Job summaryWe are looking for an experienced clinical trials pharmacist to join the UCLH Senior Pharmacy Leadership Team as Head of Pharmacy Clinical Trials, leading and developing the Pharmacy Clinical Trials Unit.
This is a newly created post, providing strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across a portfolio of approximately 600 commercial and non-commercial studies, with significant cancer, neurology, and early phase programmes. The experienced team of 30 has grown substantially over recent years in line with UCLH's commitment to research delivery. You will lead on the strategy to meet the Trust's research ambitions and national priorities. You will ensure patient access to novel and advanced investigational therapies through safe and efficient pharmacy services, and contribute to national guideline and policy development through the Shelford Group, NIHR Pharmacy Working Group, and ATMP networks, at the forefront of clinical trials pharmacy practice.
Main duties of the jobYou will act as the Trust's senior expert on investigational medicinal products and ATIMPs, ensuring compliance with GCP, legislation, and regulatory frameworks, and providing assurance to internal and external auditors and regulators.
You will lead the dedicated pharmacist and technician team working across a complex and varied portfolio, driving service improvement, managing risk, and ensuring the PCTU has the capacity and capability to meet growing research demand. This will involve working closely with R&D, clinical teams, sponsors, and national networks to ensure pharmacy keeps pace with the Trust's research ambitions.
As a member of the Pharmacy Senior Management Team you will contribute to the wider strategic development of pharmacy services, and deputise for the Chief and Deputy Chief Pharmacists on matters relating to clinical trials and ATIMPs.
About usUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
- University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
DetailsDate posted: 13 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: 8c
Salary: £88,250 to £100,355 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 309-UCLH-8175
Job locations: University College London Hospitals, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, United Kingdom
Person SpecificationKnowledge and QualificationsEssential- Registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or General Pharmacy Practice or equivalent experience
- Substantial broad-based experience as an NHS hospital pharmacy practitioner
- Demonstrable and significant operational management and supervisory experience in clinical trials in NHS hospitals, including working as part of a senior multidisciplinary team
- Formal management/leadership qualification (or equivalent experience)
- Accreditation in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for Pharmacy Staff
Desirable- Higher degree (PhD or research MSc)
- Advanced practitioner as defined by the Advanced and Consultant Level Framework (ACLF)
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) membership
- Recognised as a national and/or international expert practitioner
ExperienceEssential- Specialist NHS hospital clinical pharmacy expertise and experience
- Recent and extensive experience of clinical trials work in a hospital pharmacy or pharmaceutical industry setting
- Recent and extensive experience of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products & biological safety.
- Recent and extensive experience of designing and using digital systems to improve operational efficiency and patient safety.
- Experience in management of others including assessing and appraising staff.
- Experience of working successfully with all levels of medical, nursing, pharmacy, R&D and pharmaceutical industry staff.
- Experience of leading and contributing to clinical trials audits and responding to finding from such audits.
- Leads clinical audit and demonstrable evidence of use of clinical audit to improve practice
DesirableSkills and AbilitiesEssential- Demonstrable evidence of evaluation of service provision and ability to innovation to transform services provided
Personal and People DevelopmentEssential- Previous experience in delivering education and training at a postgraduate level
Desirable- Actively seeks novel opportunities to meet training needs, and evaluates the training provided
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 (opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (opens in a new tab).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: University College London Hospitals, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:
Head of Pharmacy Clinical Trials
Andrew Barron
andrewbarron@nhs.net
