Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8c
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 423-7680851
- Employer
- Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Airedale General Hospital
- Town
- Keighley
- Salary
- £76,965 - £88,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/02/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 13/02/2026
Employer heading
Deputy Chief Pharmacist (Band 8c)
NHS AfC: Band 8c
Be part of our future landscape
At Airedale, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications irrespective of people’s age, lived experience of living with a disability or long-term conditions, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
Increasing our diversity and supporting our organisation to be more inclusive is a key priority here at Airedale and our teams are at the centre of how we work towards this.
We appreciate all people may have diverse and individual needs and we pride ourselves on supporting all people to thrive and flourish at work. We have frameworks in place that support reasonable adjustments and flexible working for colleagues throughout their working lives which starts at recruitment.
These are exciting times for Airedale. We have the once-in-a-career opportunity to be involved in the planning and building of a completely new hospital here on our Steeton site by 2030. By joining us now you’ll be a key part of our journey over the next few years, with the chance to input into a state-of-the-art, modern healthcare facility that will deliver care to our communities for decades to come. We are also on the journey to a new electronic patient record, part of our wider ambition for our digital future – a future that builds on our significant telemedicine and digital care success. Ultimately, what makes Airedale special is our people. Not just our staff, but our volunteers, patients, visitors, and wider population who make up the Airedale family. This is a Trust that sits at the heart of our community, and our communities are very proud of their Trust.
Please read the attached AI statement prior to submitting any application
Job overview
An opportunity for the position of Deputy Chief Pharmacist has arisen at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking for a highly motivated, dedicated and experienced pharmacist to shape the future of Pharmacy and medicines management services
*Please note*
Should you be successfully shortlisted for interview the proposed interview date will be on 13th February 2026. There will be a stakeholder session prior to panel interview, details will be shared closer to interview date
Main duties of the job
As Deputy Chief Pharmacist, you will work with the Chief Pharmacist to ensure the strategy and operation of pharmacy and medicines management services, is progressive, responsive to internal and external demand, patient focused, safe, efficient, and effective and is aligned with local and national standards and strategic goals of the Trust.
You will deputise for the Chief Pharmacist in their role as professional lead of pharmacy services and lead for medicines management across the Trust, and will be a member of the Pharmacy Management Group.
You will be a senior and experienced pharmacist and will have responsibilities for the leadership and the development of one of the core Pharmacy activity portfolios in addition to the additional roles and responsibilities of a Deputy Chief Pharmacist. The portfolio will be flexible dependent upon the skills and experiences of the successful candidate.
Working for our organisation
We are delighted to offer a wide range of benefits to employees including:
- Cycle to Work
- Travel Scheme
- Childcare Vouchers with Salary Sacrifice
- Onsite Nursery
- Buying and Selling Annual Leave
- Car Leasing
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Health and Wellbeing
- Extensive Reward Scheme
- Counselling Service
- Financial packages including Vivup and Wagestream
- Staff Networks, Enable, Rainbow, Gender, Race Equality Ecoaware & Admin Network.
Our values:
We understand that it’s down to the hard work, effort and dedication of our staff that makes a difference for our patients. Our people really do make our Airedale experience – we take pride in fostering a friendly, effective and caring work environment. Our values are part of our DNA, which are:
- Committed to Quality of Care
- Compassion
- Working together for patients
- Improving Lives
- Everyone Counts
- Respect and Dignity
Got questions before you apply, please contact the recruiting manager to find out more.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To deputise for the Chief Pharmacist in their role as the manager and professional lead of pharmacy services who has corporately responsible to the Trust Board as the head of medicines optimisation and medicines management in the Trust. These responsibilities will include:
- The quality of clinical care provided by the pharmacy department
- The safe and secure handling of medicines including controlled drugs
- The development of the strategic direction of the service
- Interpretation of NHS guidance, local health economy strategies and NHS modernisation plans
- Ensuring compliance with GPhC and MHRA licences, and CQC inspection standards
- The maintenance of medicine spend within budget
- Provision of professional advice on medicines management and optimisation issues to the Trust Board and the maintenance and development of Trust policies relating to medicines.
- Deputise for the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer, contributing to national, regional and local CD Intelligence Network requirements as agreed.
- Work with the Chief Pharmacist to foster the positive working environment and an open and safe culture that involves pharmacy staff in decision making within the department and supports staff in delivering key departmental objective
- Demonstrate motivating leadership, to drive forward positive behaviours, promote team morale through the culture of visible and responsive leadership, clear communication, teamwork, innovation and continuous quality improvement.
Person specification
Qualifications and experience
Essential criteria
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Pharmacy Degree
- Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent
- Management and Leadership Training and notable experience of leadership in hospital pharmac
- Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable criteria
- Independent prescribing qualification
- Management qualification
- Member of UKCPA
- Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven track record in managing staff, time and resources to deliver timely outcomes.
- Significant experience as a senior hospital pharmacist with high level of experience of hospital pharmacy practice, leadership and management
- Recent experience of both operational and strategic planning
- Experience of providing education and training to colleagues
- Proven track record of maintaining good relationships with clinicians
- Experience in implementing cost saving projects.
Desirable criteria
- Proven track record of good working relationships with colleagues in non-clinical roles including finance and general management
- Experience of managing drug and staff budgets.
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
- Lucy Hennessy
- Job title
- Chief Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01535 293502
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