Head of the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service for England
The closing date is 09 June 2026.
A fantastic opportunity has opened up to lead the NHS England commissioned national Specialist Pharmacy Service, the case for and strategic development of which are mandated in the 2014 NHS England paper: The review of specialist pharmacy services in England and in line with a further commissioning arrangement.
The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, hard‑working and have a strong track record of service development and innovation. They will have extensive experience and understanding of managing across boundaries in the NHS.
The post holder will work with the SPS Service Leads and the Office of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer in developing and leading SPS. The service has 100 wte staff currently hosted through nine acute hospitals across England. Specialities include medicines procurement, pharmaceutical quality assurance, medicines advice and medicines use and safety. The service has a website www.sps.nhs.uk which attracts 8.5 million views per annum and hosts several medicines related tools, key articles and information for front line health care professionals.
The post is based in the Pharmacy Practice Unit, Liverpool, where it is hosted by Liverpool University Hospital Group. Remote working is possible with a commitment to attend site for key meetings monthly.
Main duties of the job
* Provide leadership and strategic direction for SPS in England
* Lead and oversee functional delivery to ensure that SPS is deployed to meet the needs of patients, providers, commissioners and clinical and professional networks.
* Ensure that service requirements and key performance indicators are delivered and collated to enable oversight by the SPS contract management board.
* Manage the Chief of Staff of SPS, the SPS function Hub Leads employed in the Pharmacy Practice Unit, Liverpool – Medicines Use and Safety, Medicines Advice and Quality Assurance and Procurement.
* Lead the SPS Operational Group, comprising the Assistant Head of SPS and nominated leads from Medicines Use and Safety, Medicines Advice, Quality Assurance, Procurement and Website and Digital.
* Contribute to NHS Englands Pharmacy Senior Management Team and interface effectively with the CPhO Pharmacy Advisory Group, Acute Providers Pharmacy Advisory Group, ICB Chief Pharmacists Group and NHSE policy teams.
* Liaise with Regional Medical Directors, Regional Chief Pharmacists (or their equivalent) and regional pharmacy workforce leads on the equitable delivery of SPS across England.
* Liaise with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on the contribution of SPS to the work on professional standards and the appropriate recognition of expertise within the Societys faculty programme.
* Provide managerial oversight to the Pharmacy Practice Unit (Liverpool) to include Quality Control Northwest (QCNW) Liverpool.
Qualifications
* General Pharmaceutical Council registration
* Postgraduate diploma or Master’s degree
* Membership of the Royal College of Pharmacy or equivalent professional leadership body
* Higher degree to doctorate level
Experience
* Extensive and broad post‑registration experience
* Substantive experience of working at a strategic senior management level equivalent to a Trust Chief Pharmacist of a large teaching hospital
* Track record of success in multidisciplinary clinical settings and in clinical leadership roles, driving the development and implementation of clinical strategies to improve patient care
* Track record of leading and implementing change successfully in large and complex organisations
* Track record of major policy implementation and policy or service development in large and complex organisations
* Experience formulating long‑term strategic plans in large and complex organisations
* Experience of developing policies, procedures, guidelines and standards
* Experience of planning and managing budgets
* Evidence of working with and engaging patients and the public
* Experience across several areas of pharmacy practice
* Advanced specialist knowledge of major strategic issues related to pharmacy, prescribing and medicines optimisation, including the introduction of new technologies, financial strategy, delivery of CIP and performance management
* Detailed knowledge and understanding of clinical governance
* Knowledge of the legislative aspects of medicines and technology management and national policy within NHS reforms
* Understanding of workforce, education and training issues relevant to planning the future pharmacy workforce
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires submission for Disclosure & Barring Service checking for any previous criminal convictions.
Location & Working Arrangements
Location: Pharmacy Practice Unit, Liverpool, Liverpool University Hospital Group. Remote working possible with a commitment to attend site for key meetings monthly.
Nature of employment: Full‑time, flexible working, home or remote working.
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