Pharmacy Purchasing Officer

Maudsley Learning; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is seeking a Pharmacy Purchasing Officer (NHS AfC Band 4) based at Leicester General Hospital. This full‑time role (37.5 hours) covers purchasing, stock control and procurement for UHL and TMP, reporting to the Lead Pharmacy Technician Procurement.

Primary base LGH with duties across the Leicester sites. You will work with pharmacy staff, wholesalers and manufacturers to secure medicines, manage stock levels, expedite orders and ensure best value.

Qualifications

• Inter-personal communication skills in dealing with staff at all levels.
• GCSEs including English and Maths are essential.
• ECDL or equivalent computing qualification.
• NVQ 3 Purchasing or Business Administration or equivalent; contract law knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Purchases pharmaceuticals for pharmacy departments; ensure timely delivery and optimal quantities.
• Manage accounts for patient supplies of home delivered medicines.
• Assist stores managers in maintaining stock levels and effective stock control.
• Expedite orders and source alternatives to unavailable items; keep departments informed.

Skills

Inter-personal communication

People management

Education

GCSEs including English & Maths

ECDL or computing qualification

NVQ 3 Purchasing or Business Administration

Contract law knowledge

Tools

Stock control systems

Job description

Employer University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Leicester General Hospital Town Leicester Salary £28,392 - £31,157 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 26/10/2026 23:59

Pharmacy Purchasing Officer

NHS AfC: Band 4

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Job overview

Pharmacy Purchasing Officer

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week. Permanent

Base: You may be required to work in other designated locations of theTrust as well as your primary base. In particular, flexibility isrequired across the three main hospital sites (Leicester RoyalInfirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital). Ifyour initial location is one of these sites excess travelreimbursement would not apply for a permanent or temporarychange of base. Your primary base will be LGH.

Reports to: Lead Pharmacy Technician Procurement

We are a relatively small team made up of pharmacy technicians and purchasing officers but interact with the wider pharmacy department plus external contacts such as wholesalers and manufacturers.

Main duties of the job

To provide a pharmaceutical purchasing, stock control and procurement service to the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and the TrustMed Outpatient Pharmacies (TMP).

To promote and maintain good working relationships with staff in all the pharmacy departments in the Leicester hospitals.

To deal effectively with pharmacy staff and their stock related problems (determining the real nature and extent of the problem and providing a satisfactory solution).

To learn how to use new technology to best effect improvements and efficiencies in the provision of a high quality purchasing service.

Working for our organisation

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Purchases pharmaceuticals for each of the pharmacy departments in accordance with local procedures and contracts, ensuring timely delivery and optimum order quantities.

Manages accounts for patient supplies of home delivered medicines and therapies.

Assists local pharmacy stores managers in ensuring effective stock control and maintaining appropriate stock levels to meet patients’ needs.

Expedites orders for pharmaceuticals and obtains acceptable alternatives to unavailable items, keeping pharmacy departments informed, to maintain the clinical service.

Assists in sourcing any new, unusual or alternative pharmaceutical products that may be required.

Advises pharmacy staff on the availability of requested items and responds to urgent requests to ensure that patient therapy is not compromised and continuity of supply is maintained.

Manages own workload and sets priorities, to ensure clinical service is not compromised.

Measures procurement workload and assists in analysing performance indicators to improve efficiency.

Responsible for maintaining proper financial control by ensuring prices paid and goods received are correct before authorising payment of invoices.

Manages financial accounts with pharmaceutical companies, to minimise the trust’s liabilities and to ensure all income is received.

Responsible for ensuring UHL and TMP obtain maximum value for money on medicines purchases by keeping costs to a minimum, ensuring correct products are purchased, contracts adhered to and all due compensation is claimed.

Responsible for keeping computer stock, supplier and financial records up to date and accurate, to maximise the efficiency of the purchasing service.

Assists in the training of other staff groups in purchasing procedures.

Ensures drug alerts and hazard recalls are implemented promptly to minimise risk to patients and staff.

Assumes responsibility when necessary for the security of the district pharmacy building.

To undertake such other reasonable duties as may be required from time to time.

To participate in evening, weekend, bank holiday and on-call work in accordance with departmental rotas.

Please see attached job description for more information.

Person specification

Communication

• Inter-personal communication skills and ability to deal with people at all levels

Trust Values

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s Values and Behaviours

Qualifications

• Minimum of four GCSE passes including English and Maths
• as above
• as above
• European Computer Driving Licence or other computing qualification
• NVQ Level 3 Purchasing or Business Administration or equivalent, or Chartered Institute of Purchasin
• Knowledge of contract law, negotiation skills and contract management eg through NHS PaSA short cour

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years experience of the following: Customer services - particularly dealing with a variety of people using the telephone Using computer systems Office organisation, team working Purchasing and Invoicing procedures
• Minimum of 1 years experience working in a Pharmacy environment, using medical terminology and drug names
• Word processing Use of simple spreadsheets
• Minimum of 5 years working in an NHS hospital

Planning and Organization

• Organisational skills including the ability to prioritise effectively, especially one’s own work
• Ability to think clearly and logically under pressure. Flair for problem analysis and solution

EDI

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs. All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

Others

• Drug nomenclature Purchasing and Invoicing procedures Stock control systems
• Trust Standing Financial Instructions Contract Law Medicines Act – in respect of purchase of medicin

Additional Information

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavorto make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.