Job summary
We are looking for an experienced pharmacist with a passion for medicines optimisation, clinical leadership and improving health outcomes to join our Birmingham and Solihull Prescribing Support Team as a Senior Prescribing Advisor (Localities).

This is an exciting opportunity to lead medicines optimisation and prescribing improvement across one of our localities. While leading a skilled team of pharmacists and technicians, you will work collaboratively with GPs, clinical pharmacists, community pharmacy, secondary care colleagues and system partners to deliver high-quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing services that improve care for our population.

As a senior leader within the team, you will influence strategic decision-making, lead complex programmes of work, drive medicines safety and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, support delivery of QIPP and prescribing efficiency programmes, and develop innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

If you have substantial post-registration experience, excellent leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to influence change across complex healthcare systems, we would love to hear from you.

Informal enquiries are welcomed from candidates interested in learning more about this role.

Main duties of the job
The Senior Prescribing Advisor (Localities) will provide strategic and operational leadership for medicines optimisation, prescribing quality, and prescribing support services within an assigned locality across the ICB footprint.

The postholder will lead the delivery of the Medicines Commissioning and Clinical Policy strategy, working closely with GP practices, primary care networks, locality teams, community pharmacy, secondary care providers and wider system partners to improve patient outcomes, reduce health inequalities and ensure safe, clinically effective and cost-effective use of medicines.

You will work with other Locality Senior Prescribing Advisors to lead a team of pharmacists and technicians to deliver medicines optimisation projects within the ICB footprint.

They will monitor prescribing performance, lead implementation of formulary and prescribing guidance, support delivery of medicines safety and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, and identify opportunities for service improvement and QIPP efficiencies. The role includes leading complex work programmes, developing policies and strategies, managing and developing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and providing expert pharmaceutical advice to clinicians, managers and senior leaders.

The postholder will also support organisational priorities including financial sustainability and digital transformation.

About us
Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) brings together the NHS, local councils and voluntary sector partners to support 2.7 million people. Our vision is to make the area the healthiest place to live and work by improving life chances and reducing inequalities.

As an employee, you will demonstrate our system values, champion inclusion and help address health inequalities so everyone can thrive. In return, the ICB offers a supportive, ambitious and inclusive workplace, with opportunities to develop and work with partners to deliver meaningful change.

The ICB is committed to a workforce that reflects the population of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from everyone who meets the role criteria, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

The ICB is a registered Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and will shortlist suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria.

This vacancy is open only to employees of BBCS ICB. Successful internal applicants will remain employed by their current ICB.

Details
Date posted: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: D9118-26-0070

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description and person specification attached.

The postholder will be responsible for strategic and operational management of the Prescribing Support team/workstream(s) including the related strategic plan for their area(s) of activity. You will work with partners across the sector and wider to ensure delivery of strategic objectives.

As a senior member of the team, you will be required to deputise for the Deputy Chief Pharmacist/ Associate Director for Medicines Commissioning as appropriate.

In carrying out your role, at least one of the agreed strategic anchors should be at the core of everything you do:

• Commissioning for Value and Outcomes
• Accelerating Neighbourhood Health at Pace
• Making the Best Use of Digital Solutions in our Pathways
• Financial Discipline / 2% Productivity
• Advancing Health Equity
• Integrated Partnership

The post holder will combine pharmaceutical expertise and technical skills to deliver a patient-centred medicines optimisation agenda within localities of BBCS ICB in particular through:

• Ensuring delivery of the MMO strategy and associated work plan within the designated locality
• Ensuring delivery of specific assigned responsibilities across the entire MMO team
• Engaging effectively with prescribers and other locality leaders
• Supporting the development of assigned locality, including MMO input into any locality-led projects and/or development of MMO projects within the locality
• Ensuring high quality, safe, clinically and cost-effective prescribing, use, and management of medicines, within appropriate governance frameworks
• The post-holder will also contribute to the medicines agenda via agreed projects or ICB-wide responsibilities, in association with the senior lead for that portfolio (specialism)

Person Specification
Experience (Essential)

• Significant relevant post registration experience
• Involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes
• Evidence of ability to make significant and successful contributions at a senior level
• Evidence of strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience of developing robust operational and strategic plans and strategies
• Clear and in-depth understanding of national NHS strategy and policy, and ability to translate this into strategic and operational outcomes
• Experience in building and nurturing strong and positive relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Knowledge of IT platforms relevant to the role
• Experience of managing potentially challenging, sensitive, or contentious situations and/or characters
• Experience of direct line management
• Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals
• Experience of leading a group to achieve a common task or goal
• Experience of researching best practice, interpreting its relevance and processes/practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation)

Experience (Desirable)

• Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
• Specialist knowledge of clinical pharmacy practice in primary care, including relevant experience working in a primary care setting
• Experience of directly line managing a team

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Essential)

• A demonstrable understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion with evidence of personal impact in these areas

Mobility (Essential)

• Ability to travel to sites across the cluster as required

Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Ability to manage a complex workload under pressure and to delegate appropriately in order to deliver deadlines
• Standard keyboard skills
• Ability to engage and listen to others to inform professional practice
• Maintains emotional resilience and maturity
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Able to present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
• Ability to influence and persuade others
• Ability to lead, empower and motivate colleagues and stakeholders
• Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, clinical, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders/clinicians on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information
• Evidence of excellent written communication skills
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to analyse highly complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action
• Strategic thinking ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others
• Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies
• Experience of identifying and interpreting national policy. Appreciate the implications and adaptations needed for ICB-adoption
• Understanding of QIPP MMO agenda, prescribing efficiencies, and medicines funding in the NHS. Utilises this to assist in prioritising workstreams

Skills and Abilities (Desirable)

• Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes

Qualifications (Essential)

• Pharmacy degree (currently 4 year masters course) + 1 year pre-registration
• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council as a pharmacist
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Relevant clinical diploma/post graduate qualification or equivalent evidence of clinical experience
• Evidence of professional and personal development at senior management level

Autonomy (Essential)

• Able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations, with the aim of improving deliverables
• Ability to make decisions autonomously when required, working to tight and often changing timescales

Personal Qualities (Essential)

• Ability to lead, empower and motivate colleagues and stakeholders
• Openness and honesty
• Respectful of others with the ability to listen and provide feedback constructively, acknowledging individual contributions
• An effective team player
• Caring and considerate in all environments
• Professionalism
• Good timekeeping
• Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
• Used to working in a busy environment
• Adaptability, flexibility, and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
• Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals, and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions
• Ability to move between details and the bigger picture
• Professional calm and efficient manner
• Effective organiser, influencer, and networker
• Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals
• Putting the long-term health, social care, and well-being needs of the population first (system first)
• Working collaboratively with other leaders to achieve excellence in everything we do in BBCS
• Holding yourself and others to account for delivering better outcomes
• Being inclusive, supportive, and empowering at all times
• Engaging and enabling those working towards the aims we have as a collective

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: Black Country Integrated Care Board
Address: Wolverhampton Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Nilima Rahman-Lais, nrahman-lais@nhs.net

The ICB is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This vacancy is open only to employees of BBCS ICB.