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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR1012-25
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Colchester / Ipswich Hospital
Town
Colchester and Ipswich
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/12/2025 23:59
Interview date
06/01/2026

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Lead Oncology / Haematology Pharmacist - Clinical Trials

NHS AfC: Band 8a

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and dynamic Lead Oncology/Haematology Clinical Trials Pharmacist to join the established Research & Development (R&D) team at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). Working across our Ipswich and Colchester sites, you will lead the oncology and haematology clinical trails pharmacy service , ensuring the delivery of an integrated, high-quality, efficient, and patient-centred research service.

ESNEFT holds both an MS Licence for the manufacture of Specials and an MIA (IMP) for the manufacture of Investigational Medicinal Products, and supports a wide portfolio of clinical trials. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate closely with clinical research colleagues, pharmacy technical services and chemotherapy day unit pharmacists to develop and deliver high-quality research that improves patient outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity for a pharmacist with clinical trials and oncology/haematology experience to take on a leadership role in a supportive and innovative environment. You will take ownership of your workload and contribute to service development to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.

Flexible working options are available.

Main duties of the job

  • Lead and develop the oncology/haematology clinical trials pharmacy service, ensuring the 150 day target for trial set up is consistently met.

  • Build, validate, and maintain clinical trial prescriptions, ensuring accuracy and compliance

  • Act as the primary pharmacy contact for Principal Investigators, research teams and pharmacy colleagues for oncology/haematology trials.

  • Work closely with pharmacy technical services, chemotherapy day units, clinical research teams and the wider DMT to grow the Trust's research portfolio.

  • Contribute to the continued delivery of high-quality, cutting edge research within a Trust committed to innovation and improving patient outcomes.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. 

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous extensive hospital experience inclusive of Clinical Pharmacy practice
  • Previous clinical Oncology and Haematology experience
  • Knowledge of clinical trials in a hospital setting
  • Demonstrated experience of multi-disciplinary working
  • Previous experience of educating and training other staff
  • Experience of technical as well as clinical aspects of pharmacy
Desirable criteria
  • Previous budgetary management experience and drug expenditure monitoring
  • Demonstrated experience of change management
  • Previous experience working as a releasing pharmacist in an Aseptics Unit

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GPhC Registered
  • Masters Degree plus Pre-registration training
  • Appropriate post graduate qualification (ie Clinical Pharmacy Practice or Pharmaceutical Technology) – candidates working towards this will be considered
Desirable criteria
  • Certificated training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
  • BOPA passport

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Excellent clinical pharmacy knowledge
  • Awareness of clinical governance systems, including NICE and NRLS
  • Research and audit practices
  • Clinical trials governance
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of the National Tariff and processes involved in the funding of high-cost medicines
  • Local and national priorities in cancer and haematology care

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lok Lui
Job title
Deputy Head of Pharmacy Quality Assurance
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01206745959

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Colchester General Hospital
Telephone
07789651269
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