Lead Pharmacist Clinical Trials
Primary base: Usher Building, Little France, Edinburgh.
Travel across NHS Lothian acute sites is required.
NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service
We are pleased to be able to offer a rare opportunity for an experienced pharmacist to lead and develop pharmacy clinical trial services across NHS Lothian. Clinical trials are vital to advancing patient care and improving health outcomes. The successful candidate will set the strategic direction, manage service delivery, and ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and relevant legislation. Working closely with Research & Development (R&D), multidisciplinary teams, and regional partners, you will drive innovation and resilience in clinical trial pharmacy services.
Why Join Us?
At NHS Lothian, we value innovation, teamwork, and professional growth. This service is well developed and continues to grow. Recent new investment means that this service will now have capacity to support the new capital and staff resource infrastructure for advanced therapeutic investigational medicinal products; and increased clinical trial capacity to meet NHS Lothian’s strategic intent to make Edinburgh a Centre of excellence for clinical trials for the future. The successful candidate would be essential to delivering this vision with effective leadership of this team.
About you
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic pharmacist with a passion for delivering exceptional care to the population we serve.
Essential Qualifications and Competencies
*
o A Master of Pharmacy Degree (or equivalent).
o Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
o Completed Postgraduate Diploma or Masters of Science (MSc) or for those candidates who have not completed a Postgraduate degree must demonstrate substantial progress across the four pillars of the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum through:
+ Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced Curriculum
+ Active participation in a community of practice/peer network
+ Submit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)
+ Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans.
o Candidates who have completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy should complete the learning needs analysis (LNA) using the LNA tool in the RPS e-portfolio, identifying any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans.
Experience and Knowledge
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o Proven expertise in collaborative service development, including the design and implementation of healthcare initiatives.
o Significant experience in clinical trials planning, delivery and monitoring
o Proven leadership and management experience at a senior level
o Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical law, ethics, and governance relating to research
o Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, enabling effective decision-making.
About NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian covers Edinburgh city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. We are the second largest health system in NHS Scotland and one of only four teaching Boards. We have strategic partnerships with local Universities, Local Authorities and our four Integration Joint Boards. We serve a population of 900,000, providing a range of primary, community based and acute hospital services. We also provide regional and national services across a range of clinical specialties.
The vision for the Pharmacy & Medicines service is to deliver clinically led, person-centred services to ensure patients across Lothian get the best from their medicines and pharmacy services. We are focused on creating an environment where each person in the team has the opportunity to flourish, develop and make best use of their skills.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey. That’s why we encourage you to reach out for an informal conversation to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
To start the conversation contact:
Melinda Cuthbert, Associate Director Pharmacy (Acute) - 0791 888 9003
melinda.cuthbert@nhs.scot
OR
Hazel Milligan, Lead Pharmacist Clinical Trails
hazel.milligan@nhs.scot
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.
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This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes .
For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification
As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.