Director Of Pharmacy
Location: Derby, Oldbury and Chesterfield with some travel
Contract: Permanent, 37.5 Hours a week
Salary: £91,713 (Band 8d)
The postholder will provide executive leadership to ensure the safe, clinically effective, and financially sustainable use of medicines across the organisation. This includes corporate accountability for medicines safety, regulatory compliance, medicines optimisation, and pharmaceutical risk, with explicit responsibility for:
* Controlled Drugs (CD) governance and licensing compliance, including robust safe-management systems, auditability, incident response, and statutory assurance.
* Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) oversight, ensuring compliance with MHRA expectations and Good Distribution Practice (GDP), including quality systems, inspection readiness, and supply chain integrity
Key areas of responsibility:
Regulatory & Professional Standards
* Support the Head of Clinical Delivery in maintaining continuous regulatory readiness, including CQC inspections and follow-up actions.
* Ensure clinical practice aligns with professional codes, national guidance, and NHS Pathways licence requirements.
Medicines Safety and Clinical Governance (including Controlled Drugs)
* Hold corporate accountability for medicines safety and pharmaceutical governance, including incident learning, investigation oversight, and system improvement.
* Lead medication safety, risk reduction, and quality improvement initiatives across services.
* Act as the organisation's Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO) where designated or provide executive leadership and assurance to the appointed CDAO function, ensuring statutory duties are discharged effectively.
Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) and Supply Chain Assurance
* Provide executive accountability for organisational compliance with WDA licence conditions and MHRA GDP expectations, ensuring governance, resources, and oversight are sufficient for safe wholesale activity.
* Ensure robust arrangements are in place for a fit-for-purpose GDP Quality Management System (QMS), including SOP control, deviation/CAPA, change control, risk management, self-inspection, training competence, and supplier/customer qualification.
Operational and Service Leadership
* Provide executive oversight of pharmacy service delivery and performance across sites and service lines.
* Ensure pharmacy services are safe, efficient, responsive, and resilient, with appropriate business continuity and capacity planning.
Medicines Optimisation and Clinical Effectiveness
* Lead organisation-wide medicines optimisation programmes, focusing on evidence-based care, safety, and patient outcomes.
* Reduce unwarranted variation, waste, and medicines-related harm; embed high-reliability prescribing and administration practices.
Financial Stewardship and Commercial Responsibility
* Hold accountability for medicines expenditure and pharmacy budgets, including forecasting, variance management, and benefits tracking.
* Ensure robust procurement, contract management, and financial controls, balancing value for money with quality and safety.
* Provide strategic commercial insight on medicines utilisation, supplier strategy, and opportunities for responsible growth (including wholesale activities where relevant).
Workforce and Professional Leadership
* Provide professional leadership to pharmacy staff across all services, promoting high standards, competence, and patient-centred practice.
* Lead workforce strategy, succession planning, and capability development, including building capacity in regulatory assurance (CD and WDA/GDP).
To be successful in this role you will have:
* Master's degree in pharmacy (MPharm or equivalent)
* Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
* Significant senior pharmacy leadership experience in a complex healthcare setting.
* Proven executive-level leadership with Board-level advisory and assurance capability.
* Demonstrable success in medicines safety, governance, and medicines optimisation.
Desirable but not essential criteria:
* Demonstrable senior accountability for Controlled Drugs governance, including leading SOP frameworks, audit/assurance, and incident response.
* Direct experience of WDA operations and MHRA GDP compliance, including QMS oversight, inspection readiness, supplier qualification, and RP assurance.
* Experience leading transformation/digital programmes within medicines and pharmacy services.
* Non-Medical prescribing qualification.
Employee benefits:
We offer a benefits package with your health, happiness and future in mind. You'll have access to the NHS pension scheme (and we'll honour your existing NHS pension pot and holiday entitlement if you're transferring), free secure parking at most sites, birthday leave, and our Health Cash Plan for you and your family - covering dental, optical, therapy costs, and 24/7 GP access after six months.
Plus, there's wellbeing perks, flexible working, a salary sacrifice Car Lease Scheme with low-emission options, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, and a rewarding referral programme. It's our way of saying thank you.
We believe that when everyone feels valued, respected and supported, we can deliver the best care. We're proud to reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve, welcoming colleagues from all backgrounds. We proudly support Veterans, Service Leavers, Reservists, Cadet Volunteers, and military families, valuing their strength and dedication.
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