Lead Pharmacy Technician

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) Pharmacy department invites applications for Lead Pharmacy Technician to join the senior leadership team. The role oversees the trust-wide medicines supply, leads a team of technicians and support staff, and ensures safe and cost-effective medicines management across CNTW localities.

You will work on development of KPIs, governance, audits, and contribute to procurement and medicines systems, with duties covering absence

Qualifications

• Qualified Pharmacy Technician with post-qualification experience.
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council is mandatory.
• Accredited checker status for dispensed items.

Responsibilities

• Leadership, service management and co-ordination of medicines procurement, storage and supply across the Trust.
• Oversight of Procurement, Stores and Dispensary teams and development of objectives.
• Line management of Dispensary and medicines systems staff, including training.
• Recruitment and workforce planning.
• Provide cover for managers within Dispensary and medicines systems teams.
• Monitor audits and governance, reporting KPIs.

Skills

Pharmacy IT systems

Team management

Time management

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Difficult patients handling

Clinical indicators

Education

Qualified Pharmacy Technician (NVQ3 / BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences) with post qualification experience.

Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Qualified Accredited Checker of dispensed items

Qualified NVQ Assessor (A1) (A2) and verifier.

Significant Management Qualification. Degree level or NVQ4/Diploma level

Job description

Lead Pharmacy Technician

The closing date is 29 September 2026

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to work within the pharmacy senior leadership team within the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) Pharmacy department.

This role includes:

Management of the Trust-wide medication supply service to all wards, units and clinics, supplied by the CNTW and NTW Solutions Pharmacy Departments

Leading a team of Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy ATOs and Pharmacy Support staff who contribute to the safe and effective supply of medicines across all localities of CNTW

Working as part of the senior leadership team within the Pharmacy department, ensuring the work of the operational team is reported and represented

Managing and developing safe, secure and cost-effective medicines management within Trust Dispensaries

Developing, promoting and monitoring key performance indicators in relation to the Dispensary and medicines supply chain

Managing the cost-effective and safe procurement of medicines

Undertaking the duties of the Lead Technician - Medicines Systems in their absence.

Undertaking the duties of the Specialist Technician - Dispensary Services in their absence

Main duties of the job

• Leadership, service management and co-ordination of medicines procurement, storage and supply across the Trust, ensuring safe, effective, innovative and efficient operations, in accordance with medicines legislation and Trust policies
• Oversight of Procurement, Stores and Dispensary teams, and development and implementation of Trust and service objectives including national drivers and quality improvement initiatives
• Leadership and line management responsibility of Dispensary, stores and procurement staff, including training and mentoring
• Recruitment and workforce planning
• Provision of cover for managers within Dispensary and medicines systems teams
• Management and monitoring of Departmental operational audits and governance standards providing assurance of performance as well as development, maintenance and reporting of key performance indicators
• Management of Pharmacy input into Trust-wide initiatives including seasonal vaccination programmes
• Accredited checking Technician duties according to rota
• Medicines incident investigation, trend analysis and action plan implementation
• Development and maintenance of departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about our department and see what our team has to say you can watch our YouTube video https://youtu.be/JgVFF1jMsuY or Pharmacy Brochure :: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Please find attached job description for full details.

We welcome your application.

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

• Qualified Pharmacy Technician (NVQ3 / BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences) with post qualification experience.
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Qualified Accredited Checker of dispensed items
• Qualified NVQ Assessor (A1) (A2) and verifier.
• Significant Management Qualification. Degree level or NVQ4/Diploma level

Knowledge and Experience

• Evidence of commitment to CPD as a minimum to meet mandatory requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Substantial practical experience of managing staff within Hospital Pharmacy environment at senior manager level.
• Qualified to Trust Management and Leadership Programme
• Significant experience of managing ward, pharmacy and technical services
• Experience of managing within or appropriate technical function in an NHS environment
• Experience of managing within or appropriate technical function in an NHS environment
• Experience of promoting medicines incident reporting and gain participation of Nursing Managers
• Excellent knowledge of dispensary & procurement processes
• Experience of working in a purchasing post within a large organisation
• Working Knowledge of management of pharmacy computer systems
• Experience & knowledge of licensing systems for medicines

Skills and Competencies

• Proficient in the use of pharmacy computer systems
• Evidence of managing teams, including delegating and implementing change management
• Ability to motivate and gain participation of individuals in the pharmacy team
• Excellent organised time management and communications
• Ability to work as an acknowledged member of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to deal with potentially difficult / aggressive patients in mental health wards
• Ability to understand clinical information, e.g. performance indicators and targets, and to act on these as appropriate

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.

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust