Job summary
Are you an experienced and forward-thinking Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician ready to lead and innovate across our dynamic Aseptic Units? University Hospitals Sussex NHS foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Operational Aseptic Lead to provide strategic and operational leadership across our three Aseptic Units. This is a pivotal role for someone passionate about service development, patient safety, and workforce innovation in aseptic services.
Main duties of the job
- Lead the operational delivery of aseptic services across multiple hospital sites.
- Collaborate with senior pharmacy leadership to develop and implement strategic plans
- Ensure compliance with national standards and regulatory frameworks (e.g. EuGMP Annex1, QAAPS)
- Support financial planning, business case development, and cost improvement initiatives
- Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team, ensuring high standards of training, performance, and service delivery.
- Drive continuous improvement through audit, quality assurance, and service development projects.
- Act as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS England, SSCA, ICB, and academic institutions
About us
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 ourWellbeing 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.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the Operational Aseptic Lead, you will be responsible for the overarching coordination and leadership of the Trusts Preparative Services. You will work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Preparative Services and the Pharmacy QA and Project Manager to shape a cutting-edge strategy that meets the evolving needs of patients and the Trust.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a Trust-wide strategy for aseptic services, aligning with national best practices and audit outcomes.
- Governance & Compliance: Ensure robust systems are in place for quality assurance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
- Service Development: Lead initiatives to expand and enhance aseptic services, including addressing gaps in provision and supporting cancer treatment pathways.
- Financial Oversight: Support budgets, develop business cases, and deliver cost improvement programmes.
- Workforce Development: Create career progression pathways and support training for pharmacy technicians and assistants.
- Operational Excellence: Standardise procedures across sites, manage capacity and contingency planning, and ensure service resilience.
- Education & Training: Supervise and support the development of trainees and staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
This role is ideal for a highly motivated individual with significant experience in hospital pharmacy management, a strong understanding of aseptic services, and a passion for leading change in a complex healthcare setting.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the Operational Aseptic Lead, you will be responsible for the overarching coordination and leadership of the Trusts Preparative Services. You will work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Preparative Services and the Pharmacy QA and Project Manager to shape a cutting-edge strategy that meets the evolving needs of patients and the Trust.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a Trust-wide strategy for aseptic services, aligning with national best practices and audit outcomes.
- Governance & Compliance: Ensure robust systems are in place for quality assurance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
- Service Development: Lead initiatives to expand and enhance aseptic services, including addressing gaps in provision and supporting cancer treatment pathways.
- Financial Oversight: Support budgets, develop business cases, and deliver cost improvement programmes.
- Workforce Development: Create career progression pathways and support training for pharmacy technicians and assistants.
- Operational Excellence: Standardise procedures across sites, manage capacity and contingency planning, and ensure service resilience.
- Education & Training: Supervise and support the development of trainees and staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
This role is ideal for a highly motivated individual with significant experience in hospital pharmacy management, a strong understanding of aseptic services, and a passion for leading change in a complex healthcare setting.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Registration
Essential
- Registered as a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Master's degree in Pharmacy or equivalent experience
- Evidence of leadership development through formal training of national programme
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management or clinical pharmacy
- Postgraduate qualification in quality management of aseptic services
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience in hospital pharmacy, including aseptic services
- Experience of leading Trust-wide or system-level service transformation initiatives
- Business Case development and financial modelling
- Experience in setting and managing pay and non-pay budgets for pharmacy services
Desirable
- Experience of working across multiple sites or organisations
- Experience of contributing to national policy or guidance
- Involvement in national or regional working groups
- Member of specialist interest groups
Skills
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of aseptic services, SACT, QAAPs, EU GMP annex 1, and NHS governance frameworks
- Advanced skills in strategic planning, risk management, and service redesign
- Knowledge of NHS financial systems, procurement, and commissioning
- Ability to lead high-level deviation investigations and implement CAPA
Desirable
- Understanding of NHS workforce planning and national aseptic strategy
People Management and Development
Essential
- Proven ability to lead, develop. and motivate cross-site teams
- Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, and performance management
- Significant experience of successful implementation of change management process
Desirable
- Proven track record in succession planning and leadership pipeline development
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Able to plan future services within the cancer services in line with the pharmacy strategy and the directorate objectives
- Able to make sound judgements and act as the expert for aseptic technical services
- Able to travel between the different sites across Sussex
Freedom to Act
Essential
- Acts with high degree of autonomy, providing expert advice to senior leadership and external regulators
- Leads on policy development and implementation across multiple sites
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Registration
Essential
- Registered as a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Master's degree in Pharmacy or equivalent experience
- Evidence of leadership development through formal training of national programme
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management or clinical pharmacy
- Postgraduate qualification in quality management of aseptic services
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience in hospital pharmacy, including aseptic services
- Experience of leading Trust-wide or system-level service transformation initiatives
- Business Case development and financial modelling
- Experience in setting and managing pay and non-pay budgets for pharmacy services
Desirable
- Experience of working across multiple sites or organisations
- Experience of contributing to national policy or guidance
- Involvement in national or regional working groups
- Member of specialist interest groups
Skills
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of aseptic services, SACT, QAAPs, EU GMP annex 1, and NHS governance frameworks
- Advanced skills in strategic planning, risk management, and service redesign
- Knowledge of NHS financial systems, procurement, and commissioning
- Ability to lead high-level deviation investigations and implement CAPA
Desirable
- Understanding of NHS workforce planning and national aseptic strategy
People Management and Development
Essential
- Proven ability to lead, develop. and motivate cross-site teams
- Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, and performance management
- Significant experience of successful implementation of change management process
Desirable
- Proven track record in succession planning and leadership pipeline development
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Able to plan future services within the cancer services in line with the pharmacy strategy and the directorate objectives
- Able to make sound judgements and act as the expert for aseptic technical services
- Able to travel between the different sites across Sussex
Freedom to Act
Essential
- Acts with high degree of autonomy, providing expert advice to senior leadership and external regulators
- Leads on policy development and implementation across multiple sites
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
