Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group brings together three acute hospitals to deliver high-quality, safe, and compassionate care across the region. We are committed to innovation, research, and continuous improvement, ensuring our services meet the needs of patients now and in the future.
As part of this transformation, we are seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Group Chief Pharmacist--a pivotal role in shaping medicines optimisation and pharmacy services across our hospitalsThe Group Chief Pharmacist is the professional lead for pharmacy and medicines optimisation across the hospital group. This executive-level position provides strategic, professional, and operational leadership, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and financially sustainable pharmacy services across all three sites.
You will act as the senior accountable officer for medicines management, providing expert advice to the Board and senior clinicians, and ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and clinical standards. This role also offers the opportunity to influence policy at regional and national levels, champion digital transformation, and lead research and innovation in pharmacy practice.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a highly experienced and visionary pharmacy leader who can inspire teams and deliver transformation at scale.
* Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
* Extensive senior-level pharmacy leadership experience within an acute NHS Trust or similar complex organisation.
* Proven track record in strategic planning, medicines governance, and service transformation.
* Strong financial and workforce management skills.
* Ability to influence at system and national level.
* Leadership or management qualification relevant to the NHS.
* Experience contributing to national policy development.
* Evidence of research and innovation in pharmacy practice.
About us
The newly formed Norfolk & Waveney University Hospitals Group (NWUHG) is placing people and culture at the heart of its transformation.
By working as one system, the Group is strengthening workforce development, improving staff experience, and creating consistent, supportive leadership across all three hospitals. This unified approach enables better training, enhanced well-being support, and a stronger culture rooted in compassion, flexibility, and continuous learning.
Focusing on people also supports national priorities--ensuring the workforce is skilled, adaptable, and ready for future models of care--and strengthens NWUHG's overall performance by improving quality, resilience, and sustainability.
Together, this creates a Groupwide commitment to making NWUHG a great place to work, with clear benefits for staff including:
Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
Discounted gym memberships
Generous pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
Flexible staff bank
Salary Sacrifice schemes
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:
Develop and deliver the Group Pharmacy Strategy aligned with organisational priorities and ICS objectives.
Represent the hospital group at regional and national forums, influencing policy and shaping the future of pharmacy.
Clinical and Professional Leadership:
Ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred pharmacy services across all sites.
Act as the professional head of pharmacy, maintaining oversight of medicines governance and clinical effectiveness.
Champion medicines safety, antimicrobial stewardship, and digital transformation.
Governance and Risk Management:
Provide assurance to the Trust Board on medicines governance and compliance.
Chair the Group Medicines Management Committee and lead investigations into medicine-related incidents.
Partnership and Collaboration:
Work with system partners to enable a whole-system approach to medicines optimisation.
Build partnerships with universities, research bodies, and industry to advance education and innovation.
Operational and Financial Management:
Oversee pharmacy workforce deployment and development across all sites.
Manage significant budgets and resources, ensuring cost-effective delivery of care.
Drive efficiencies through digital solutions, automation, and standardisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Registered as a Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Experience
* Extensive senior level pharmacy leadership and managerial experience within an acute NHS Trust (or comparatively large and complex multi- disciplinary organisation).
Skills abilities and knowledge
* Experience of developing and implementing transformation programmes, including the management of service change, operational process improvement and cost reduction
* Form successful working relationships with pharmacy colleagues in other NHS Trusts and across boundaries Lead and influence others including other healthcare professionals and senior managers
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.
Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group
Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group
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