North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (WHH)
Principal Pharmacy Technician (Band 7)
The closing date is 15 November 2026

Job summary
Are you an experienced and ambitious Pharmacy Technician looking for your next leadership opportunity?

North Cheshire & Mersey NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Principal Pharmacy Technician to join our Pharmacy Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and developing pharmacy services across our organisation while leading, supporting and developing a highly skilled technical workforce.

As a senior member of the pharmacy team, you will provide operational leadership for pharmacy technical services and medicines optimisation activities, ensuring the safe, effective and efficient delivery of pharmacy services. You will work closely with pharmacists, nursing teams, medical staff and senior Trust leaders to drive innovation, improve patient outcomes and deliver high-quality patient-centred care.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:

• Lead and manage pharmacy technical services, ensuring the delivery of safe, efficient and compliant medicines management services.
• Provide professional leadership and line management to Senior Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants and trainees.
• Manage workforce planning, training, competency assessment and staff development programmes.
• Lead service improvement projects, audits and quality initiatives to enhance patient care and pharmacy operations.
• Act as a specialist technical expert, advising healthcare professionals on medicines management, supply and governance issues.
• Support medicines governance, risk management, incident investigation and implementation of corrective actions.
• Contribute to strategic planning and business development within the Pharmacy Department.
• Deputise for the Chief Pharmacy Technician as required.
• Participate in weekend, bank holiday and late duty rotas as required by the service.

About us
We are looking for individuals who share our values and who are passionate about developing services, supporting colleagues and continually improving patient care. Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of NCM. They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation. Our mission is to be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other. Our vision is to be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn. Our approach to healthcare is founded on our four core values: Kind - we are caring, supporting and respectful to everyone; Open - we are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working; Fair - we listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all; One team - we work well together and with our communities.

We employ almost 6,500 people from more than 80 nationalities and are fully committed to being an equal, diverse and inclusive employer. Our culture and values ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that no job applicant or employee is disadvantaged at any stage of their journey.

We are also proud to be an Armed Forces Friendly organisation and welcome applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists and families.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 370-AST7PHA-2712

Job description
Job responsibilities
The Principal Pharmacy Technician will provide operational and professional leadership within the Pharmacy Department, ensuring the safe, effective and efficient delivery of pharmacy services across North Cheshire & Mersey NHS Foundation Trust.
Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing the pharmacy technical workforce, including Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants and trainee staff.
• Supporting the delivery and development of safe, effective and patient-centred medicines management services.
• Providing specialist technical expertise and advice to pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams.
• Leading on workforce development, training, competency assessment and staff wellbeing.
• Supporting medicines governance activities, including audit, incident investigation, risk management and quality improvement.
• Driving service improvement and innovation to enhance patient care, operational efficiency and service quality.
• Monitoring service performance and ensuring compliance with legal, professional and Trust standards.
• Contributing to strategic planning and the ongoing development of pharmacy services.
• Deputising for the Chief Pharmacy Technician as required and supporting the delivery of departmental objectives.
• Promoting the Trust values of Kind, Open, Fair and One Team in all aspects of leadership and service delivery.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Pharmacy Technician to play a key leadership role within a progressive pharmacy service, helping to shape and develop services that improve outcomes for patients across the Trust.
See full JD attached

Person Specification
Experience

• Essential: Significant post-registration experience within hospital pharmacy.
• Essential: Experience of leading, supervising or managing pharmacy staff.
• Essential: Experience of leading departmental projects, implementing service improvements and change management initiatives.
• Essential: Experience of audit, governance and quality improvement activities.
• Essential: Experience of investigating incidents and supporting risk management processes.
• Essential: Experience of developing and delivering training to pharmacy staff.
• Desirable: Experience of managing budgets, procurement or medicines supply services.
• Desirable: Experience of workforce planning and staff development.
• Desirable: Experience of working across multiple clinical services or sites.

Qualifications

• Essential: Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Essential: BTEC/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or recognised equivalent Pharmacy Technician qualification.
• Essential: Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT/ACT) qualification.
• Essential: Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Desirable: Leadership or management qualification.
• Desirable: Assessor and/or mentorship qualification.

Knowledge and Skills

• Essential: Extensive knowledge of hospital pharmacy practice and medicines optimisation.
• Essential: Understanding of medicines legislation, governance and regulatory requirements.
• Essential: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Essential: Ability to lead and motivate teams effectively.
• Essential: Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Essential: Ability to analyse information and make informed decisions.
• Essential: Competent in the use of pharmacy and IT systems.
• Desirable: Knowledge of NHS strategies affecting pharmacy services.
• Desirable: Experience of digital transformation and pharmacy technology systems.
• Desirable: Evidence of contributing to strategic service development.

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.

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 all 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
Employer name: North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (WHH)
Address: North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Trust, Lovely Lane, Warrington, WA5 1QG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://northcheshireandmersey.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Chief Pharmacy Technician, Katrina Jackson, Katrina.jackson5@nhs.net, 01925665360

Applicants may be subject to a criminal records check through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.