University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Pharmacy Technician - Procurement
The closing date is 23 November 2026

Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Pharmacy Technician to join our pharmacy team. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills while playing a key role in delivering high-quality pharmacy services to patients across University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.
You will be responsible for:

• Coordinating the Pharmacy Procurement teams day-to-day workload to ensure a safe, effective, timely and high-quality patient centred service is always provided.

Applications
Applications are open to current pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians, and experienced pharmacy technicians or those in their early years of career with the necessary medicines management qualifications.

Demonstrably experienced pharmacy technicians who have their ACPT and MMT Qualifications and proven demonstrable post-registration experience in a hospital pharmacy will commence in post as Band 5.

Newly qualified pharmacy technicians without demonstrable post-registration experience in hospital pharmacy will be appointed at Band 4 and supported to achieve a framework of competency objectives within the first 6 months before progressing to Band 5.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job
Responsible for the supervision of day-to-day Pharmacy Procurement services for the Trust in line with Trust policies and relevant legislation.
Supervisory responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Appraisal and objective setting
• Recruitment and selection
• Workload allocation and prioritisation
• Training and development of staff
• Review of back orders, shortages and off contract claims process

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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you into contact with the recruitment team.

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. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case.

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 216-NB-CO8374597
Job locations: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To supervise the pharmacy procurement team and the day-to-day purchasing of medicines, and authorisation of purchase orders in keeping with procurement contracts and in line with local, regional, and nationally agreed standards.
• To undertake supervisory responsibilities such as supporting recruitment, appraisal, producing work activity rotas and leading team production flow meetings.
• To work closely with all staff within the pharmacy procurement team to ensure that any supply problems or queries with stocks purchased are resolved in an accurate and timely manner to minimise shortages while ensuring that quality and value for money are paramount.
• Ensure that continuing supply problems are effectively communicated to relevant Trust and departmental staff and support staff in connection with invoicing issues and problems and pricing queries.
• Use developing procurement knowledge and gained expertise to expedite the sourcing of goods in a prompt and timely manner, ensuring patient treatment and care is not compromised.
• Assist senior pharmacy procurement staff with maintaining computer files and ensuring the storing of data in dynamic spreadsheets to assist in audit processes.
• To be able to adapt and provide cover in busy period for all aspects of day-to-day work including but not exclusive to: Ordering, Goods in, Entering, Invoicing.

For further details please see enclosed JD & PS.

Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential:

• Good grasp of Microsoft programs including Word, excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Proven post-registration demonstrable experience in an acute setting/ hospital pharmacy (Band 5)
• Qualified pharmacy technicians without demonstrable post-registration experience will initially be recruited to Band 4 post and supported to achieve a framework of competency objectives within the first 6 months before progressing to Band 5
• Current, proven evidence of CPD
• Good understanding of COSHH Regulations

Desirable:

• Demonstrable experience of audit and report writing
• Demonstrable experience of working in a procurement environment
• Demonstrable experience of working with finance
• Demonstrable experience of developing pharmacy services
• Demonstrable experience of working with pharmacy IT systems such as EMIS, Q-Pulse and Powergate
• Specialist proven knowledge of procurement and sourcing

Qualifications
Essential:

• National BTEC or NVQ3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or equivalent)
• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• National Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician qualification
• Accredited Medicines Optimisation

Desirable:

• Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply qualifications (Or working towards)
• Accredited Medicines Management (Clinical Prioritisation) qualification (training will be provided if not accredited)

Aptitude & Abilities
Essential:

• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with proven ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity, and effectiveness at all levels
• Proven ability to supervise other staff
• Attention to detail
• Proven ability to prioritise workload (own and others)
• Proven ability to accurately deal with figures
• Proven ability to motivate self and others
• Confidence in dealing with others
• Proven ability to reflect on own performance

Disposition & Attitude
Essential:

• Proven ability to accept responsibility
• Proactive, takes own initiative
• Leads by example
• Adaptable
• Reliable
• Hardworking and enthusiastic
• Ability to work late nights, weekends and bank holidays on rota

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 details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Lead Pharmacy Technician - Procurement, Ben Shields, ben.shields1@nhs.net, 01752432690

Supporting documents
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