North Bristol NHS Trust

Principal Pharmacist

The closing date is 06 April 2026

Job summary

Lead and shape the future of Clinical Pharmacy for Medicine at North Bristol NHS Trust!

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious pharmacist to take on a senior leadership role, driving the development of clinical pharmacy services across a range of medical specialities within a large and complex acute Trust.

As Principal Pharmacist for Medicine, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care while improving patient flow, service efficiency and medicines optimisation. You will lead a well-established team of senior pharmacists and work closely with multidisciplinary and senior clinical leaders to influence service transformation.

This is an exciting opportunity to combine strategic leadership with clinical expertise, contributing to innovation, digital development, and the future direction of pharmacy services across the Trust and wider healthcare system.

Why join us?

- Lead clinical pharmacy across multiple medical specialities in a large, complex acute Trust

- Play a key role in improving patient flow and service efficience

- Influence digital transformation and medicines optimisation

- Work as part of a forward-thinking pharmacy leadership team

- Opportunities to shape services across the wider healthcare system

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will:

  • Lead the Clinical Pharmacy Service for Medicine, providing clear professional and operational direction
  • Manage and support a team of senior pharmacists, helping them to develop and perform at their best
  • Identify and lead improvements to services, with a focus on patient flow, quality and efficiency
  • Promote safe, effective and cost-conscious use of medicines across your areas of responsibility
  • Take the lead on medicines governance, ensuring standards are maintained and issues are addressed
  • Build strong working relationships with clinical and operational colleagues across the Trust and wider system
  • Support the ongoing development of digital systems, including electronic prescribing
  • Contribute to the training, supervision and development of pharmacy staff and the wider workforce

About us

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialties. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Details

Date posted

20 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum, pro rata for part time roles

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

339-CCS9871-DAC

Job locations

Southmead Hospital

Southmead Road

Bristol

BS10 5AN


Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert

Leadership

  • Responsible for leading the delivery, management and development of the Clinical Pharmacy Service to high standards of efficiency and effectiveness for the specialities.
  • Regularly review Clinical Pharmacy roles in line with skill mix and ensure that staff allocation reflects best practice.
  • Maintain workload and performance records and identify and manage significant variances using key performance indicators (KPIs). Use this information to help further develop the service.
  • Monitor activity, plan and co-ordinate changes necessary for the further development of Clinical Pharmacy services. Identify and negotiate for the resources needed to effect the change.
  • Lead on allocated pharmacy work streams to support local and national initiatives.
  • Acts as a role model for less experienced pharmacists and promote best practice
  • Identify, develop and take opportunities to further improve the service through established and innovative practices

Pharmacy Service Management

  • Lead on the recording, reporting and monitoring of Clinical Pharmacy interventions for the specialities.
  • Responsible for Clinical Governance and incident monitoring, using Radar, within Clinical Pharmacy Services for your specialities and take action to minimise risks.
  • Ensure that the relevant division receives regular reports on finance and governance relating to medicines for the specialities you are responsible for.
  • In conjunction with the Principal Pharmacist Pharmacoeconomics monitor medicines usage and expenditure against BNSSG Formulary and commissioning guidance to provide recommendations in order to contain costs.
  • Work closely with the other Principal pharmacists to ensure a consistent pan-trust clinical service.
  • Maintain a good working relationship with other section heads and line managers and equivalent throughout the Trust to contribute to the business planning cycle.
  • Work with the other Principal Pharmacists and managers to further develop and deliver a 7 day pharmacy clinical service.
  • Advise on matters relating to Clinical Pharmacy to ensure safe and effective practices are developed and adhered to.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert

Leadership

  • Responsible for leading the delivery, management and development of the Clinical Pharmacy Service to high standards of efficiency and effectiveness for the specialities.
  • Regularly review Clinical Pharmacy roles in line with skill mix and ensure that staff allocation reflects best practice.
  • Maintain workload and performance records and identify and manage significant variances using key performance indicators (KPIs). Use this information to help further develop the service.
  • Monitor activity, plan and co-ordinate changes necessary for the further development of Clinical Pharmacy services. Identify and negotiate for the resources needed to effect the change.
  • Lead on allocated pharmacy work streams to support local and national initiatives.
  • Acts as a role model for less experienced pharmacists and promote best practice
  • Identify, develop and take opportunities to further improve the service through established and innovative practices

Pharmacy Service Management

  • Lead on the recording, reporting and monitoring of Clinical Pharmacy interventions for the specialities.
  • Responsible for Clinical Governance and incident monitoring, using Radar, within Clinical Pharmacy Services for your specialities and take action to minimise risks.
  • Ensure that the relevant division receives regular reports on finance and governance relating to medicines for the specialities you are responsible for.
  • In conjunction with the Principal Pharmacist Pharmacoeconomics monitor medicines usage and expenditure against BNSSG Formulary and commissioning guidance to provide recommendations in order to contain costs.
  • Work closely with the other Principal pharmacists to ensure a consistent pan-trust clinical service.
  • Maintain a good working relationship with other section heads and line managers and equivalent throughout the Trust to contribute to the business planning cycle.
  • Work with the other Principal Pharmacists and managers to further develop and deliver a 7 day pharmacy clinical service.
  • Advise on matters relating to Clinical Pharmacy to ensure safe and effective practices are developed and adhered to.

Person Specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential

  • MPharm degree or equivalent plus post graduate diploma/MSc in clinical pharmacy
  • Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Completion of leadership or management qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Qualified Independent Prescriber

Work Experience

Essential

  • Significant demonstrable experience of working in hospital-based pharmacy and significant experience as a specialist clinical pharmacist
  • Significant relevant managerial and leadership experience
  • Experience of carrying out audits and the formulation of action plans

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge in order to enhance patient care
  • Ability to successfully develop knowledge in specialist area
  • Relevant IT skills to ECDL level or equivalent
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrates using initiative
  • Ability to manage time, people and resources to deliver timely outcomes
  • Ability to manage change and leading service developments
  • Understand and practice excellent leadership skills
  • Good negotiation skills and the ability to influence senior pharmacy and medical staff and the management team
Person Specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential

  • MPharm degree or equivalent plus post graduate diploma/MSc in clinical pharmacy
  • Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Completion of leadership or management qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Qualified Independent Prescriber

Work Experience

Essential

  • Significant demonstrable experience of working in hospital-based pharmacy and significant experience as a specialist clinical pharmacist
  • Significant relevant managerial and leadership experience
  • Experience of carrying out audits and the formulation of action plans

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge in order to enhance patient care
  • Ability to successfully develop knowledge in specialist area
  • Relevant IT skills to ECDL level or equivalent
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrates using initiative
  • Ability to manage time, people and resources to deliver timely outcomes
  • Ability to manage change and leading service developments
  • Understand and practice excellent leadership skills
  • Good negotiation skills and the ability to influence senior pharmacy and medical staff and the management team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

North Bristol NHS Trust

Address

Southmead Hospital

Southmead Road

Bristol

BS10 5AN


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

North Bristol NHS Trust

Address

Southmead Hospital

Southmead Road

Bristol

BS10 5AN


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services

Thomas Gruar

Thomas.Gruar@nbt.nhs.uk

01174142283

Details

Date posted

20 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum, pro rata for part time roles

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

339-CCS9871-DAC

Job locations

Southmead Hospital

Southmead Road

Bristol

BS10 5AN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

North Bristol NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)