Job overview
Join Our Team as a Principal Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution)
Are you a pharmacy technician ready to step up in your career? Do you thrive in leadership and want to make a real impact on patient care?
Bedford Hospital’s Pharmacy Department is seeking a Principal Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution) to lead a skilled team in delivering a safe, efficient, and high-quality medicines supply service.
Why This Role?
This is your chance to lead, innovate, and shape pharmacy distribution services. You’ll be at the heart of a fast-paced, patient-focused team, ensuring vital medicines reach those who need them.
What you’ll do:
1. Lead and manage pharmacy technicians and assistants.
2. Oversee stock control, ensuring compliance with GDP and MHRA standards.
3. Improve efficiency through innovation and collaboration.
4. Utilise automated dispensing technology to enhance operations.
5. Develop leadership skills and drive service improvements.
What you’ll need:
6. GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician
7. ACPT accreditation
8. Leadership and management experience
9. Stock control and distribution expertise
10. A proactive, problem-solving mindset
Why Join Us?
11. Supportive, innovative team committed to excellence.
12. Real career progression and leadership training.
13. Staff wellbeing programmes and NHS benefits.
14. Collaborative cross-site team ensuring best practice.
Make a difference every day. Apply now and help shape the future of pharmacy at Bedford Hospital!
Main duties of the job
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Stores & Distribution Management
15. Lead the pharmacy stores and distribution team, ensuring efficient stock control and compliance.
16. Supervise operations, investigate discrepancies, and maintain rolling stock counts.
17. Oversee safe medicine distribution, cold chain supply, and temperature monitoring.
18. Act as a super-user for automated dispensing systems.
Leadership & Compliance
19. Manage and train staff, supporting performance and service improvements.
20. Ensure adherence to GDP, MHRA, and Trust regulations.
21. Investigate errors, implement corrective actions, and drive efficiency.
22. Lead risk assessments, drug recalls, and safety training.
Other Responsibilities
23. Participate in weekend and holiday rotas.
24. Maintain a CPD portfolio and engage in ongoing training.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details regarding the role
25. Provide professional leadership to all staff working within the Pharmacy stores and distribution service.
26. Be responsible for the day to day running of staff activities and service to ensure effective.
operations of the stores and goods receipt area.
27. Organise and prepare rotas on a regular basis to ensure all core tasks are completed.
28. Liaise with the portering team to ensure all delivers are collected and made to the various areas across the trust.
29. Support and deliver the relevant training to all staff working in the stores and distribution area.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
30. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
31. BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification
32. Evidence of commitment to CPD
33. Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician
Desirable criteria
34. Membership of APTUK
35. Leadership qualification
36. Project management qualification or equivalent experience
Experience
Essential criteria
37. Experience of supply chain management
38. Experience of formulating standard operating procedures
39. Experience of supervising and training staff
40. Extensive experience in a senior stores a distribution role
41. Familiar with the stock control systems
42. Participation in training staff
43. Supervisory skills
Desirable criteria
44. Experience of supporting project management and delivery
Knowledge
Essential criteria
45. Knowledge of sales and purchase ledger
46. Understanding of issues involved in stock control and how to resolve them
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
47. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
48. Ability to work under pressure whilst maintain accuracy
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.