Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
About
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk/careers/
Contact
- Address
- University Hospitals of Leicester
- G58/G59 Block A Penn Lloyd Building
- County Hall
- Leicester
- Leicestershire
- LE3 8RA
Associate Chief Pharmacist
Accepting applications until: 30-Oct-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 30-Oct-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- UHL Cross-Site (Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital, General Hospital)
- Town
- Leicester
- Postcode
- LE1 5WW
- Major / Minor Region
- Leicestershire
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Per annum)
Salary
- Salary
- £94,356 - £108,814 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 8d)
Specialty
- Main area
- Pharmacy
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But they shouldn’t replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.
Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success, because automatically generated answers:
- might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
- often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
- could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.
Job overview
This is an exciting time to join the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation team at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in the NHS. We are seeking an exceptional and experienced pharmacy leader to join our senior Pharmacy Leadership Team as Associate Chief Pharmacist. The role will support the strategic leadership of a large and diverse pharmacy service, delivering care across multiple hospital sites and serving a population of over one million people.
Working in partnership with the Chief Pharmacist, you will provide senior strategic and operational leadership across clinical, operational and specialist pharmacy services. You will play a key role in shaping and delivering the future direction of pharmacy and medicines optimisation, ensuring high-quality, patient-centred services that support the Trust's ambitions for outstanding care, education, research and innovation.
This is a unique opportunity to influence service development at Trust, system and regional level, leading major transformation programmes and helping to shape the future workforce, digital agenda and models of pharmacy care within one of the largest hospital pharmacy services in the region.
Advert
The Associate Chief Pharmacist is a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team and will work closely with the Chief Pharmacist to provide strategic and operational leadership across all areas of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation.
The successful candidate will:
- Provide visible leadership for a large multi-disciplinary pharmacy workforce and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the department.
- - Lead the development, implementation and delivery of pharmacy strategies, improvement programmes and transformation initiatives aligned to Trust and system priorities.
- - Support the safe, effective and cost-efficient delivery of clinical, operational and specialist pharmacy services.
- - Lead on service redesign, workforce development and innovation programmes that improve patient care and productivity.
- - Provide professional leadership on cost-improvement and expert advice to senior clinicians, executives and external stakeholders on pharmacy and medicines-related matters.
- - Represent the Trust at local, regional and national forums and deputise for the Chief Pharmacist as required.
- - Ensure pharmacy services continue to meet relevant professional, regulatory and governance standards whilst fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Associate Chief Pharmacist will support the Chief Pharmacist in providing strategic leadership for Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation services across University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The post holder will play a pivotal role in developing and delivering the long-term vision and strategy for pharmacy services, ensuring alignment with Trust objectives, Integrated Care System priorities and national policy.
The post holder will provide leadership across clinical, operational and specialist pharmacy services, ensuring services remain safe, innovative, responsive and sustainable. They will be responsible for driving service transformation, quality improvement and workforce development initiatives that support improved patient outcomes and operational performance.
Working closely with senior clinical and managerial colleagues, the post holder will lead complex programmes of work, develop business cases, contribute to financial planning and support delivery of cost improvement and productivity programmes whilst maintaining high standards of quality and patient safety.
The Associate Chief Pharmacist will provide professional leadership to senior pharmacy staff and support the development of future leaders, ensuring succession planning, education and workforce development remain key priorities. They will champion innovation and service modernisation and work collaboratively with colleagues across organisational and professional boundaries to deliver improved models of care.
The post holder will be a senior representative of the pharmacy profession within the Trust and wider healthcare system, influencing strategic decision-making and contributing to regional and national pharmacy agendas. The role includes deputising for the Chief Pharmacist as required and providing assurance to senior leaders regarding service quality, governance, operational performance and regulatory compliance.
The successful candidate will join UHL during a period of significant opportunity and transformation, including major digital developments, infrastructure investment, service redesign and evolving models of medicines optimisation. They will play a central role in ensuring pharmacy services are positioned to meet the future needs of patients, staff and the wider health economy.
Additional Information
Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.
Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.
UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.
UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.
The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.
The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.
COVID 19 Risk Assessment
Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.
The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.
If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.
Covid Vaccination Status
Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Communication
Essential criteria
- Be able to provide highly complex information on both clinical pharmacy and financial issues and impart knowledge to all levels of healthcare professionals (up to and including senior consultants/professor/executive director level)
- Be able to provide highly complex information on medicines use and financial issues to multidisciplinary groups involving staff outside of Pharmacy (e.g. Medicines Optimisation Committee, APC, Trust Management Teams, Clinical Executive)
- Be able to provide highly complex information on clinical pharmacy issues to national organisations and at national/international conferences.
- Be able to use presentational aids. Be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with staff and patients.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to BPharm / MPharm/ BSc (Pharmacy) or equivalent
- Professional Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
- Postgraduate diploma in a relevant Pharmacy discipline (eg Clinical, General Pharmacy Practice) or equivalent experience
- Specialist higher degree or portfolio of experience at senior managerial level
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate qualification in business or management
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience of working in NHS hospitals at a senior level e.g. Deputy Chief Pharmacist
- Experience of working with senior healthcare professionals outside of Pharmacy to achieve cross -Trust developments.
- Significant experience of managing a large number of staff
- Experience of managing teams.
- Significant experience of performing and supervising projects
- Understanding of change management approaches demonstrating experience of leading change programmes, including engagement with stake holders
- Ability to manage and influence challenging and complex clinical and performance issues.
Planning and Organization
Essential criteria
- Be able to formulate long term strategic plans for the effective development of clinical pharmacy services
EDI
Essential criteria
- 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
- Be flexible in responding to demands of the service
- Be able to concentrate on highly complex matters (drug use evaluations, drug query answering, clinical prescription review, checking of dispensed prescriptions) despite frequent interruptions.
- Be methodical in approach.
- Have experience of disciplinary matters and be able to impart results from them to staff in an appropriate and considered manner.
- Demonstrate emotional maturity and resilience when dealing with complex issues
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mohamed Rahman
- Job title
- Chief Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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