Operational Manager, Deputy RP & Site Manager

University College London Hospital; Greater London; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is seeking an experienced Pharmacy professional to lead our Pharmacy Distribution Service as Operational Manager – Deputy Responsible Person and Site Manager. The role oversees the offsite distribution centre, site management, and regulatory compliance, serving UCLH and external clients.

You will develop distribution strategies, manage a £210 million annual invoice flow, and act as Deputy RP for the MHRA wholesaler license.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development of pharmacy medicines distribution services to UCLH and external customers, aligning with local, regional, and national requirements and priorities.
• Develop and implement a distribution strategy to ensure efficient, cost-effective delivery of medicines that meet quality standards, are available when needed, and provide the best value for money.
• Deliver an effective, high-quality medicines distribution service in compliance with all professional and regulatory standards, supporting UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and relevant external clients.
• Communicate complex information both internally within the pharmacy and externally with regulators (MHRA, Home Office). Strong communication and negotiation skills will be essential to influence decision-making.
• Take responsibility for site management, including oversight of all on-site equipment and facilities.
• Build and maintain proactive strategic relationships with stakeholders, including suppliers, NHS partners, commissioners, and NHS bodies such as NHS Improvement.
• Train and develop the team to provide an expert, high-quality, stakeholder-focused service.
• Oversee Pharmacy Distribution services, which involve managing orders and approving invoices worth approximately £210 million annually.
• Lead investigations and resolution of Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practice regulations.

Job description

Operational Manager, Deputy RP & Site Manager

Company: University College Hospital

Salary: £66,274 - £73,496 Per annum inclusive of HCAS

Hours: Full-time

Location: London, N7 9NH

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 2 Nov 2026

Closing date: 2 Dec 2026

This advert closes on Monday 16 Nov 2026

Full Job Title: Operational Manager – Pharmacy Distribution - Deputy Responsible Person and Site Manager

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Pharmacy technician or Pharmacist to lead our Pharmacy Distribution Service. The ideal candidate will be forward-thinking, with a strong commitment to delivering exceptional service to our customers and, ultimately, our patients. This newly created role comes as part of a restructuring initiative within Pharmacy Distribution Centre at University College London Hospitals (UCLH).

UCLH operates an offsite pharmacy warehouse, which holds a wholesaler license with the MHRA and is licensed by the Home Office to supply controlled drugs. The unit manages an annual expenditure of over £210 million. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the efficient distribution of medicines and managing the Brewery Road site. They will also serve as the Deputy Responsible Person (RP) for the MHRA Wholesaler License.

In addition to providing medicines to all areas of UCLH, the service extends to multiple external customers, including other local NHS trusts. The post-holder will also assist the Director of Pharmacy Operations in maintaining and developing pharmacy services across the Trust as part of a strategic working group.

• Lead the strategic development of pharmacy medicines distribution services to UCLH and external customers, aligning with local, regional, and national requirements and priorities.
• Develop and implement a distribution strategy to ensure efficient, cost-effective delivery of medicines that meet quality standards, are available when needed, and provide the best value for money.
• Deliver an effective, high-quality medicines distribution service in compliance with all professional and regulatory standards, supporting UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and relevant external clients.
• Communicate complex information both internally within the pharmacy and externally with regulators (MHRA, Home Office). Strong communication and negotiation skills will be essential to influence decision-making.
• Take responsibility for site management, including oversight of all on-site equipment and facilities.
• Build and maintain proactive strategic relationships with stakeholders, including suppliers, NHS partners, commissioners, and NHS bodies such as NHS Improvement.
• Train and develop the team to provide an expert, high-quality, stakeholder-focused service.
• Oversee Pharmacy Distribution services, which involve managing orders and approving invoices worth approximately £210 million annually.
• Lead investigations and resolution of Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practice regulations.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world-class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit:Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?

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