Group Medications Services Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a unique opportunity within General Practice. As a Group we have moved away from the traditional Practice Management model and developed a diversified Operations Team with the following specialist functions to work alongside you to deliver your objectives:

• Practice Operations
• Clinical Operations
• Quality Improvement
• Finance
• People & Culture
• Digital and Estates

We believe this approach is unusual in primary care, but is essential to enable us to respond to demand from our commissioning body and/or our patients to provide new or improved services, and to provide a better, more supportive, enjoyable, and professionalised working environment for our staff.

Your Responsibilities

Leadership, Team Management & Culture

• Work collaboratively with the wider Operations Team to pro-actively contribute to the design and implementation of the overall long term strategic direction, culture, and values of the organisation.
• Take overall leadership and management responsibility for the Medications Services function, comprising:

o Haddenham Surgery and Staploe Medical Centre Dispensary teams, both of which have experienced on-site teams with clear on-site leadership structures.

o Medicines Technicians team, located at our Wilburton site.

o Dispensary Procurement Coordinator

o Clinical Pharmacist, leading the Ely South Primary Care Network Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme Clinical Pharmacy team, consisting of Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

• Foster a collaborative 'one team' culture where all medicines-related staff proactively support each other to resolve patient needs at the first point of contact, embedding a "solve for the patient first, improve process second" philosophy throughout the function
• Design and implement integrated workflows that enable seamless handoffs between all medications services teams, and other service teams (patient services, clinical admin, and medical secretaries), eliminating patient frustration from being transferred between departments.
• Ensure all medicines services teams maintain full compliance with MHRA, GPhC, and NHS regulations, including controlled drugs governance, stock control, and prescription services optimization
• Recruit, develop, and performance manage all medicines services teams and support senior staff to mentor colleagues
• Work with the People & Culture team to create clear and appropriate development pathways and succession planning

Financial Performance & Commercial Oversight

• Work with the Group Finance Manager to present financial performance, forecasts, and action plans to senior leadership.
• Assure financial sustainability of both dispensaries by supporting the Dispensary Procurement Coordinator to optimise strategic pricing, supplier negotiations, ordering practices, and formulary adherence by prescribers.
• Oversee group-wide dispensing strategy, formulary management, and stakeholder negotiations, under the guidance of the GP Partner Lead
• Data analysis using Excel, ePACT2, and clinical system reports to monitor financial performance and prescribing trends

Technology & Innovation

• Work with the Group Lead for Digital, IT, and Estates to:

o Champion technology adoption to improve efficiency and patient experience across all sites

o Identify and implement digital solutions for automated reporting, monitoring, and workflow management

o Evaluate and implement new technologies to enhance operational efficiency

• Ensure that the teams are optimising their utilisation of SystmOne for medicines management, identifying training needs and ensuring teams are upskilled where necessary
• Create standardised digital workflows across multiple sites, including effective and consistent use of available platforms.

Stakeholder Management & Strategic Liaison

Build and maintain diplomatic relationships with external stakeholders, for example:

• MOT liaison and formulary management: Act as Mereside Medical primary point of contact for Cambs & Peterborough ICB Medicines Optimization Team, working diplomatically to ensure clinical objectives are achieved cost effectively.
• Community Pharmacy coordination: Maintain relationships with local pharmacies for patient referrals and EPS optimisation
• Pharmaceutical Suppliers: Build strategic relationships with suppliers, supporting the Procurement Officer to achieve effective negotiations and cost-saving initiatives

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• About You
• You should have or be:
• - Exceptional people manager and mentor with proven track record of transforming team cultures and managing multi site operations
• - Financially astute with deep understanding of how prescribing patterns impact practice finances and profitability
• - Advanced Excel expertise and experience analysing large datasets, creating financial models, and interpreting complex reports
• - Technology enthusiast with proven ability to drive digital adoption and process automation
• - Outstanding customer service focus with commitment to seamless patient experience and continuous improvement
• - Adaptable and resilient leader comfortable working across multiple sites and managing competing priorities
• - Analytical and critical thinker able to make evidence based decisions under pressure
• - Diplomatic communicator skilled at managing relationships with diverse stakeholders including clinical teams, regulatory bodies, and commercial partners
• - Cultural change leader with experience transforming silo mentalities into collaborative team working
• - Willing to travel regularly between practice sites and attend external meetings as required

Desirable

• It would be an advantage if you also have or are:
• - Experience in Primary Care dispensing or GP practice operations management
• - Regional/area management experience from healthcare, pharmacy, or retail sectors
• - Understanding of NHS primary care systems including SystmOne, ePACT2, and EPS
• - Qualified Pharmacy Technician or Dispenser with relevant professional qualifications
• - Project management experience and proven ability to implement large-scale operational changes
• - Knowledge of controlled drugs regulations and medicines governance requirements
• - Experience with formulary management and medicines optimization programs
• - Commercial negotiation experience with suppliers and stakeholders

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Mereside Medical Group

Address

Brewhouse Lane

Soham

Ely

Cambridgeshire

CB7 5JD

Employer's website

https://www.meresidemedical.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)