Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems

NHS Orkney; Kirkwall; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Distant Islands Allowance

Pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

NHS Orkney is seeking a Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems to provide clinical leadership, governance, and digital transformation across hospital and associated services. You will lead the Acute Services Pharmacy Team and oversee the HEPMA system, ensuring safe, efficient, and innovative pharmaceutical care across the organisation.

The role combines clinical leadership with strategic development, medicines governance and service improvement, working with clinicians, service managers and

Qualifications

• Significant post-registration clinical pharmacy experience.
• Strong leadership and change-management skills.
• Experience delivering specialist clinical pharmacy services.
• Willingness or ability to undertake Independent Prescribing training.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Acute Services Pharmacy Team and provide strategic and operational leadership.
• Oversee medicines governance, safety, and quality improvement programmes.
• Drive development and optimisation of HEPMA and related pharmacy digital infrastructure.
• Collaborate with clinicians and regional partners to improve patient care.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy experience

Leadership

Change management

Communication skills

Digital transformation

Education

Independent Prescribing

Job description

About The Organisation

NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.

About Orkney

With over 70 islands 20 of them inhabited Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.

Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney. We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do: Open and honest, Respect and Kindness from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.

The Position

NHS Orkney is seeking an exceptional pharmacist leader to join our Pharmacy Team as Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems. This is a rare opportunity, due to internal promotion, to combine clinical leadership, digital transformation, medicines governance and service development in a senior role that will have a direct influence on patient care across the organisation. As a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, you will lead and develop our Acute Services Pharmacy Team, providing strategic and operational leadership for clinical pharmacy services within Balfour Hospital. You will also have responsibility for the safe and effective operation, optimisation and future development of NHS Orkney's Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) system and associated pharmacy systems. This is an exciting role for an experienced clinical pharmacist who is passionate about medicines optimisation, service improvement, digital healthcare and leading people. You will work closely with clinicians, service managers and regional partners to ensure high-quality pharmaceutical care, support transformational change and maximise the benefits of technology for patients and staff.

Why Join NHS Orkney?

Pharmacy in Orkney is ambitious, innovative and integrated. Our pharmacy team works across acute, primary care and community settings, delivering seamless pharmaceutical care across the whole patient journey. We have developed a genuinely integrated model of practice where pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff work collaboratively to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for our island population. As Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a skilled and enthusiastic team of acute clinical pharmacists.
• Influence strategic decisions relating to medicines, prescribing and digital systems.
• Drive the ongoing development and optimisation of HEPMA and pharmacy digital infrastructure.
• Develop your own specialist clinical practice and prescribing role.
• Contribute to medicines governance, procurement, safety and quality improvement programmes.
• Represent NHS Orkney regionally and nationally through HEPMA, clinical pharmacy and medicines governance networks.
• Support the development of future pharmacists through education, training and professional leadership.

You will be joining a service that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, where pharmacy is recognised as a key contributor to modern multidisciplinary care.

Professional Development

• Clinical Practice
• Leadership and Management
• Education
• Research and Quality Improvement

You will be supported by experienced pharmacy leaders locally and by regional networks across the North of Scotland, with opportunities to participate in strategic initiatives, service redesign and national programmes.

The Candidate

• Significant post-registration clinical pharmacy experience.
• Experience delivering specialist clinical pharmacy services.
• Strong leadership, team development and change management skills.
• A passion for improving patient care through innovation and digital transformation.
• Experience of service development, quality improvement and project delivery.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Independent Prescribing qualification or willingness to undertake training.
• Most importantly, you will bring the vision, enthusiasm and leadership required to help shape the next phase of pharmacy services in NHS Orkney.

Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration

This post will be based at The Balfour. The successful candidate will work: Full Time 36 hours per week. This post is Permanent. It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.

Benefits And Salary

The salary for this post is Band 8b and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,719 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.

• NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.

Further Information

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Russell Mackay, Director of Pharmacy by email on.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Interview Dates

Interviews will be held week commencing 26th October 2026

Equal Opportunities

NHS Orkney is an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcomes applications from groups of people currently underrepresented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies.

Recruitment Process Note

Please note this advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.