Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 279-7257977-JUN25
- Employer
- 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- All UHSx Sites
- Town
- Worthing
- Closing
- 13/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Chief Pharmacist
Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First . In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Chief Pharmacist to lead our pharmacy services. This is an exciting leadership role in a large acute hospital Trust with four main sites and several satellite campuses including:
Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton
Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Health
Worthing Hospital, Worthing
St Richards Hospital, Chichester
Interviews are scheduled in person on 8th August 2025
Stakeholder presentation is scheduled via teams on 29th July 2025
Main duties of the job
The role offers an excellent opportunity to join a Trust committed to improvement through our Patient First improvement methodology and to further strengthen our pharmacy services ensuring alignment with our clinical divisions. The Trust already has robots at three of our hospital sites and ensuring that we continue to embrace technology and innovation will be a key part of the role.
The Chief Pharmacist will provide proactive and engaging leadership ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and standards. They will also lead work related to medicines optimisation, patient safety, quality assurance, risk management and pharmacy efficiency.
If this sounds like you, please get in touch with:
Dr John Laurie - Chief of Service, Clinical Support Services Division - [email protected] or;
Professor Catherine Urch – Chief Medical Officer - [email protected]
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Demonstrating a real passion for service improvement, our new Chief Pharmacist will manage a programme of transformation ensuring that we develop a positive team culture with a shared sense of purpose and vision across all sites.
To succeed in the role, you are likely to be a Deputy Chief Pharmacist or Chief Pharmacist looking to further develop your career in one of the largest hospital Trust’s in the Southeast. You will role model a transformational and inclusive leadership style and be ready to drive change and improvement at scale for the benefit of our staff and patients.
For full details regarding role and responsibilities, please refer to the attached document
Person specification
Experience & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters level degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
- Registered as a Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Membership of the RPSGB
- Evidence of recent and relevant continuous professional development Clinical Leadership
- Extensive senior level pharmacy leadership and managerial experience within an acute NHS Trust (or comparatively large and complex multi-disciplinary organisation).
- Significant recent experience in organising and managing clinical, technical and patient pharmacy services Significant experience of delivering advanced level clinical pharmacy services to a specialist area
- Evidence of undertaking clinical audit and contributing to research programmes / studies and quality improvement.
- A strong understanding of, and experience of managing and responding to, Medicine Guidance Notes, MHRA Alerts, NHS Improvement, PSIRF investigations, etc.
- A strong understanding of the EU Clinical Trial Directive, Good Manufacturing Practice and other relevant guidance.
- A strong understanding of clinical / risk management guidance as it is applied to Medicines Optimisation, including legal / coroners’ context.
Desirable criteria
- Research Methodology Training Leadership or Management qualification relevant to the NHS at Diploma or Masters level
- Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice.
- Significant and recent senior experience (within the last 5 years) as either a Chief Pharmacist in a teaching hospital or a district general hospital or a Deputy Chief Pharmacist in a teaching hospital.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, complex information to others
- Gain co-operation and/or agreement from others by negotiation and persuasion
- Ability to interpret complex information and to take appropriate action or provide expert advice as a result
- Communicate sensitively distressing information to staff or patients and staff Strong analytical and judgemental skills
- Ability to interpret complex occurrences, such as critical incidents or service complaints, and take appropriate action or provide expert advice as a result
- Think strategically, develop vision and convey this vision to others
- Significant recent experience of planning and improving quality of pharmacy services provided
- Extensive knowledge of governance systems, clinical governance and risk management
- A strong understanding of national NHS policy and strategy as it relates to pharmacy staff and broader clinical workforce, as well as current professional challenges.
- Significant experience in business planning and constructing business cases for service developments. Financial Management
- Experience of planning and making drug and staffing efficiencies
- Significant experience in setting and managing pay and non-pay budgets for pharmacy services.
- Significant experience in setting and managing pay and non-pay budgets for pharmacy services.
- Information and Communication Technology Working knowledge of IT systems, to include Excel, Access, Word and PowerPoint
- Able to take personal responsibility for complex decision making taken at speed taking into account the complexity of legal frameworks, clinical and technical issues and within acceptable frameworks.
- Experience of developing and implementing transformation programmes, including the management of service change, operational process improvement and cost reduction.
Desirable criteria
- A strong understanding of how UHSussex fits into the wider health and social care system.
- Experience working on national programmes or contributing to national policy development.
- Evidence of developing or implementing high profile initiatives underpinned by the national research and innovation agenda.
Equality Diversity & Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr John Laurie
- Job title
- Chief of Service: CSS
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01903205111
- Additional information
Ext. 85567
If this sounds like you, please get in touch with:
Dr John Laurie - Chief of Service, Clinical Support Services [email protected] or;
Professor Catherine Urch – Chief Medical Officer - [email protected]
Interviews are scheduled in person on 8th August 2025
Stakeholder presentation is scheduled via teams on 29th July 2025
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