NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

Head of Medicines Optimisation HMR

The closing date is 04 March 2026

Job summary

The Head of Medicines Optimisation will lead the medicines optimisation function across the Place-Based Partnership. The post-holder will report to the Cluster leadership team and work closely with the Associate Medical Director(s) and Deputy Place Based Lead to embed the function and successfully plan and deliver the CCPL and medicines optimisation programme aligned to both NHS GM and Place priorities. This will include working with key stakeholders such as the wider Place team's clinical and managerial colleagues, and partner agencies, to lead key aspects of NHS GM clinical and medicines optimisation strategies and plans; specifically service design, transformation and pathway reform through the management of projects and programmes. The post-holder will also contribute to the wider development of the medicines optimisation strategy and plans and lead projects across GM.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Medicines Optimisation will be a key member of the Place-based team and wider medicines optimisation function across GM. The post holder will support the medicines optimisation function to meet the four core purposes of the ICS:

Improve outcomes in population health and healthcare,

Tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access

Enhance productivity and value for money,

Help the NHS support broader social and economic development.

About us

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are partnerships of health and care organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up services and to improve the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in their area. Their purpose is to improve outcomes in population health and healthcare; tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access; enhance productivity and value for money and support broader social and economic development in their area efficiency. This will be delivered in neighbourhood, place, combinations of places and GM system.Working across NHS GM or a designated locality on joint workstreams and initiatives and promoting awareness of Medicines Optimisation issues. This role will require direct travel to GM & stakeholder locations.

Our NHS People Promise

Our NHS People Promise -the promise we must all make to each other, to work together to improve the experience of working in the NHS for everyone. Like many other employers, NHS GM currently has evidence of unwarranted inequalities in the workforce, most notably in relation to minoritised ethnic, female and\or disabled staff and their intersectionality. As a result, we will use positive action measures to bring benefits to our organisation, including a wider pool of talented, skilled and experienced people from which to recruit and a better understanding of the needs of a more diverse range of customers.

Details

Date posted

18 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

896-MED-1077

Job locations

Number One Riverside

Smith Street

Rochdale

OL16 1XU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

Provide senior leadership and work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders across Place to develop and align the Medicines Optimisation plans with Place-based priorities.

Provide pharmaceutical expertise to promote and embed evidence-based, high quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing to improve patient outcomes and maintain a financial sustainable system.

Lead and manage a Place-based medicines optimisation team and further support the integration of the wider pharmacy workforce and services across Place.

Report to, deputise for and support the Cluster Lead to deliver the medicines optimisation function and improve integration across health and care services within the assigned clusters across GM.

Please refer to Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

Provide senior leadership and work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders across Place to develop and align the Medicines Optimisation plans with Place-based priorities.

Provide pharmaceutical expertise to promote and embed evidence-based, high quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing to improve patient outcomes and maintain a financial sustainable system.

Lead and manage a Place-based medicines optimisation team and further support the integration of the wider pharmacy workforce and services across Place.

Report to, deputise for and support the Cluster Lead to deliver the medicines optimisation function and improve integration across health and care services within the assigned clusters across GM.

Please refer to Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • Registered with the GPhC

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of leading a service

Desirable

  • NHS Leadership Academy training or equivalent

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of implementing Medicines Optimisation

Desirable

  • Experience of Medicines Optimisation across systems
Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • Registered with the GPhC

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of leading a service

Desirable

  • NHS Leadership Academy training or equivalent

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of implementing Medicines Optimisation

Desirable

  • Experience of Medicines Optimisation across systems

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).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

Address

Number One Riverside

Smith Street

Rochdale

OL16 1XU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

Address

Number One Riverside

Smith Street

Rochdale

OL16 1XU


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Cluster Lead Pharmacist - North Cluster

Salina Callighan

salina.callighan@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

18 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

896-MED-1077

Job locations

Number One Riverside

Smith Street

Rochdale

OL16 1XU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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