Job summary

Band 8C Associate Chief Pharmacist - Operations, Cancer Services and Workforce

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Pharmacy Senior Leadership Team at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust following the promotion and relocation of the current post holder.

Reporting directly to the Chief Pharmacist, you will provide strategic, professional and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio, including inpatient and outpatient pharmacy service, pharmacy cancer services, aseptic services, pharmacy clinical trials, homecare medicines service, pharmacy procurement and distribution, workforce development and pharmacy education.

This is a pivotal leadership role where you will drive service transformation, workforce development, innovation and operational excellence, while deputising for the Chief Pharmacist and influencing pharmacy strategy across the Trust and wider healthcare system.

You will also play a leading role in developing our pharmacy workforce, supporting education, leadership development, succession planning and organisational culture, helping us build a resilient, high-performing team for the future.

We are looking for an ambitious, compassionate, forward-thinking and inspirational pharmacy leader with significant senior leadership experience, excellent strategic and operational skills, and a passion for developing people and delivering high-quality, patient-centred services.

Main duties of the job
Working with the Chief Pharmacist to provide professional leadership for the pharmacy services to the Trust and other external customers:

• To develop strategic and innovative plans for the pharmacy operational services across the Trust and ensuring these are aligned to the overall Trust strategy.
• To lead pharmacy operational services and contribute to the development and implementation of the Trust strategic plans.
• To support the Chief Pharmacist in the development of the overall strategic vision for the pharmacy service, including strategy development, service planning, budgeting and financial management.
• To develop business cases and bids for funding of services, for capital development within pharmacy operations.

If you are looking for the next step in your career and the opportunity to shape the future of pharmacy services within an ambitious and forward-thinking pharmacy department, we would love to hear from you.

We are committed to investing in our people, developing compassionate leaders and creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive. If you share our ambition to deliver outstanding patient care and inspire high-performing teams, we welcome your application.

About us

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Job responsibilities
To have overall management accountability for the Aseptic & QA services provided by the department, Dispensary Services, the R&D team, Homecare Services, Pharmacy procurement and Stores, workforce and development.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the job role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm)
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a pharmacist
• Postgraduate qualification in Clinical Pharmacy practice or equivalent (minimum Postgraduate Diploma)
• Postgraduate Management qualification or equivalent experience with training courses attended

Desirable

• Project management qualification or equivalent experience
• Membership of the Royal Pharmacy College

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to develop and communicate a clear strategic vision, providing professional leadership and direction across clinical and operational pharmacy services
• Comprehensive knowledge of the statutory, regulatory and professional requirements relating to pharmacy practice, health and safety, and employment legislation
• Excellent leadership, people management and influencing skills, with the ability to lead senior teams and deliver organisational objectives

Experience
Essential

• Extensive senior leadership experience as a pharmacist within an acute NHS hospital setting, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality clinical, operational and strategic pharmacy services
• Demonstrable experience of leading the strategic development, transformation and continuous improvement of pharmacy services within a complex healthcare environment
• Significant experience in leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, including workforce planning, performance management, appraisal, coaching and organisational change

Desirable

• Experience of influencing regional or national pharmacy workforce, education or training initiatives

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 NHS Careers website.

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Chief Pharmacist
Catherine Olie
catherine.olie@royalberkshire.nhs.uk
01183227797