Job summary
- Main area
- Chief Pharmacist
- Grade
- Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 279-7449924-Sept 25
- Employer
- 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Worthing, Chichester, Brighton & Haywards Heath
- Town
- Worthing
- Closing
- 14/09/2025 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.
As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form:
https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
Permanent or long-term secondment
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.
The role offers an excellent opportunity to join a Trust committed to improvement and further strengthening 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.
Interviews are scheduled in person on 30th September 2025
Stakeholder presentation is scheduled via teams on 25th September 2025
Main duties of the job
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.
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.
If this sounds like you, please get in touch with:
Professor Catherine Urch – Chief Medical Officer - [email protected]
Dr John Laurie - Chief of Service- Clinical Support Services Division - [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
please refer to the main job description attached
Act as the Trust’s most senior expert in Medicines Optimisation, with delegated corporate responsibility from the Chief Executive, including all statutory duties.
· Fulfil the duties of Superintendent Pharmacist as required by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
· Provide strategic and professional leadership for all pharmacy and medicines optimisation services across the Trust and to external customers.
· Ensure pharmacy services are patient-centred, safe, progressive, cost-effective, and delivered within agreed budgets by competent staff.
· Lead business planning, including budget setting, developing cases of need, and resource procurement based on evaluation and evidence.
· Drive continuous improvement and innovation in pharmacy services, embedding quality improvement and R&I principles.
· Provide professional leadership and development support to all pharmacy staff.
· Maintain accountability for audit, research, and service evaluation activities related to medicines optimisation.
· Lead and manage strategic project planning for pharmacy services, assessing resource requirements and potential impact across the Trust.
· Oversee pharmaceutical education delivery, ensuring alignment with educational contracts and standards.
· Positively influence stakeholders to achieve high standards in medicines optimisation across the organisation.
· Lead on business planning, formulating cases of need and submitting bids for procurement of additional resources based on evaluation, research, quotations and established contracts.
· Lead on the strategic planning of the pharmacy department’s projects, identifying potential impacts on the Trust and wider organisations, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary
· Appraise and evaluate service delivery and role development.
Person specification
Experience & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters level degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
- 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.
Please refer to the job description for the full person specifications relating to other specifics.
Essential criteria
- Refer to Job description for full specification
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
- Louise Abrahams
- Job title
- Executive Assistant to Professor Catherine Urch
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01903 285074
- Additional information
Professor Catherine Urch – Chief Medical Officer - [email protected]
Dr John Laurie - Chief of Service- Clinical Support Services Division - [email protected]
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