# Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/deputy-chief-pharmacist-medicines-optimisation/48bcaedd-990f-4021-992d-6823d96fdc97 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/deputy-chief-pharmacist-medicines-optimisation/48bcaedd-990f-4021-992d-6823d96fdc97.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust - **Location:** Leicester Royal Infirmary - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Profession:** Pharmacist - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £79,504 - £91,609 Per annum - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - Per annum - **Closing date:** 2026-10-30T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-10-09T09:31:23.920Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Leicestershire/Leicester/University_Hospitals_Leicester_NHS_Trust/Pharmacy/Pharmacy-v8352789 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8352789?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview We are seeking an experienced and ambitious pharmacy leader to join our senior Pharmacy Leadership Team as Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation. This is a high-profile Trust-wide leadership role with responsibility for medicines optimisation, medicines governance, medicines safety, medicines cost-improvement schemes and assurance across a large and complex organisation. Working closely with the Chief Pharmacist, Associate Chief Pharmacist and senior clinical leaders, you will help shape the strategic direction of medicines use across the Trust whilst ensuring the highest standards of quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance and professional practice. You will lead a broad portfolio encompassing medicines safety, controlled drugs, medicines governance, procurement, homecare services, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions, medical gases and medicines-related policies. You will provide expert professional leadership on complex medicines legislation and governance matters and play a key role in supporting the delivery of organisational priorities through effective medicines optimisation and assurance. This role offers an outstanding opportunity to influence strategy and decision-making at Trust, system and regional level whilst contributing to major transformation programmes, digital developments and service improvements across one of the largest hospital pharmacy services in the region. ### Main duties of the job As a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, the Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation will provide strategic and operational leadership across medicines governance, medicines optimisation and pharmacy assurance functions. The successful candidate will: - Provide leadership for medicines governance, medicines safety, medicines cost-improvement schemes and assurance activities across the Trust. - - Lead and develop the Trust's approach to medicines optimisation, ensuring alignment with national policy, legislation and best practice. - - Act as a senior professional adviser on medicines legislation, medicines risk management and regulatory compliance. - - Oversee key medicines governance portfolios including controlled drugs, homecare services, procurement, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions and medical gases. - - Chair and support key governance groups including pharmacy quality, medicines safety and medicines optimisation forums. - - Lead quality improvement, assurance and service development programmes that improve patient outcomes and support organisational priorities. - - Develop strong working relationships with senior clinicians, executives, corporate services and external partners to influence Trust-wide decision making. - - Deputise for the Associate Chief Pharmacist and Chief Pharmacist as required. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities The Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation is a senior leadership position within the Pharmacy team, providing strategic leadership across medicines optimisation, medicines governance, assurance, quality and patient safety. The post holder will work closely with the Chief Pharmacist and Associate Chief Pharmacist to develop and deliver the Trust's medicines optimisation strategy whilst ensuring compliance with professional, statutory and regulatory requirements. The role is responsible for providing senior oversight and assurance for a broad range of medicines governance functions, including controlled drugs, medicines safety, procurement, homecare services, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions, medicines-related policies and medical gases. The post holder will provide expert advice on medicines legislation and governance and act as a recognised source of professional expertise across the Trust. The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of medicines optimisation and governance strategies, ensuring effective systems are in place to support safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines. They will monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement and provide assurance regarding medicines-related risks across the organisation. They will deliver medicines-related cost-improvement programmes (CIP) for the trust. The post holder will provide leadership for key governance and assurance structures, supporting the delivery of medicines safety priorities, quality improvement programmes and organisational objectives. They will work collaboratively with clinical, operational and corporate teams to ensure medicines governance considerations are embedded within wider Trust initiatives, including digital transformation, innovation and service redesign. A key aspect of the role will be influencing and engaging at senior levels both within and outside the organisation, representing pharmacy at Trust, system and regional forums and building effective partnerships across organisational boundaries. The post holder will contribute to strategic planning, service development and transformation programmes while fostering a culture of continual improvement, patient safety and professional excellence. The successful candidate will join the organisation during a period of significant opportunity and change, including continued digital transformation, evolving medicines optimisation models, workforce innovation and major service developments. They will play a central role in ensuring that medicines governance, quality and assurance arrangements remain robust, innovative and responsive to future healthcare needs. ### Applicant requirements You must have appropriate UK professional registration. The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions. ## Person Specification ### EDI **Essential** - 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 **Essential** - A clear understanding of standards of probity and business conduct. - Team management skills and experience. - Adaptable and flexible. - Proven ability to influence and negotiate with relevant senior clinicians, managers, key stakeholders. - Organisational awareness. - Able to asses & manipulate a broad range of complex information quickly & accurately including e.g., clinical, finance, activity, performance data. - Able to make effective judgements based on limited information - Able to engage staff both within, & outside of, pharmacy. - Able to provide strategic leadership to senior clinical teams. - Highly effective interpersonal & communication skills, both written & oral. ### Experience **Essential** - Wide ranging recent clinical pharmacy experience - Recent experience of operational and strategic planning - Experience of successfully supporting a clinical management group or equivalent - Audit work and report writing. - Significant senior experience within the hospital pharmacy environment. - Significant and recent (within the last 5 years) in a leadership role within hospital pharmacy - Project and Financial Management - Human Resource Management - Interpretation of data - Strategic planning. - Process redesign - Experience of leading change management processes. - Introduction of major change and evidence of setting up work studies and audits to support bids and service change - Experience in data analysis and the development of options appraisals with a “value for money” approach **Desirable** - Significant recent experience as either a Deputy Chief Pharmacist or Principal Pharmacist - Experience within both clinical and technical areas of pharmacy practice ### Communication **Essential** - Ability to work on own and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. - Able to communicate well both one to one and to a group of people (public speaking), including communication of sensitive or contentious information that may be challenged - Good negotiating skills. - Excellent written communication skills. - Training, coaching and mentoring skills. - Leadership - Multidisciplinary team working - Proven ability to motivate staff - Evidence of team building and leadership skills **Desirable** - Teaching - Research ### Qualifications **Essential** - Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent - Registered with GPhC - Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice **Desirable** - Leadership/ management qualification relevant to the NHS ### Planning and Organization **Essential** - Effective prioritisation and time management - Ability to forecast and innovate, including long term service planning ## Documents - [employee benefits (pdf, 578.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2350) - [jd & person specification (pdf, 256.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10681284) - [job description & person specific (pdf, 256.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10681285) - [understanding your right to work in the uk (pdf, 1.1mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2349) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.