Job summary
As Deputy Head of Pharmacy for Clinical Trials, you'll lead a fast-paced, innovative service overseeing both commercial and non-commercial trials. You'll ensure drug delivery meets the highest standards of safety, compliance, and quality--aligned with ICH-GCP, GMP, and national/international regulations. Working closely with the Head of Pharmacy Clinical Trials & ATMPs, you'll help maximise trial participation and patient benefit, while supporting the Trust's reputation for research excellence.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of clinical trials at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. You'll lead the development of SOPs, training programmes, and guidance for pharmacy and Trust staff, ensuring seamless collaboration across departments including R&D, haematology, and clinical research units. Your strategic input will influence policy and service development locally and nationally, while maintaining strong financial governance and providing expert pharmaceutical advice.
You'll join a passionate, forward-thinking team known for its inclusive culture and commitment to patient-centred care through cutting-edge research. If you're ready to lead with purpose, contribute to national best practice, and grow within a supportive and ambitious environment--this is the role for you.
Main duties of the job
- Lead and Collaborate: Partner with Pharmacy Clinical Trials, R&D, and wider Trust teams to deliver strategic goals for ATMPs and clinical trials.
- Drive Quality and Performance: Manage quality improvement plans and resolve complex clinical trial issues to ensure patient safety and service excellence.
- Champion Change: Lead updates to policies and procedures, promoting a culture of transparency, learning, and continuous improvement.
- Engage Stakeholders: Work with clinicians, sponsors, patients, and regulators to support service delivery and resolve challenges.
- Ensure Compliance: Oversee trial setup and conduct, ensuring alignment with national and international regulations and acting as a key governance lead.
- Lead and Manage Teams: Oversee recruitment, HR, and daily operations of the clinical trials pharmacy team, ensuring GCP and GMP standards.
- Strategic Planning: Assess trial feasibility, manage risks, and support business cases and readiness for new therapies.
- Financial Oversight: Manage budgets, contracts, and equipment, ensuring safe use and effective supplier engagement.
- Quality and Accreditation: Maintain quality systems, support JACIE accreditation, and respond to audits and recalls.
- Leadership and Representation: Act as Deputy Management Representative, mentor staff, and lead cross-departmental planning.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview. .
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council Extensive post-graduate studies and or experience in pharmacy clinical trials delivery in the UK
Desirable
- Diploma/MSc in Pharmacy Practice or equivalent
- Appropriate management courses
- GMP training
Experience
Essential
- Experience in the set up and management of commercial and non-commercial clinical trials in a pharmacy context. Comprehensive experience as a hospital pharmacist, to include at least dispensary/ aseptic and ward experience and active experience of using a wide range of healthcare electronic systems
- Substantial experience in managing teams and influencing stakeholders and demonstrated ability to input into local, regional or national groups
Desirable
- Service management/departmental management
- Experience of working in an aseptic unit, oncology or haematology
Skills
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of current UK medicines legislation, GCP and GMP in relation to clinical trials and medicines. Able to continually update and apply knowledge of changes in legislation and guidance to real world situations
- Experience of managing change and able to identify opportunities for improvement and development of the service, day-to-day and at a strategic level, to meet patient and organisational needs
- Demonstrated excellent analytical, verbal, numeric and written
Desirable
- MSOffice and other relevant computer programmes at an advanced level o
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council Extensive post-graduate studies and or experience in pharmacy clinical trials delivery in the UK
Desirable
- Diploma/MSc in Pharmacy Practice or equivalent
- Appropriate management courses
- GMP training
Experience
Essential
- Experience in the set up and management of commercial and non-commercial clinical trials in a pharmacy context. Comprehensive experience as a hospital pharmacist, to include at least dispensary/ aseptic and ward experience and active experience of using a wide range of healthcare electronic systems
- Substantial experience in managing teams and influencing stakeholders and demonstrated ability to input into local, regional or national groups
Desirable
- Service management/departmental management
- Experience of working in an aseptic unit, oncology or haematology
Skills
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of current UK medicines legislation, GCP and GMP in relation to clinical trials and medicines. Able to continually update and apply knowledge of changes in legislation and guidance to real world situations
- Experience of managing change and able to identify opportunities for improvement and development of the service, day-to-day and at a strategic level, to meet patient and organisational needs
- Demonstrated excellent analytical, verbal, numeric and written
Desirable
- MSOffice and other relevant computer programmes at an advanced level o
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).
