Principal Pharmacist - Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Greater London seeks a Principal Pharmacist for Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness. This senior leadership role requires expertise in formulary management and strong leadership skills to promote effective prescribing practices. The ideal candidate will influence senior stakeholders, collaborate across organisational boundaries, and ensure cost-effective use of medicines. This position offers a permanent, full-time contract with a salary range of £72,921 to £83,362 per annum.

Qualifications

• Expert clinical knowledge relevant to the area of practice.
• Experience in protocol/guideline development.
• Ability to convey complex clinical pharmacy information to senior professionals.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical effectiveness and formulary agenda within Pharmacy.
• Develop and maintain formulary processes within the Trust.
• Collaborate on development of prescribing pathways.

Skills

Leadership skills

Clinical reasoning

Critical appraisal skills

Organizational skills

Evidence-based decision making

Education

Master's degree (MPharm)

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Registered Pharmacist (MRPharmS)

Job description

Job summary:
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and forward‑thinking Principal Pharmacist for Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the Trust's Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness functions. The post holder will work across the organisation and the wider healthcare economy to ensure the safe, evidence‑based and cost‑effective use of medicines.

You will act as the Trust's expert in formulary management, medicines evaluation and clinical effectiveness, providing high‑level pharmaceutical advice to senior medical, nursing and operational leaders. The role includes significant partnership working across the system to support alignment of medicines optimisation priorities. You will support the Associate Chief Pharmacist, Formulary & Governance and play a key role in the Trust's medicines governance, NICE implementation and strategic medicines optimisation programmes.

We are looking for an experienced clinical pharmacist with strong leadership skills, advanced knowledge of formulary and medicines governance processes, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders. You will have excellent critical appraisal skills, a commitment to evidence‑based practice, and the ability to drive high‑quality, safe and cost‑effective prescribing across the organisation. You should be proactive, collaborative and able to work effectively across organisational boundaries.

Main duties

• Act as a specialist role model and an expert in Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness, demonstrating advanced knowledge in the field.
• Ensure safe, effective and cost‑efficient use of medicines across the Trust.
• Lead, update and maintain all Trust Formulary processes.
• Represent the Trust at system‑wide groups including the Integrated Medicines Optimisation Committee and Joint Formulary Committee.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior medical, nursing and pharmacy colleagues regarding the introduction and evaluation of medicines across the local health economy.
• Develop and implement guidelines and policies for the use of medicines.
• Promote effective prescribing aligned with the Trust Formulary and NICE guidance.
• Work with colleagues internal and external to the Trust on development and maintenance of prescribing pathways.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners on regional and national medicines optimisation workplans (e.g. Pan‑London programmes).
• Provide teaching, training and expert advice within the Trust and externally.
• Initiate and coordinate research, audit and quality improvement activity in the specialist area.

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust‑wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person‑centred, digitally‑enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus.

Details

Date posted: 18 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £72,921 to £83,362 a year per annum, including HCA

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 213‑Division‑A‑7676595

Job locations

King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS

Job description

Summary of responsibilities:

• Lead the clinical effectiveness and formulary agenda within Pharmacy in accordance with priority sets by senior leadership.
• Develop, maintain and update Formulary processes within the Trust.
• Work with senior leaders to develop and uphold best practice in medicine introduction.
• Identify a vision for Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness.
• Respond to queries regarding medicines supply and formulary issues.
• Develop prescribing pathways in collaboration with internal and external colleagues.
• Participate actively in Trust and system‑wide committees relevant to the role.
• Serve on ICB Medicines Management Committees/Implementation Groups.
• Promote best care for patients across the Integrated Care System.
• Motivate and inspire pharmacy staff and wider Trust teams.
• Represent pharmaceutical care within Trust and Regional Committee Structures.
• Use critical appraisal skills to provide evidence reviews for new medicines.
• Govern policy and procedures for new medicines procurement and risk assessment, including running the New Drug Panel.
• Develop, implement and monitor policies, guidelines, protocols and procedures at Trust and regional level.
• Propose and comment on policy and service changes within the clinical pharmacy service.
• Monitor use of unlicensed medicines.
• Ensure services align with national agendas, policies, guidelines and frameworks.
• Contribute to local and regional prescribing and clinical services guidance.
• Strategically develop pharmacy services across the Trust with the Associate Chief Pharmacist.
• Lead specific projects or initiatives across the Pharmacy Service.
• Collaborate with clinicians, nurses and other staff to develop Trust‑wide policies.

Person Specification – Qualifications (Essential)

• Master's degree (MPharm)
• Registered Pharmacist (MRPharmS)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or Pharmacy Practice
• Specialist competencies in relevant area or postgraduate level short courses
• Successful completion of short courses equivalent to a postgraduate certificate

Person Specification – Qualifications (Desirable)

• Registered Supplementary or Independent Prescriber

Person Specification – Skills and Experience (Essential)

• Expert clinical knowledge, experience and skills relevant to the area of practice.
• High organisational skills – planning, organising and developing systems to improve service delivery.
• Experience supervising research and audit projects.
• Experience in protocol/guideline development.
• Advanced clinical reasoning & judgment.
• Ability to convey complex clinical pharmacy and financial information to senior professionals.
• Effective time‑management under pressure.
• Risk identification and management.
• Change implementation and management.
• Self‑motivation and motivation of others.
• Evidence‑based decision making for patient‑ or drug‑specific issues.
• Understanding of national and local priorities.
• Commitment to the clinical governance agenda.
• Experience with Formulary processes and pathway development.
• Influencing senior pharmacy and medical staff, multidisciplinary teams and management.
• Problem‑solving skills.

Person Specification – Skills and Experience (Desirable)

• Advanced critical appraisal skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information, please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address:
King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS

Employer's website: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/