Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 9
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (May include requirement to work antisocial hours and on-call)
- Job ref
- 364-A-9723
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Trust Head Office, The Lodge
- Town
- Wickford
- Salary
- £109,179 - £125,637 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 08/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Director of Pharmacy (Chief Pharmacist)
NHS AfC: Band 9
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
With the retirement of the current postholder in June 2026, EPUT is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our senior leadership team as Director of Pharmacy . This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of mental health and community health services in Essex, working collaboratively across our system and with external partners. You will also help shape the ePMA element of the new integrated ePR/ePMA system Nova, due to launch in 2027 across acute, community and mental health services.
EPUT offer a fantastic relocation package of up to £8,000. Covering a number of expenditures for new recruits relocating from 30 miles or more from their new work base at EPUT. If you would like more information please contact [email protected]
Main duties of the job
As the Director of Pharmacy, you will lead, direct and manage the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Services, providing the highest standards of pharmacy services locally, regional and nationally. Your key responsibilities will include:
· Leading the delivery of services to ensure effective and efficient delivery of pharmaceutical care and support to prescribing.
· Provide leadership to ensure safe, clinically- and cost-effective use of medicines in Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
· Drive transformation and improvement initiatives within the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation team, and Care Units generally, where these relate to prescribing and medicines use.
· Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with statutory and governance frameworks
· Act as Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer for the safe management and use of controlled drugs
· Act as Superintendent Pharmacist for the GPhC registered pharmacy premises.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for the detailed outline of the job requirements.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Master's degree in pharmacy (or equivalent acceptable for GPhC registration)
- Current GPhC registration
- Post graduate degree or qualification
- Management qualification
Knowledge / Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant senior management experience in a complex environment
- Strategy development and implementation
- Collaborative working in a multi-disciplinary setting
- Achieving results against targets
- Knowledge of MH/CHS pharmaceutical care, standards and clinical governance
- Understanding of policy environment
- Interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
- Flexible approach and able to deal with complexity
Desirable criteria
- Project management
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Shares Trust beliefs, behaviours and values
- Self motivated, acts autonomously and motivates others
- Can manage in a changing strategic environment
- Ability to travel across Essex
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
- Alexandra Green
- Job title
- Executive Chief Operating Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01268 739647
- Additional information
To discuss the post with the current Director of Pharmacy, Dr Hilary Scott please contact [email protected] to arrange a suitable date and time.
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