Deputy Chief Pharmacist

Job overview

As Deputy Chief Pharmacist, you will play a pivotal role in leading, developing, and delivering safe, effective, and innovative pharmacy services across our hospitals. Working closely with the chief pharmacist and pharmacy board, you’ll help drive our new trust strategy in matters related to medicines optimisation , support national priorities, and ensure regulatory compliance.

You’ll lead a diverse team of pharmacy professionals across multiple sites, fostering a culture of inclusion, learning, and excellence. You will also drive innovation and create a culture of continuous improvement. The role involves deputising for the chief pharmacist in representing pharmacy within senior trust and regional networks when needed — influencing policy, service design, and quality improvement.

This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary pharmacy leader who thrives on strategic challenges and wants to make a lasting impact on patient care.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the sites’ expert in medicines optimisation, with delegated responsibility from the chief pharmacist.
• Deputise for the chief pharmacist to provide strategic and professional leadership for 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.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in pharmacy services, embedding quality improvement and R&I principles.
• Lead and manage strategic project planning for pharmacy services, assessing resource requirements and potential impact across the trust.
• 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.
• Appraise and evaluate service delivery and role development.
• Represent the pharmacy department at trust committees and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, such as other NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
• Delegated management of allocated pharmacy budget for RSCH and PRH pharmacy.
• Member of pharmacy board.

Working for our organisation

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. 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 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• ct as the sites’ expert in medicines optimisation, with delegated responsibility from the chief pharmacist.
• Deputise for the chief pharmacist to provide strategic and professional leadership for 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.
• 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 responsibility for audit, research, and service evaluation activities related to medicines optimisation across their sites.
• Lead and manage strategic project planning for pharmacy services, assessing resource requirements and potential impact across the trust.
• 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.
• Appraise and evaluate service delivery and role development.
• Represent the pharmacy department at trust committees and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, such as other NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
• Delegated management of allocated pharmacy budget for RSCH and PRH pharmacy.
• Member of pharmacy board.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Person specification

Shortlisting

Essential criteria

• Registered as a Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Master’s degree in Pharmacy or equivalent (earlier BSC or BPharm), plus substantial degree of additional training and experience.
• Post -graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice.
• Leadership or Management qualification relevant to the NHS at Diploma or Masters level or substantial senior management experience and success in previous roles.
• Clinical leadership in an acute hospital setting.
• Experience of leading and managing a large team in an acute hospital setting.
• Evidence of commitment to CPD.
• Track record of high performance

Desirable criteria

• Responsible Person (RP) qualified as per Good Distribution Practice (GDP) principles
• Experience with wholesale dealer’s authorisations and MHRA inspections.
• Experience with other regulatory bodies such as GphC and CQC.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications