Principal Pharmacist – Critical care and Cardiovascular Services

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Tooting; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider in England is seeking a Principal Pharmacist to lead critical care and cardiovascular pharmacy services. The successful candidate will have significant clinical expertise and leadership experience, managing a team of pharmacists and contributing to multi-disciplinary service improvement initiatives. This full-time permanent position offers a salary range of £72,921 to £83,362 per annum, promising an exciting and rewarding career in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive critical care and cardiovascular experience.
• Experience managing a large team in a clinical setting.
• Postgraduate diploma in Clinical Pharmacy is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the critical care and cardiovascular pharmacy team.
• Provide education and training to pharmacy and medical staff.
• Manage multiple priorities and deliver against deadlines.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical knowledge

Communication

Strategic thinking

Clinical competency

Education

BPharm / MPharm / BSc (Pharmacy)

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Registered independent prescriber

Leadership and management training

Job description

Go back St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Principal Pharmacist – Critical care and Cardiovascular Services

The closing date is 19 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, influential pharmacist with advanced, expert clinical knowledge and skills to lead the critical care and cardiovascular pharmacy team at St George's Hospital. The critical care units at St George's Hospital include General Intensive Care, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care and Neurosciences Intensive Care and accept tertiary referrals from within Southwest London and beyond. A new General Intensive Care Unit is under construction and the successful candidate will play a crucial role in establishing and leading the pharmacy service in this new facility. The Cardiovascular and Thoracic Services cover secondary and tertiary care, including cardiac surgery, cardiology and thoracic surgery, for the region.

The post offers a pivotal role to act as the principal pharmacist, working closely with members of the multidisciplinary and senior management teams to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the service.

The post holder will be an experienced pharmacist with extensive critical care, cardiovascular, leadership and management experience. You will manage a large team of specialist, senior and junior pharmacists and lead on the provision and development of the clinical pharmacy services. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership, management, and clinical skills in a fast paced, challenging, and dynamic environment.

Main duties of the job

To work as an advanced expert pharmacist within all areas of the critical care and cardiovascular service.

To lead on the provision and development of the clinical pharmacy services including clinical risk and governance, finance, operations and research.

To act as a role model providing education, training, and mentoring to staff within pharmacy and the specialty.

To manage and develop a team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, trainee pharmacists and students.

To attend and participate in directorate and senior trust meetings, working collaboratively with general and service managers to develop the service.

To progress service improvement initiatives through multi-disciplinary working to ensure safe and timely provision of medicines.

To lead on and promote research and audit within the speciality.

To participate in the senior management team within pharmacy.

The successful applicant will be able to manage multiple priorities and deliver against tight deadlines. You will have excellent communication skills and be an enthusiastic educator. The ability to work autonomously and with a high level of accountability is essential. You should possess a postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent and have the relevant hospital pharmacy experience. Experience of working and influencing in a multi-disciplinary team and an independent prescribing qualification are essential.

About us

The GESH hospital group is a leading healthcare provider in South West London, comprised of St George's University Hospitals and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals. Our vision is to provide outstanding care, together, by collaborating and working in partnership to meet the needs of our patients, and making sure our services are affordable and fit for the future. As GESH partners the pharmacy departments at St Georges University Hospital and Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals are working together in a number of areas including; workforce, key functions such as medication safety and education and training and digital workstreams.St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust itself is a major acute hospital that offers specialist care for complex injuries and illnesses, including trauma, neurology, neurosurgery, cardiac care, lipid disorders, renal transplantation, cancer care and stroke. We are the regional specialist care provider for South-West London, Surrey and beyond. Acute and tertiary health services are delivered from over 1,000 beds across two sites, by around 8,000 staff.Together, as a Group, we will be the driving force behind the most integrated local system in the NHS.

Job responsibilities

**Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document, which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification**

** The vacancy may close earlier than the advised date, depending on the volume of applicants**

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BPharm / MPharm / BSc (Pharmacy) or equivalent
• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or General Pharmacy Practice
• Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice
• Registered independent prescriber
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Master's in advanced pharmacy Practice or relevant clinical area
• Formal leadership and management training
• Practice and educational supervisor accreditation

Experience

• Substantial post registration experience as a clinical pharmacist in critical care and cardiovascular and thoracic services
• Experience of contribution to the operational and strategic direction of the specialties and pharmacy
• Experience in implementing and managing change
• Experience delivering training and education at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Experience of identifying and managing risk in a clinical specialty
• Demonstrates a high level of clinical competency
• Experience of directorate work
• Experience of co-ordinating and leading audits and projects
• Experience in working across the interface including ICBs, GPs and community pharmacy
• Experience of leading, implementing into practice and/or publishing research
• Experience of being a designated prescribing practitioner and/or clinical supervisor
• Experience of using an electronic patient and medicines administration system

Knowledge

• Advanced clinical and professional knowledge of critical care and cardiovascular and thoracic medicine
• Knowledge of wider therapeutics and pharmacology with a record of successful application
• Demonstrable knowledge of NHS issues, priorities, policy, procedures and guidelines and ability to implement these locally
• Demonstrable awareness of commitment to Clinical Governance
• Demonstrates ability to analyse and interpret highly complex clinical information
• Familiarity with CMM and Cerner computer systems

Skills

• Ability to prioritise and plan work effectively autonomously and for a team including the ability to delegate appropriately
• Ability to think strategically
• Apply sound professional judgement to clinical, legal and ethical issues
• Ability to provide highly complex information on Pharmacy Services issues and impart knowledge to all levels of healthcare professionals
• Ability to work positively and calmly under pressure
• Demonstrable leadership and management skills

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.

Address

St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Salary

£72,921 to £83,362 a year p.a. pro rata inclusive of HCAS (Inner)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

200-7659897-DE-DG

Job locations

St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust