NHS England

Foundation Pharmacist Training Programme Director

The closing date is 02 November 2025

Job summary

We are currently recruiting for Training Programme Directors - Foundation Trainee Pharmacists, to work as part of our innovative North East and Yorkshire School of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for pharmacy professionals to work with training providers and designated supervisors, to support the infrastructure to develop quality assured programmes to ensure a consistent approach to education and training, across sectors.

The role will enable the successful candidate to work as part of the School team, and with other NHS England professional leads to support foundation trainee pharmacists, within the workforce transformation programme in the North East and Yorkshire.

The successful candidate will be accountable to the Head of Foundation and is responsible for providing professional leadership, together with expertise, advice and support.

About us

Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.

Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

  • Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
  • Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential
  • Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
  • Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
  • Delivering value for money

Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

990-NEY-18104-E

Job locations

NHS England Office in North East and Yorkshire

Flexible across North East and Yorkshire Region

LS1 4AP


Job description

Job responsibilities

NHS England leads the NHS in England to deliver high quality care for all. We support NHS organisations to deliver better outcomes for our patients and communities, work to get the best possible value for taxpayers, and drive improvement across the NHS.

The post-holder is responsible for providing professional leadership, together with expertise, advice and support to:

  • Contribute to development of a School of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation strategy and operational plan. The post-holder will lead locally on a foundation trainee pharmacist programme.
  • Lead on the development of policy, process and infrastructure to support workplace learning as a key component of the training programme, in close liaison with Head of School Foundation Pharmacy and the Regional Pharmacy Lead.
  • Lead on quality management of the training programme in selected areas.
  • Actively manage and support local employer- based Educational Supervisors linked to the training programme, through leadership and facilitation of networks, in all sectors and leading cross sector opportunities.
  • Provide professional expertise and input into multi-professional training.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

NHS England leads the NHS in England to deliver high quality care for all. We support NHS organisations to deliver better outcomes for our patients and communities, work to get the best possible value for taxpayers, and drive improvement across the NHS.

The post-holder is responsible for providing professional leadership, together with expertise, advice and support to:

  • Contribute to development of a School of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation strategy and operational plan. The post-holder will lead locally on a foundation trainee pharmacist programme.
  • Lead on the development of policy, process and infrastructure to support workplace learning as a key component of the training programme, in close liaison with Head of School Foundation Pharmacy and the Regional Pharmacy Lead.
  • Lead on quality management of the training programme in selected areas.
  • Actively manage and support local employer- based Educational Supervisors linked to the training programme, through leadership and facilitation of networks, in all sectors and leading cross sector opportunities.
  • Provide professional expertise and input into multi-professional training.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • Educated to Masters' level, or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area, in Pharmacy and healthcare leadership.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Experience of working as a senior pharmacy professional, with extensive knowledge of pharmacy and medicines optimisation.
  • Highly developed subject matter expertise, including knowledge of NHS policy, educational policy and healthcare leadership and management.

Skills, Capabilities & Attributes

Essential

  • Builds stakeholder communication strategies and manage development and delivery of these
  • Capable of effective planning over medium to long-term timeframes, making adjustments and planning for specialty training and resourcing accordingly
  • Contributes to the quality management of the training
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • Educated to Masters' level, or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area, in Pharmacy and healthcare leadership.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Experience of working as a senior pharmacy professional, with extensive knowledge of pharmacy and medicines optimisation.
  • Highly developed subject matter expertise, including knowledge of NHS policy, educational policy and healthcare leadership and management.

Skills, Capabilities & Attributes

Essential

  • Builds stakeholder communication strategies and manage development and delivery of these
  • Capable of effective planning over medium to long-term timeframes, making adjustments and planning for specialty training and resourcing accordingly
  • Contributes to the quality management of the training

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 England

Address

NHS England Office in North East and Yorkshire

Flexible across North East and Yorkshire Region

LS1 4AP


Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

NHS England Office in North East and Yorkshire

Flexible across North East and Yorkshire Region

LS1 4AP


Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Pharmacy WT&E Regional Lead

David Gibson

david.gibson25@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

990-NEY-18104-E

Job locations

NHS England Office in North East and Yorkshire

Flexible across North East and Yorkshire Region

LS1 4AP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

NHS England's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)