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Job summary
Royal Papworth Hospital are looking for a dynamic clinical leader and expert practitioner to lead our cardiothoracic critical care pharmacy service. This role is based in our state-of-the-art critical care unit situated on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus on the outskirts of Cambridge. The unit is one of seven centrally funded adult extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation centres in the UK and supports the UK's largest cardiothoracic transplant service.
In this role you will lead a team of pharmacists to deliver exceptional quality, evidence based pharmaceutical care to patients admitted to the critical care unit on both surgical and non-surgical pathways. Experience in critical care pharmacy and effective leadership capabilities are key requirements for this role. Within the pharmacy department you will work with the Chief Pharmacist and senior leadership team to deliver the Trust's vision "To bring tomorrow's treatments to today's patients" and provide an excellent staff experience.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of this role is to ensure that patients admitted to the critical care unit receive the highest quality pharmaceutical care.
Expert Clinical Practice
The post-holder will use their advanced skills and knowledge to optimise the pharmacological therapy of patients in the critical care unit, including patients undergoing renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The post-holder will attend multidisciplinary ward rounds and meetings, using knowledge of the evidence base and effective communication skills to agree pharmaceutical care plans for complex patients.
Leadership
It is expected that the post-holder will develop and deliver a vision for critical care pharmacy services as well as providing operational leadership to the critical care pharmacy team. The post-holder will join the pharmacy leadership team and deputise for the chief and deputy chief pharmacist and other senior leaders as necessary.
Education
As an expert practitioner, the successful candidate will work to support the development of pharmacists and others across professional and organisational boundaries.
Research
The post-holder will undertake research, quality improvement and audit projects, and proactively share the results of these through professional networks, meetings, and publications.
About us
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state-of-the-art hospital in Cambridge. We perform the most heart and/or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979. It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.
Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future. Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission - a rating it still holds today. The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day-to-day roles & interactions. Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.
The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation. Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.
For a street view tour: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/virtual-tour
Details
- Date posted: 16 July 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8b
- Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: 175-2627-PH1897
- Job locations: Royal Papworth Hospital, Papworth Road, Cambridge Bio Medical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0AY, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
On this page you will find a Role Profile which provides information about the hospital and full details about the role. We recommend that you review this and refer to it as you complete your application. Please include how you will meet the Trust Values Compassion, Excellence and Collaboration. If you would like more information about the role or working at Royal Papworth Hospital, please get in touch with the contact for this role.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Core Criteria
- Expertise in the following areas:
- *Specialist clinical expertise in the pharmaceutical management of patients in a critical care setting
- *Research and audit activity
- *Formal teaching/training/mentoring for staff development/supervision
- *Experience leading a team / service area
- Proficiency may be demonstrated through academic qualification (MSc Clinical Pharmacy Practice), professional credentialling and/or portfolio of equivalent evidence.
- Additional Criteria
- Experience of compiling financial reports on drug expenditure and use of financial reports to influence business cases and clinical practice.
- Proven experience of managing and developing a service within defined resources
- Demonstrable experience of change management at a pharmacy and organisational level
- Understanding NHS finances
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Able to communicate clearly to Healthcare professionals and other staff information which may be highly complex, contentious or sensitive
- Visionary and ability to motivate others
- Able to write detailed reports which can be analysed by other staff
- Proven leadership skills and management
- Meet tight deadlines and manage conflicting priorities - able to prioritise
- Able to handle situations where there may be conflicting demands
- Work autonomously prioritising own workload
- Able to pro-actively deal with difficult situations
Desirable
- Experience as a clinical tutor for Higher Institution Diploma
- Have undertaken training in leadership and management skills
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Pharmacist
- Independent Prescriber
Desirable
- Member of relevant Professional Groups
Additional Criteria
Essential
- As well as being able to demonstrate examples of how they work in a way that is consistent with our values of compassion, excellence and collaboration the successful candidate will be able to clearly demonstrate a commitment to driving culture change through equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Ability to participate in on-call and weekend rotas
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Highly Specialist Pharmacist CCA/Peri-Operative Medicine with Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 to £77,368 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 27 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (16 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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