Principal Pharmacist - Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness
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Job details:
* Job posted: 18 December 2025
* Pay scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: 8b
* Salary: £72,921 to £83,362 a year including HCA
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Full-time
* Reference number: 213-Division-A-7676595
* Job location: King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and forward-thinking Principal Pharmacist for Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the Trust's Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness functions. The post holder will work across the organisation and the wider healthcare economy to ensure the safe, evidence-based and cost-effective use of medicines.You will act as the Trust's expert in formulary management, medicines evaluation and clinical effectiveness, providing high-level pharmaceutical advice to senior medical, nursing and operational leaders. The role includes significant partnership working across the system to support alignment of medicines optimisation priorities. You will support the Associate Chief Pharmacist, Formulary & Governance and play a key role in the Trust's medicines governance, NICE implementation and strategic medicines optimisation programmes.We are looking for an experienced clinical pharmacist with strong leadership skills, advanced knowledge of formulary and medicines governance processes, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders. You will have excellent critical appraisal skills, a commitment to evidence-based practice, and the ability to drive high-quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing across the organisation. You should be proactive, collaborative and able to work effectively across organisational boundaries.
Responsibilities
* Acting as a specialist role model and as an expert in Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness and demonstrating an advanced level of knowledge in the field
* Ensure safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines across the Trust
* Lead, update and maintain all Trust Formulary processes
* Represent the Trust at system-wide groups including the Integrated Medicines Optimisation Committee and Joint Formulary Committee
* Build and maintain strong relationships with senior medical, nursing and pharmacy colleagues regarding the introduction and evaluation of medicines across the local health economy
* Developing and implementing guidelines and policies for the use of medicines
* Promote effective prescribing aligned with the Trust Formulary and NICE guidance
* Work with colleagues internal and external to the Trust on development and maintenance of prescribing pathways
* Collaborate with internal and external partners on regional and national medicines optimisation workplans (e.g. Pan‑London programmes)
* Provide teaching, training and expert advice within the Trust and externally
* Initiate and coordinate research, audit and quality improvement activity in the specialist area
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
* Masters degree MPharm
* Registered Pharmacist MRPharmS (Significant competency assessed and examined professional registration)
* Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or Pharmacy Practice
* Specialist competencies in area relevant to practice or relevant short courses taught at postgraduate level
* Successful completion of short courses to the equivalent of a postgraduate certificate
Desirable Qualifications
* Registered Supplementary or Independent Prescriber
Essential Skills and Experience
* Expert clinical knowledge, experience and skills relevant to area of practice
* Demonstrate high organisational skills – identifying, planning, organising and developing systems to improve service delivery
* Experience of supervising others, including for research and audit projects
* Experience of protocol/guideline development
* Demonstrates an advanced level of clinical reasoning & judgement
* Be able to provide highly complex information on both clinical pharmacy and finance issues and impart knowledge to other healthcare professionals (up to and including senior consultant level / regional and national level)
* Ability to work well under pressure by prioritising and managing time effectively
* Be able to identify and manage risks
* Ability to implement and manage change
* Ability to motivate self and others
* Be able to use available evidence to make sound judgments in relation to patient‑or‑drug‑specific issues
* Understands national and local priorities
* Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda
* Experience of Formulary processes including pathway development
* Ability to influence senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management
* Problem solving skills
Desirable Skills and Experience
* Advanced critical appraisal skills
Additional Information
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
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address:
King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
Employer's website: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/
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