Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy Technician
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 216-CB-C7501723
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Pharmacy Dept, Level 5, Derriford Hospital
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Lead Pharmacy Technician – Procurement
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
We are seeking a motivated Lead Pharmacy Technician – Procurement (Band 7) to join our Pharmacy team at UHP. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for managing procurement and supply of medicines, with an annual expenditure >£100m. You will ensure that all medicines are sourced through validated supply chains, delivered safely and efficiently, and available in the right place and time to meet the needs of patients.
As Lead Pharmacy Technician, you will provide operational leadership; overseeing purchasing, contracting, storage and distribution. You will work closely with the Associate Chief Pharmacist, contributing to policy development, service improvement and financial efficiency. The role will also see you representing the Trust in regional and national forums, liaising with organisations such as NHSE and Specialist Pharmacy Service to safeguard medicine supply and deliver best value procurement.
This is an excellent opportunity for a registered pharmacy technician with significant hospital pharmacy experience, strong leadership skills, and a detailed understanding of procurement and contract management. You will be confident in managing people, systems and budgets, with the ability to drive service improvement while ensuring compliance with legislation and regulatory standards. In return, we offer a dynamic and supportive environment, with opportunities for development and the chance to make a meaningful impact on patient care across our services.
Main duties of the job
- To lead on the development of Pharmacy Procurement Services.
- To ensure that all purchased medicines and pharmaceuticals are of an appropriate quality, and are procured and distributed in a cost effective manner via a validated supply chain.
- To ensure that all medicines are available in the appropriate quantities, places and times to meet the clinical needs of all patients.
- To contribute towards the determination of policy and plans for the pharmaceutical service.
- To lead and manage and develop staff in Procurement within Pharmacy.
- To manage the daily workload and staff within the pharmacy procurement and goods received
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
OPERATIONAL PROCUREMENT
- To develop and maintain systems for the effective and economic purchasing for the whole range of medicines and pharmaceuticals.
- To appraise the pharmaceutical supply chain both internally and externally.
- To develop and produce reports to support the Associate Chief Pharmacist for Clinical Commissioning and Medicines Optimisation to provide assurance to the Trust Executive Team around all aspects of medicines procurement.
- To prepare appropriate contract documentation ensuring it is updated (and version-controlled) and appropriately and securely filed.
- To manage external commercial procurement contracts and be free to negotiate directly with the Pharmaceutical Industry, where appropriate, to achieve revenue savings and to ensure supply of critical medicines.
- To ensure all negotiations are in line with legal requirements and trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs)
- To be responsible for the safe management of Pharmaceutical Industry Drug Alerts ensuring risk to patients is minimised.
- To liaise with and inform national bodies such as the NHSE Medicines Value and Access team, Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), Medicines Procurement and Supply Chain (MPSC), Peninsular Purchasing and Supply Alliance (PPSA) and the Department of Health about potential supply problems and areas for improvement in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
- To identify and update relevant procurement/commercial, tendering and contracting policies and procedures, measuring compliance and providing assurance to audit.
- To develop and maintain systems to demonstrate cost savings obtained from the contracting and procurement agreement contracts.
- To identify. Validate and update contract details on the pharmacy inventory management system to ensure all purchases are compliant with current contractual arrangement.
- To proactively review and analyse existing contracts to ensure they continue to offer best value for money.
- To implement, monitor and manage contract performance through SMART Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and develop them throughout the life of the contract.
- To support any changes needed in response to recommendations to service delivery made by internal and external bodies including audit etc.
- To ensure that all aspects of the ordering, receipt, storage, distribution and invoicing of all medicines and pharmaceuticals are performed in accordance with all relevant legislation, the requirements of the “Guide to Good Wholesaling Practice”, MHRA requirements and trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs)
- To assist in managing and minimising the medicines that has to be discarded due to obsolescence.
- To support the Associate Chief Pharmacist for Clinical Commissioning and Medicines Optimisation in ensuring Better Value Procurement targets are achieved.
- To be responsible for the development and maintenance of systems for reporting and reducing instances of errors, including near misses and manage staff involved in each incident.
- To be responsible for the identification, regular review, action planning and monitoring of risks and implementation and evaluation of mitigation measures.
- To monitor the service in line with the departmental strategy, re-assessing and developing systems of work where required.
Person specification
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria
- Proven knowledge of EU, procurement directives and legislation and an awareness of NHS Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders
- Understanding of contract law, contracting and purchasing legislation
- An understanding of hospital pharmacy services
- Significant post qualification demonstrable experience in hospital pharmacy
- Excellent working proven knowledge of current legislation, department of health guidelines and MHRA regulations concerning wholesale dealing and the storage and distribution of medicines
- Good understanding of COSHH Regulations
- Extensive demonstrable experience of performance management and effectively managing staff
- Demonstrable experience of audit and report writing
- Demonstrable experience of working with Suppliers and or third party providers
- Experience of developing pharmacy services
Desirable criteria
- Proven knowledge of financial / operational procedures and budget management
- Recruitment and selection training / demonstrable experience
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- City & Guilds, BTEC or NVQ level 3 in pharmacy services
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply qualifications (or working towards)
Desirable criteria
- Large Clinical Setting Management qualifications or similar
- A1 NVQ Assessor Award
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
- Ability to supervise other staff
- Ability to manage change
- Attention to detail
- Ability to prioritise workload (own and others)
- Ability to accurately deal with figures.
- Ability to motivate self and others
- Confidence in dealing with others
- Ability to reflect on own performance
- Ability to recognise own limitations
- Ability to identify and manage problems
- Organisational skills
- Familiarity with computer systems including internet and e-mail use
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work as an individual
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Teaching and tutoring skills
- Counselling skills
- Interview skills
- Presentation skills
Disposition, Attitude, Motivation
Essential criteria
- Ability to accept responsibility
- Able to work well within a busy environment
- Ability to get on well with others
- Co-operative
- Proactive, takes own initiative
- Dependable
- Positive approach to change
- Lead by example
- Adaptable
- Trustworthy
- Reliable
- Ability to work late nights, weekends and bank holidays on rota
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sam Stephenson
- Job title
- Associate Chief Pharmacist - CCMO
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07386658597
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