Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Lead Pharmacist to join our team.This is a full-time remote role with regular national travel to our services.
As Lead Pharmacist you will be the subject matter expert in medicines management for Newmedica and will also act as the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO).
Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Head of Quality and Patient Safety, you will act as dedicated central support to develop,lead and embed effective medicines management governance across Newmedica sites.
Your remit will include developing and aligning policies, overseeing compliance and auditing, delivering onsite training, supporting meetings at a senior level, and providing line management to the Support Pharmacist.
In this role, you will play a key part in embedding and strengthening policies and procedures relating to pharmacy services. This includes the dispensing of medication, maintaining medicines security and storage, and ensuring adherence to our formulary.
You will work to align governance processes and medicines pathways across the organisation, regularly reviewing and updating policies to ensure they meet regulatory and best practice standards.
You will develop and oversee PGD processes and Non-Medical Prescribers governance, lead the development of our in-house formulary, and carry out compliance visits and data analysis to support continuous improvement.
A significant part of the role will involve securing senior level approval for proposed changes, implementing new processes, and providing effective coaching and training to ensure consistent adoption across all sites.
You will attend and produce reports for relevant committees and act as an influential advisor, building strong relationships and managing challenging conversations with confidence.
About us
Newmedica are one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatients appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.
We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country.
We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues to tell us what it's like to work here, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year running. The feedback has directly contributed to Newmedica being listed among the UKs top 50 Best Workplace for 2025.
Job description
Job responsibilities
ROLE SUMMARY
To act as a dedicated central support for the Newmedica business developing and embedding governance, policies and procedures for effective medicines management at our Ophthalmology Joint Ventures (OJVs)and managed service sites.This will include compliance visits, on-site training, attending relevant meetings and providing line management to the Support Pharmacist.
To be the subject matter expert in medicines management for the organisation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (include but not limited to):
- Embedding the current policy and procedures pertaining to pharmacy services including the dispensing of medication,medicine security and storage and our formulary
- Updating alignment of governance and pathways across the business
- Updating relevant policies to ensure adherence to regulations and best practice
- Obtaining Executive/Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) sign off for process changes and updates, rolling out and embedding new ways or working with all the OJV and managed service sites obtaining buy in through effective training and coaching sessions
- Producing reports for the relevant committees
- Managing the PGD and Non-Medical Prescribers processes
- Developing the in-house Formulary
- Acting as the Controlled Drug Accountable Office (CDAO)
Job description
Job responsibilities
ROLE SUMMARY
To act as a dedicated central support for the Newmedica business developing and embedding governance, policies and procedures for effective medicines management at our Ophthalmology Joint Ventures (OJVs)and managed service sites.This will include compliance visits, on-site training, attending relevant meetings and providing line management to the Support Pharmacist.
To be the subject matter expert in medicines management for the organisation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (include but not limited to):
- Embedding the current policy and procedures pertaining to pharmacy services including the dispensing of medication,medicine security and storage and our formulary
- Updating alignment of governance and pathways across the business
- Updating relevant policies to ensure adherence to regulations and best practice
- Obtaining Executive/Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) sign off for process changes and updates, rolling out and embedding new ways or working with all the OJV and managed service sites obtaining buy in through effective training and coaching sessions
- Producing reports for the relevant committees
- Managing the PGD and Non-Medical Prescribers processes
- Developing the in-house Formulary
- Acting as the Controlled Drug Accountable Office (CDAO)
Person Specification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of pharmacy regulations
- Leadership and delivery of medicines services and strong knowledge of legal frameworks
- Skilled in stakeholder management
- Comfortable at challenging others where necessary and obtaining buy in
- Able to confidently have difficult conversations
- A keen attention to detail
Qualifications
Essential
- GPhC registered Pharmacist
Experience
Essential
- Experience gained in secondary care
- Experience in a senior management role (NHS band 8 a-b upwards)
- Experience of medicines governance
- Experience in pharmacy compliance and auditing
- Experience of policy development
- Experience in coaching others
Desirable
- Experience in Ophthalmology (desirable)
- Project management experience (desirable)
Person Specification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of pharmacy regulations
- Leadership and delivery of medicines services and strong knowledge of legal frameworks
- Skilled in stakeholder management
- Comfortable at challenging others where necessary and obtaining buy in
- Able to confidently have difficult conversations
- A keen attention to detail
Qualifications
Essential
- GPhC registered Pharmacist
Experience
Essential
- Experience gained in secondary care
- Experience in a senior management role (NHS band 8 a-b upwards)
- Experience of medicines governance
- Experience in pharmacy compliance and auditing
- Experience of policy development
- Experience in coaching others
Desirable
- Experience in Ophthalmology (desirable)
- Project management experience (desirable)
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).
