Lead Pharmacy Technician - Procurement Stores and Distribution
The closing date is 21 May 2026
Are you ready to take the next step in your pharmacy career? We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Lead Pharmacy Technician - Procurement, Stores & Distribution to join our forward-thinking Pharmacy Leadership Team at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG).
This is a UHLG-wide leadership role, giving you the opportunity to shape and standardise medicines supply services across multiple hospital sites. Reporting directly to the Pharmacy Operations Manager for Procurement, Stores and Distribution, you will play a pivotal part in ensuring safe, efficient, and innovative systems for sourcing, storage, and distribution of medicines, while driving service improvements and embracing digital solutions.
As a key leader, you will influence strategic planning, optimise stock management, and ensure compliance with MHRA WDA(H), GDP, and Trust governance standards. If you have proven leadership skills, a passion for service development, and the ability to inspire teams, we want to hear from you.
Join us and make a real difference to patient care by delivering excellence in medicines supply across the entire UHLG network.
Main duties of the job
* Provide visible, accessible leadership for Procurement, Stores, and Distribution services across the Group.
* Lead, develop, and implement a unified, standardised service model across all sites, aligned with Group and national objectives.
* Develop and deliver strategic plans to enhance resilience, improve efficiency, and reduce variation.
* Ensure safe, effective, and compliant procurement and supply of medicines in line with legislation, MHRA WDA(H), GDP, and Trust policies.
* Oversee staffing levels, rotas, recruitment, and workload allocation to maintain 7-day service provision, including weekends and bank holidays.
* Manage staff performance, development, and adherence to HR policies through appraisals, PDPs, and regular check‑ins.
* Ensure robust business continuity plans for all procurement and distribution services.
* Maintain effective stock control systems for safe and efficient storage and distribution of medicines. Monitor and review KPIs, driving continuous improvement and service development.
* Contribute to departmental strategic planning as part of the Pharmacy Leadership Team.
* Lead and evaluate dispensing services provided under SLAs to external organisations.
* Act as designated Quality Manager for MHRA WDA(H), ensuring inspection readiness and compliance with GPhC standards.
Job responsibilities
* Lead and manage all aspects of the procurement stores and distribution service, liaising with other service Leads across the department to develop medicines supply pathways.
* Lead, line‑manage, and support Deputy Lead Pharmacy Technicians (Band 6) within procurement, stores, and distribution.
* Ensure that an environment is created where staff feel valued and are provided with genuine opportunities for their development.
* Promote a culture in which multi‑disciplinary teams strive for continuous quality improvement by recording and learning from mistakes whether they be human error or systems failure.
* Act as a role model, demonstrating and promoting the standards of care expected and creating energy and enthusiasm for service improvement across the pharmacy department.
* Lead, develop and manage the strategic development of the Procurement, Stores and Distribution Services and meet regularly with the team to review progress.
* Lead by guiding, supporting and facilitating the development of staff throughout the Procurement Stores and Distribution service, enabling staff to meet their full potential.
* Ensure that all staff within the service are clear of their roles, the standards of performance expected, and their objectives by regularly reviewing performance and objectives via appraisal process.
* Proactively develop services in line with local, regional and national objectives.
* Develop positive relationships with internal and external customers and suppliers and act as a mediator/problem solver for any issues or complaints that may involve challenging conversations.
* Represent pharmacy at internal and external meetings with a positive and innovative image of the Pharmacy Department.
* Ensure the safe, effective, and efficient procurement, receipt, storage, and distribution of all medicines in accordance with Trust policies, MHRA WDA(H) licence, and GDP standards.
* Maintain a robust Quality Management System (QMS) ensuring processes, and resources needed to meet quality requirements are documented and includes regular self‑inspections and a system for corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
* Ensure all staff involved in distribution activities are adequately trained on GDP principles, product security, and the detection of falsified medicines.
* Carry out regular monitoring of premises and equipment, including storage areas. Ensure these are suitable and secure to prevent contamination, degradation, and theft.
* Maintain comprehensive, accurate, and accessible documentation is essential for traceability and accountability.
* Ensure all procurement, stores and distribution operations, including ordering, receipt, storage, picking, packing, invoicing and supply of medicines follow written procedures (SOPs).
* Lead on management of complaints, returns, recalls, and falsified products: Ensure there are established procedures for the prompt and efficient handling of complaints, returns, and product recalls.
* Ensure external transport methods and containers are validated, environmental conditions (especially temperature) are monitored during transit, and appropriate security measures are in place to prevent theft or tampering.
* Ensure risk management principles are applied throughout the supply chain to identify, assess, and mitigate potential threats to product quality and integrity.
* Monitor supplier and customer qualification, ensuring distributors source medicines only from authorised and licensed suppliers (e.g., manufacturers or other wholesale distributors) and all WDA(H) activity is only to authorised customers.
* Oversee purchasing and invoicing operations, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and timely resolution of discrepancies.
* Monitor and manage MPSC, national, and local contracts, ensuring compliance and value for money.
* Lead on managing medicines shortages, recalls, and supply disruptions in collaboration with the Procurement Pharmacist.
* Oversee stock control systems ensuring stock levels meet service requirements while minimising waste and financial risk.
* Support the implementation of automation, stock management systems, and digital technologies to optimise operations.
* Lead on training, supervision, and competency assessment of all technical and support staff within procurement, stores, and distribution.
* Support structured career pathways for pharmacy technicians and assistants.
* Work with other section leads to develop a recruitment and retention strategy for pharmacy technicians and support staff. Ensure that actions are completed, and the strategy is continually updated.
* Develop a comprehensive training programme for procurement, stores and distribution staff to meet the changing needs of service provision.
* Ensure competency‑based training is available for key tasks and suitable methods for documenting and retaining records are in place.
* Identify the learning needs of individuals and groups of staff, in order to undertake their roles, either through appraisal, training needs analysis or via Personal Development Plans. Utilise the most appropriate educational methods to meet these needs.
* Conduct appraisals and identify training needs for all direct reports.
* Promote a learning culture and encourage staff engagement in quality improvement and innovation.
* Ensure compliance with Trust mandatory training and professional registration requirement.
* Support the Pharmacy Operations Manager in developing and managing budgets and identifying cost savings.
* Ensure financial control through effective stock management and resource utilisation.
* Contribute to business cases for service improvement and capital investment.
* Ensure procurement practices align with Trust financial SFIs and SFOs and procurement standards.
* Ensure the procurement stores and distribution areas are kept clean and tidy.
* Ensure that all systems, processes and resources are regularly monitored and reviewed to identify areas for improvement and take remedial action as necessary.
* Monitor performance against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs) and escalation to the Pharmacy Operations Manager any issues for concern, including the performance of external contractors.
* Lead appropriate action to improve KPI performance including liaising with the wider pharmacy team to reduce inappropriate workload and improve flow. Problem‑solve and adjust plans on a day‑by‑day basis to prevent and resolve operational service issues.
* Manage frequent interruptions to your workload whilst maintaining accuracy, to provide advice to staff.
* Proactively support the implementation and further development of automation where appropriate for the procurement stores and distribution services.
* Work collaboratively within the wider pharmacy team.
* Oversee regular staff fora, ensuring all staff have the opportunity to discuss issues and receive departmental feedback.
* Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and professional standards relevant to procurement, storage, and distribution of medicines.
* Maintain quality systems and documentation in line with MHRA expectations for WDA(H) licence compliance.
* Lead on audits, inspections, and internal reviews; implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions.
* Investigate and respond to incidents, complaints, and near‑misses; identify root causes and drive service improvement.
* Maintain effective risk management processes and contribute to the Pharmacy Risk Register.
* Ensure business continuity and emergency response plans are in place and tested.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Extensive knowledge of procurement policies and procedures
* Knowledge of regional/national procurement frameworks and external systems used in procurement
* Extensive knowledge of stock management & distribution procedures
* Knowledge of MHRA WDA(H), Good Distribution Practice & Quality Management Systems
* Knowledge of relevant medicines legislations including Medicines Act 1968, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, the Procurement Act 2023
* Knowledge of LUHFT pharmacy stock control systems (JAC/Wellsky/CMM)
* Health & Safety and Risk Management principles
* Awareness of automation and other digital systems relevant to procurement/distribution
* Awareness of innovations in supply chain
Qualifications
* NVQ LEVEL 3 in Pharmaceutical Sciences / BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or GPhC Recognised Equivalent Pharmacy Technician Qualification (L3)
* Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
* CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma / equivalent purchasing related qualification or experience
* Management/Leadership Training
* Evidence of CPD
* National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) assessor
Experience
* Managing staff through HR policies - including sickness absence, grievance and disciplinary
* Staff Development through regular check in, appraisals and personal development plans
* Setting and maintaining high standards of Procurement and Distribution services.
* Incident reporting, investigation and learning response
* Management of a large team of technical staff (Technicians/ATOS - minimum 10 staff)
* Managing rotas and departmental workload
* SOP and report writing
* Leading change, service and quality improvement initiatives
* Leading teams based across multiple sites
* Leading/Supervising in a Pharmacy Store with WDA(H) activity
* Maintaining a robust Quality Management System (QMS) including thorough documentation, self‑inspection and management of Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA)
* Business continuity planning
* Preparation for and participation in MHRA/GDP inspections
* Experience of presenting in meetings/forums
Other
* Aligned with Trust values
* Commitment to own ongoing professional development
* Aligned with GPhC professional standards for Pharmacy Technicians
* Reliable and adaptable
* Willingness and ability to work across all UHLG sites as required for service needs
* Willingness to participate in late / weekend / bank holiday working as per additional rotas or service needs.
Skills
* Excellent leadership & staff management skills
* Ability to analyse data/KPIs
* Ability to prioritise, plan and delegate effectively
* Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams
* Ability to work well under pressure and meet targets/deadlines
* Advanced IT skills including stock systems & MS Office
* Ability to motivate & support staff
* High accuracy & attention to detail
* Advanced audit skills
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.
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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