB) and divisional senior leadership team.

About us

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

Details Date posted

02 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£93,903 to £107,412 a year per annum inc

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

259-7159367NUH-A

Job locations

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road, Plaistow

London

E13 8SL

Job description Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.

Job description Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent e.g BPharm., BSc Pharmacy
• Professional Registration (1 year competency based training with exam)
• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a pharmacist
• Postgraduate qualification in Clinical pharmacy practice or equivalent (minimum Postgraduate Diploma)
• Postgraduate Management qualification or equivalent experience with training courses attended.
• Demonstrates continuous professional development

Desirable

• Project management qualification or equivalent experience.
• Other relevant postgraduate clinical or management qualifications
• Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience Essential

• Previous excellent performance in a senior pharmacy role
• Experience of strategically developing pharmacy services
• Extensive experience in hospital pharmacy and managing clinical and operational staff
• Extensive experience of working as a senior pharmacy practitioner in an acute hospital NHS setting
• Experience of managing and advising on drug expenditure for a directorate / department
• Experience of managing risk in the clinical use of drugs
• Demonstrable extensive experience of managing and performing well to meet operational performance targets
• Sound understanding of the regulatory requirements of pharmacy services
• Substantial experience with pay and non-pay budgets
• Excellent demonstrable skills of Clinical Governance, Medicines Optimisation, Risk Management and Health and Safety Management
• Planning and implementing significant service developments and organisational change in a complex environment
• Experience of leading, managing / matrix-managing and motivating large groups of staff
• Senior management experience in a complex environment
• Experience of working across and leading trust wide projects and initiatives
• Experience of successfully leading and implementing service improvement and change projects related to quality improvement and transformation
• Proven track record of management experience in a complex and multi-site environment.
• Evidence of delivering cost reduction initiatives
• Experience of business planning and service development

Desirable

• Experience of conducting, supervising and presenting pharmacy research

Knowledge Essential

• High self-awareness, understanding own emotions, strengths and limitations.
• Decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner.
• Clinical pharmacy expertise beyond first degree level
• Knowledge of the current prescribing issues in an acute hospital setting
• Knowledge of statutory requirements covering pharmacy practice, Health and Safety and employment law
• Knowledge of national pharmacy strategy in relation to policies, standards and implications of this to own practice and wider Trust
• Thorough understanding of Clinical Governance and Clinical Risk Management
• Ability to understand complex issues, problem solve and propose solutions

Skills Essential

• Able to identify a vision, effectively communicate it to a diverse audience and provide direction for pharmacy clinical and operational services
• Able to interpret, implement and develop policies and guidance
• Good understanding of the key literature relating to clinical and professional pharmacy practice.
• Excellent clinical and managerial critical appraisal skills enabling effective decision making relating to the adoption of new therapies.
• Effective line management of senior direct reports
• Fluent in the use of MS Office applications.
• Effective problem solving skills
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills
• Good analytical & organisational ability

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent e.g BPharm., BSc Pharmacy
• Professional Registration (1 year competency based training with exam)
• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a pharmacist
• Postgraduate qualification in Clinical pharmacy practice or equivalent (minimum Postgraduate Diploma)
• Postgraduate Management qualification or equivalent experience with training courses attended.
• Demonstrates continuous professional development

Desirable

• Project management qualification or equivalent experience.
• Other relevant postgraduate clinical or management qualifications
• Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience Essential

• Previous excellent performance in a senior pharmacy role
• Experience of strategically developing pharmacy services
• Extensive experience in hospital pharmacy and managing clinical and operational staff
• Extensive experience of working as a senior pharmacy practitioner in an acute hospital NHS setting
• Experience of managing and advising on drug expenditure for a directorate / department
• Experience of managing risk in the clinical use of drugs
• Demonstrable extensive experience of managing and performing well to meet operational performance targets
• Sound understanding of the regulatory requirements of pharmacy services
• Substantial experience with pay and non-pay budgets
• Excellent demonstrable skills of Clinical Governance, Medicines Optimisation, Risk Management and Health and Safety Management
• Planning and implementing significant service developments and organisational change in a complex environment
• Experience of leading, managing / matrix-managing and motivating large groups of staff
• Senior management experience in a complex environment
• Experience of working across and leading trust wide projects and initiatives
• Experience of successfully leading and implementing service improvement and change projects related to quality improvement and transformation
• Proven track record of management experience in a complex and multi-site environment.
• Evidence of delivering cost reduction initiatives
• Experience of business planning and service development

Desirable

• Experience of conducting, supervising and presenting pharmacy research

Knowledge Essential

• High self-awareness, understanding own emotions, strengths and limitations.
• Decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner.
• Clinical pharmacy expertise beyond first degree level
• Knowledge of the current prescribing issues in an acute hospital setting
• Knowledge of statutory requirements covering pharmacy practice, Health and Safety and employment law
• Knowledge of national pharmacy strategy in relation to policies, standards and implications of this to own practice and wider Trust
• Thorough understanding of Clinical Governance and Clinical Risk Management
• Ability to understand complex issues, problem solve and propose solutions

Skills Essential

• Able to identify a vision, effectively communicate it to a diverse audience and provide direction for pharmacy clinical and operational services
• Able to interpret, implement and develop policies and guidance
• Good understanding of the key literature relating to clinical and professional pharmacy practice.
• Excellent clinical and managerial critical appraisal skills enabling effective decision making relating to the adoption of new therapies.
• Effective line management of senior direct reports
• Fluent in the use of MS Office applications.
• Effective problem solving skills
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills
• Good analytical & organisational ability

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

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road, Plaistow

London

E13 8SL

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road, Plaistow

London

E13 8SL

Employer's website

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