University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Lead Pharmacist Antimicrobials & Infection – 1 ye FT (maternity cover)

The closing date is 23 November 2026

Job summary
We are delighted to be recruiting a Lead Pharmacist for Antimicrobials and Infection as a 12-month maternity cover post.

Are you an experienced clinical pharmacist with a passion for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infection management? Do you want the opportunity to lead, innovate and influence practice?

In this leadership role, you will manage and coordinate the Trust's AMS team, including specialist pharmacists, the AMS data analyst and surveillance assistant, working closely with Consultant Microbiologists and the Director of Infection Prevention and Control to deliver a high-quality AMS programme and support the Integrated Care System AMS strategy.

You will provide expert clinical leadership to promote safe, effective and evidence-based antimicrobial use across the organisation. Working with multidisciplinary colleagues, you will help shape antimicrobial strategy, reduce antimicrobial resistance and improve outcomes for patients with infection.

The postholder will lead and develop a skilled team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, patient-centred service while supporting education, governance, innovation and service improvement.

The successful candidate will have substantial hospital pharmacy experience, specialist expertise in AMS and infection management, and a proven ability to lead teams and develop services. This is an excellent opportunity to influence practice and play a key role in delivering outstanding care for patients with complex infections.

Main duties of the job

• Responsible to the Associate chief pharmacist clinical services and Consultant Microbiologist lead for AMS for the delivery of a high-quality antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme in line with the agreed priorities for the Trust.
• Lead on pharmaceutical matters relating to antimicrobial prescribing, ensuring adherence to national/local guidelines and medicines legislation e.g. Medicines Safety Executive and National initiatives.
• To interpret, deliver and monitor strategies to comply with national/local targets or statements, for example contributing to national point prevalence audits, anti-infective CQUINS.
• In collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team critically evaluate and interpret published data on new drugs to make recommendations about treatment pathways and cost implications.
• To lead on the implementation of NHSE commissioning decisions relating to the treatment of anti-infectives, ensuring safe prescribing by the production of protocols and guidelines.
• Prepare and feedback regular reports on antimicrobial usage with appropriate interpretation to relevant clinical and managerial staff and committees.
• Monitor and report on patient outcomes in relation to antimicrobials and infection management.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year pa pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 216-DH-CO8319867
Job locations: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.