Associate Director of Pharmacy – Operational Services
Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Associate Director of Pharmacy Operations/Deputy Chief Pharmacist at Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust. This post is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, experienced pharmacist with strategic vision, drive and excellent leadership skills.
Applicants will have excellent communication skills, an ability to manage complex relationships across multiple organisations and be able to demonstrate a high level of work in expert practice, research, education and professional leadership.
Main duties of the job
- To provide strategic leadership and advice to the Chief Pharmacist, and the Trust, on the pharmacy operational services.
- Responsible for the strategic planning, management, and delivery of the services provided by the Dispensaries, Cancer and Aseptic Unit, Clinical Trials, Medicines Optimisation, Procurement & Distribution and the Quality Assurance service.
- Chair the Trust Medical Gas Group meetings and support the Chief Pharmacist in ensuring the safe monitoring and governance of the use of medical gases across the organisation.
- Provide operational management of Controlled Drugs (CDs) across the Trust, advise the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) and deputise for the CDAO during their absence.
- Work closely with the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nurse, Care Group Directors and their deputies to shape and deliver pharmacy operational services that advance the Trust's medicines optimisation and patient safety agenda.
- Support business planning, service development, and financial governance, including the preparation of business cases, to support sustainable service growth.
- Deliver on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), medicines optimisation objectives, and budgetary requirements.
- Play an active and visible role within the Senior Pharmacy Leadership Team, championing excellence, quality, safety, and efficiency in the use of medicines across the organisation.
Person Specification
Values
- Communicates openly, honestly and professionally, and actively promotes team working and building strong working relationships.
- Patients are always first. Drives service improvements. Strong self‑awareness with a desire to grow.
- Treats all with compassion and kindness. Ensures everyone feels valued.
- Consults others and listens to their views/opinions. Enables others to take the initiative.
Education, Qualifications & Training
- MPharm (Master's degree) or equivalent bachelor's degree.
- Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (as registered Pharmacist)
- Postgraduate degree (Masters) in Pharmacy Practice or a related area or a portfolio demonstrating equivalent through experience at senior management level and relevant short courses taught at postgraduate level
- Completion of a formal leadership or management qualification (e.g., NHS Leadership Academy Programme, MBA, or equivalent).
- Commitment to continuous personal and professional development.
Experience
- Extensive post‑registration experience within a hospital or secondary care setting, demonstrating advanced clinical and professional competence.
- Experience of operating at consultant or equivalent level within multidisciplinary teams, influencing clinical decision‑making across professions.
- Recent and sustained experience in a strategic or senior leadership role within pharmacy, with accountability for service performance, governance, and workforce development.
- Proven experience of working collaboratively with senior healthcare leaders (e.g., divisional directors, consultants, operational managers) to deliver Trust‑wide service developments or transformation programmes.
- Substantial experience of managing large or complex teams, including responsibility for line management, performance appraisal, and professional development.
- Experience of strategic business planning, financial management, and project delivery.
- Demonstrable competence in human resource management, including workforce planning, recruitment, and managing complex performance issues.
- Proven track record in service improvement and change management, including the use of recognised quality improvement (QI) or Lean methodologies.
- Significant experience of conducting and supervising audit and service evaluation, and translating findings into measurable improvements in care quality, safety, or efficiency.
- Experience across a broad range of pharmacy services, demonstrating depth of expertise and ability to provide clinical assurance across multiple specialities.
Skills, Abilities & Knowledge
- Comprehensive knowledge of all relevant pharmacy legislation and regulations, including the Medicines Act, Human Medicines Regulations, and Controlled Drugs Regulations.
- Knowledge of aseptic preparations including cytotoxic chemotherapy & parenteral nutrition.
- In‑depth knowledge of national organisations and guidance influencing clinical pharmacy services (e.g., NHS England, NICE, CQC, MHRA, UKCPA, RPS).
- Demonstrable understanding of clinical governance, risk management, and quality improvement frameworks, including the use of audit, benchmarking, and incident learning to ensure safe and effective medicines use.
- Knowledge of Trust‑wide and national policies relevant to pharmacy operations, including workforce, medicines safety, and information governance.
- Understanding of budgetary management, financial reporting, and cost improvement methodologies applicable to pharmacy services.
- Knowledge of pharmacy IT systems, including ePMA, electronic health records, and other digital tools supporting medicines optimisation.
- Understanding of medicines supply chain management, business continuity planning, and processes for managing national and local medicines shortages.
- Awareness of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) priorities, and the contribution of pharmacy leadership to system transformation, population health, and service integration.
- Able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information on pharmacy operational, clinical, and financial matters clearly and persuasively to a range of audiences, including senior consultants, executive directors, and external partners.
- Demonstrates advanced negotiation and influencing skills to achieve consensus and drive change across multidisciplinary teams.
- Can provide expert advice on medicines optimisation and governance at Trust level.
- Produces high‑quality written reports, business cases, and policy documents suitable for Board or Executive presentation.
- Delivers clear, engaging presentations using a range of digital and visual communication tools.
- Builds and maintains effective professional relationships across departments, local systems, and external agencies.
- Analyses and interprets highly complex clinical and financial data relating to medicines use, prescribing trends, and service performance to inform strategic decisions.
- Demonstrates strong leadership and change‑management skills, inspiring and motivating others to achieve high standards of care and performance.
- Prioritises, delegates, and manages competing demands effectively to meet organisational objectives and deadlines.
- Leads service redesign and quality improvement initiatives that deliver measurable benefits in patient outcomes and system efficiency.
- Demonstrates advanced IT literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, data analytics platforms, and digital prescribing systems.
- Demonstrates resilience, emotional intelligence, and integrity in all professional interactions.
- Maintains composure and effective decision‑making under pressure and during organisational change.
- Detailed understanding of GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals and NHS clinical governance frameworks.
- Knowledge and understanding of the management of medical gases.
- Provides authoritative expert advice on complex or contentious clinical and governance matters.
- Embraces digital innovation and supports the implementation of emerging technologies within pharmacy practice.
- Adopts a reflective approach to leadership and personal development, contributing to a culture of continuous learning.
Special Circumstances
- Able to travel between hospital sites.
- Able to participate in the Weekend and Bank Holiday Service.
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.
Salary
£79,504 to £91,609 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working
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