Job summary
Pharmacy Stores & Distribution Manager
Department: Pharmacy
Band 5 £31,049 - £37,796 Per annum
Hours 37.5 hours per week including weekend and Bank Holiday commitments.
All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to lead our Pharmacy Stores & Distribution team at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) NHS Trust. This is an excellent opportunity to take on a leadership role within a supportive and progressive department, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant supply of medicines across the hospital and to external partners.
As Pharmacy Stores & Distribution Manager, you will oversee day-to-day operations of the pharmacy stores and messenger service, manage stock control and distribution in line with MHRA Good Distribution Practice, and lead your team to deliver high standards of patient care and service.
You will work closely with colleagues in pharmacy, nursing, and other healthcare teams to ensure medicines are available where and when they are needed, supporting the safe and timely administration of critical medicines.
Interested? For further information please contact:
Vivian De Vittoris, Associate Director of Pharmacy - Operations, Quality & Governance at Vivian.devittoris@mkuh.nhs.uk
Joanne Eldridge, Pharmacy Procurement Technician, at joanne.eldrige@mkuh.nhs.uk
Interview 17 October 2025
Main duties of the job
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
o Leading the pharmacy stores and messenger service, ensuring compliance with GDP and Trust policies.
o Managing, supporting and developing staff, including recruitment, training, appraisals, and performance.
o Oversee ward stock management and the top-up service, ensuring timely and accurate supply of medicines.
o Liaising with procurement and clinical colleagues to resolve stock issues, shortages, and recalls.
o Contributing to financial management, service performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
o Supporting Health & Safety, security, and quality assurance in pharmacy stores.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
The main duties include, but are not limited to:
To lead the daily operations of the pharmacy stores and messenger service.
To ensure the stores is compliant with MHRA Good Distribution Practice under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician and Operations lead.
Human Resource Management
All posts with responsibility for managing staff are expected to lead, motivate, develop and reward staff and are required to comply with the Trust's policies and Manager's Code of Conduct.
To be responsible for the personnel management of colleagues within stores tea and pharmacy messenger team.
Education and Training
To contribute to developing a comprehensive induction programme for pharmacy stores and distribution colleagues to ensure all staff are trained to the appropriate level, reviewing, and evaluating training needs on a regular basis.
To act as a mentor for staff within stores and distribution function.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
Job description
Job responsibilities
The main duties include, but are not limited to:
To lead the daily operations of the pharmacy stores and messenger service.
To ensure the stores is compliant with MHRA Good Distribution Practice under the supervision of the Chief Pharmacy Technician and Operations lead.
Human Resource Management
All posts with responsibility for managing staff are expected to lead, motivate, develop and reward staff and are required to comply with the Trust's policies and Manager's Code of Conduct.
To be responsible for the personnel management of colleagues within stores tea and pharmacy messenger team.
Education and Training
To contribute to developing a comprehensive induction programme for pharmacy stores and distribution colleagues to ensure all staff are trained to the appropriate level, reviewing, and evaluating training needs on a regular basis.
To act as a mentor for staff within stores and distribution function.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services
- Specialist training and experience to degree or equivalent level in a hospital pharmacy setting.
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC
- Evidence of ongoing CPD as required by the GPhC
- Proficient use of CMM/JAC computer systems
- Demonstrate experience in prioritisation of medicine supply
Experience
Essential
- Hospital Pharmacy or medicine industry experience
- Developed knowledge of handling of medicines distribution and good distribution practice
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical products, services and safe handling for compliance of regulatory rules and guidance
- Understanding of supply chain management principles and systems for their operation
- Understanding inventory management principles, systems and their operation
- Knowledge of stock control systems
- Experience in troubleshooting medicine discrepancies using multiple systems
Desirable
- Experience of appraising staff and giving feedback
- Project management
Skills
Essential
- Ability to manage time effectively and work to deadlines demonstrated in a previous post
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise self and others
- Experience of writing and reviewing standard operating procedures
- Effective verbal and written communication demonstrated in a previous post.
- I.T. skills such as computer literacy, word processing and spreadsheet skills.
- Communication skills.
- Good presentation skills
- Report writing
- Problem solving
- Good teamwork and ability to work alone
- Leadership skills
Desirable
- Managerial skills
- Demonstrate experience in mentorship and training
Personal and people development
Essential
- Experience of supervising and developing colleagues
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Ability to work on own initiative and effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
- Ability to think strategically
- Applies sound judgment to clinical, legal and ethical issues
- Able to stand for extended periods of time
- Able to cope with short period of moderate physical exertion and moderate to heavy lifting of boxes
- Ability to work positively and calmly under pressure
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Able to lead, motivate and support a group of staff to achieve targets
Specific requirements
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the safe handling and dispensing of cytotoxic medications, including COSHH
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services
- Specialist training and experience to degree or equivalent level in a hospital pharmacy setting.
- Registered Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC
- Evidence of ongoing CPD as required by the GPhC
- Proficient use of CMM/JAC computer systems
- Demonstrate experience in prioritisation of medicine supply
Experience
Essential
- Hospital Pharmacy or medicine industry experience
- Developed knowledge of handling of medicines distribution and good distribution practice
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical products, services and safe handling for compliance of regulatory rules and guidance
- Understanding of supply chain management principles and systems for their operation
- Understanding inventory management principles, systems and their operation
- Knowledge of stock control systems
- Experience in troubleshooting medicine discrepancies using multiple systems
Desirable
- Experience of appraising staff and giving feedback
- Project management
Skills
Essential
- Ability to manage time effectively and work to deadlines demonstrated in a previous post
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise self and others
- Experience of writing and reviewing standard operating procedures
- Effective verbal and written communication demonstrated in a previous post.
- I.T. skills such as computer literacy, word processing and spreadsheet skills.
- Communication skills.
- Good presentation skills
- Report writing
- Problem solving
- Good teamwork and ability to work alone
- Leadership skills
Desirable
- Managerial skills
- Demonstrate experience in mentorship and training
Personal and people development
Essential
- Experience of supervising and developing colleagues
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Ability to work on own initiative and effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
- Ability to think strategically
- Applies sound judgment to clinical, legal and ethical issues
- Able to stand for extended periods of time
- Able to cope with short period of moderate physical exertion and moderate to heavy lifting of boxes
- Ability to work positively and calmly under pressure
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Able to lead, motivate and support a group of staff to achieve targets
Specific requirements
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the safe handling and dispensing of cytotoxic medications, including COSHH
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
