Lead Pharmacist – Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness
Band 8b
Main area: Division B-Pharmacy – Grade Band 8b – Contract 12 months (Secondment/Fixed Term, maternity cover)
Hours: Full time – 37.5 hours per week (Full Time) with Flexible working.
Job reference: 180-B-264135
Employer: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Addenbrookes Hospital – Division B.
Salary: £66,582 – £77,368 per annum pro rata.
Closing date: 04/06/2026 23:59
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and forward‑thinking Pharmacist to join the Formulary Team as Lead Pharmacist for Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness for a 1‑year maternity cover.
This senior leadership role is responsible for the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of the Trust’s Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness functions. The role involves partnership working across the system to support safe, evidence‑based, and cost‑effective medicine use, advising senior medical, nursing and operational leaders.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the clinical effectiveness and formulary agenda within Pharmacy aligned with Trust priorities.
- Implement and manage processes for introduction, approval, appropriate use and audit of medicines to ensure clinical effectiveness.
- Contribute to the management of the system‑wide formulary, including development, implementation and maintenance.
- Provide senior leadership for the continuous improvement of the Trust’s Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness functions.
- Collaborate across the organisation and wider healthcare system to promote safe, evidence‑based, cost‑effective medicine use.
- Liaise with senior pharmacy, medical, nursing and allied health professional staff and managers.
- Coordinate preparation and management of independent reviews of medicines for the Joint Drugs and Therapeutics Committee.
- Provide advanced pharmacist advice on formulary matters.
- Lead ongoing development of the medicines formulary.
Qualifications
- Masters level degree in pharmacy.
- Registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice or Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (or equivalent).
- Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
- Registered Supplementary / Independent Prescriber.
Experience
- Extensive post‑registration experience as a pharmacist, including band 8a/8b positions.
- Significant experience of formulary processes and pathway development.
- Leadership and management experience of a pharmacy team or staff.
- Horizonal scanning experience and implementation of new medicines.
- Specialised knowledge of medicine use across specialist clinical areas.
- Experience implementing national guidance (e.g., NICE) in drug use.
- Experience writing professional reports, clinical audit, and project outcomes.
- Interface working with primary care and medicines expenditure analysis.
- Management of high‑cost and high‑risk medicines.
- Project development, change management and service development experience.
- Experience in regional or national groups implementing guidance.
- Managing pharmacy staff with supervisory responsibilities.
- Experience as a medicines governance pharmacist at band 8a/b.
- Broad experience across multiple hospital/ICB settings.
- Business case writing, research project management, and publishing experience.
- Implementation of national pharmacy practice developments and strategic optimisation.
- Committee participation, economic analysis of medicines, and stakeholder engagement.
Knowledge
- Vision for delivery of Formulary and clinical effectiveness for the Trust.
- Advanced clinical knowledge of medicines across specialist areas.
- Knowledge of NHSE, NICE, MHRA national guidance and local implementation.
- Understanding of UK healthcare systems, NHS priorities.
- Computer literacy – Word, PowerPoint, Excel, pharmacy and e‑prescribing systems.
- Commitment to clinical governance agenda and relevant legislation.
- Clinical audit methodology, literature review, critical appraisal skills.
- Systems for non‑medical prescribing and pharmacoeconomic evaluation.
- Knowledge of private patient pathways and NHS administration systems.
Skills
- Excellent organisational and time‑management skills.
- Self‑motivated, enthusiastic, and able to influence others.
- Strong written and verbal communication, consultation, and presentation skills.
- Ability to produce high‑quality reports and training materials.
- Negotiation and influence across all staff grades and senior stakeholders.
- Team leadership, coaching and mentoring.
- Empathy, calmness under pressure, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Analytical and evidence‑based decision‑making.
- Analytical reporting proficiency.
Additional Requirements
- Behave in accordance with Trust values of Safe, Kind, and Excellent towards patients, visitors, and colleagues.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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 will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…