Pharmacy Stores & Distribution Manager

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier hospital trust in Milton Keynes seeks a Pharmacy Stores & Distribution Manager. This role involves leading pharmacy operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and managing staff development. The ideal candidate will have relevant pharmacy qualifications and significant experience in a hospital setting. Join a growing team dedicated to advancing patient care and services.

Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with evidence of ongoing CPD.
• Experience in hospital pharmacy and good distribution practice.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical products and safe handling.

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operations of the pharmacy stores.
• Ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practice.
• Oversee staff management and development.

Skills

Time management

Effective communication

Problem solving

Good teamwork

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services

Registered Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC

Specialist training in hospital pharmacy

Tools

CMM/JAC computer systems

Job description

Pharmacy Stores & Distribution Manager – Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Closing date: 09 October 2025

Hours: 37.5 hours per week including weekend and Bank Holiday commitments. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to lead our Pharmacy Stores & Distribution team at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) NHS Trust. This is an excellent opportunity to take on a leadership role within a supportive and progressive department, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant supply of medicines across the hospital and to external partners.

As Pharmacy Stores & Distribution Manager, you will oversee day-to-day operations of the pharmacy stores and messenger service, manage stock control and distribution in line with GDP, and lead your team to deliver high standards of patient care and service.

You will work closely with colleagues in pharmacy, nursing, and other healthcare teams to ensure medicines are available where and when they are needed, supporting the safe and timely administration of critical medicines.

Interested? For further information please contact:

Vivian De Vittoris, Associate Director of Pharmacy - Operations, Quality & Governance at [e-mail]

Joanne Eldridge, Pharmacy Procurement Technician, at [e-mail]

Interview 17 October 2025

Main duties

• Leading the pharmacy stores and messenger service, ensuring compliance with GDP and Trust policies.
• Managing, supporting and developing staff, including recruitment, training, appraisals, and performance.
• Oversee ward stock management and the top-up service, ensuring timely and accurate supply of medicines.
• Liaising with procurement and clinical colleagues to resolve stock issues, shortages, and recalls.
• Contributing to financial management, service performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Supporting Health & Safety, security, and quality assurance in pharmacy stores.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.

Job responsibilities

The main duties include, but are not limited to:

To lead the daily operations of the pharmacy stores and messenger service.

To ensure the stores is compliant with MHRA Good Distribution Practice under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician and Operations lead.

Human Resource Management

All posts with responsibility for managing staff are expected to lead, motivate, develop and reward staff and are required to comply with the Trust's policies and Manager's Code of Conduct.

To be responsible for the personnel management of colleagues within stores tea and pharmacy messenger team.

Education and Training

To contribute to developing a comprehensive induction programme for pharmacy stores and distribution colleagues to ensure all staff are trained to the appropriate level, reviewing, and evaluating training needs on a regular basis.

To act as a mentor for staff within stores and distribution function.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details

Qualifications and knowledge

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services
• Specialist training and experience to degree or equivalent level in a hospital pharmacy setting.
• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC
• Evidence of ongoing CPD as required by the GPhC
• Proficient use of CMM/JAC computer systems
• Demonstrate experience in prioritisation of medicine supply

Experience

• Hospital Pharmacy or medicine industry experience
• Developed knowledge of handling of medicines distribution and good distribution practice
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical products, services and safe handling for compliance of regulatory rules and guidance
• Understanding of supply chain management principles and systems for their operation
• Understanding inventory management principles, systems and their operation
• Knowledge of stock control systems
• Experience in troubleshooting medicine discrepancies using multiple systems
• Experience of appraising staff and giving feedback
• Project management

Skills

• Ability to manage time effectively and work to deadlines demonstrated in a previous post
• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise self and others
• Experience of writing and reviewing standard operating procedures
• Effective verbal and written communication demonstrated in a previous post.
• I.T. skills such as computer literacy, word processing and spreadsheet skills.
• Problem solving
• Good teamwork and ability to work alone
• Demonstrate experience in mentorship and training

Personal and people development

• Experience of supervising and developing colleagues
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
• Ability to work on own initiative and effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
• Ability to think strategically
• Applies sound judgment to clinical, legal and ethical issues
• Able to stand for extended periods of time
• Able to cope with short period of moderate physical exertion and moderate to heavy lifting of boxes
• Ability to work positively and calmly under pressure

Communication

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Able to lead, motivate and support a group of staff to achieve targets

Specific requirements

• Knowledge and understanding of the safe handling and dispensing of cytotoxic medications, including COSHH

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.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust