Principal Pharmacy Technician Stores - Band 7

Job overview

Join Our Team as a Principal Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution)

Are you a pharmacy technician ready to step up in your career? Do you thrive in leadership and want to make a real impact on patient care?

Bedford Hospital’s Pharmacy Department is seeking a Principal Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution) to lead a skilled team in delivering a safe, efficient, and high-quality medicines supply service.

Why This Role?

This is your chance to lead, innovate, and shape pharmacy distribution services. You’ll be at the heart of a fast-paced, patient-focused team, ensuring vital medicines reach those who need them.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and manage pharmacy technicians and assistants.
• Oversee stock control, ensuring compliance with GDP and MHRA standards.
• Improve efficiency through innovation and collaboration.
• Utilise automated dispensing technology to enhance operations.
• Develop leadership skills and drive service improvements.

What you’ll need:

• GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician
• ACPT accreditation
• Leadership and management experience
• Stock control and distribution expertise
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset

• Supportive, innovative team committed to excellence.
• Real career progression and leadership training.
• Staff wellbeing programmes and NHS benefits.
• Collaborative cross-site team ensuring best practice.

Make a difference every day. Apply now and help shape the future of pharmacy at Bedford Hospital!

Main duties of the job

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the pharmacy stores and distribution team, ensuring efficient stock control and compliance.
• Supervise operations, investigate discrepancies, and maintain rolling stock counts.
• Oversee safe medicine distribution, cold chain supply, and temperature monitoring.
• Act as a super-user for automated dispensing systems.

• Manage and train staff, supporting performance and service improvements.
• Ensure adherence to GDP, MHRA, and Trust regulations.
• Investigate errors, implement corrective actions, and drive efficiency.
• Lead risk assessments, drug recalls, and safety training.

• Participate in weekend and holiday rotas.
• Maintain a CPD portfolio and engage in ongoing training.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Provide professional leadership to all staff working within the Pharmacy stores and distribution service.
2. Be responsible for the day to day running of staff activities and service to ensure effective.

1. Organise and prepare rotas on a regular basis to ensure all core tasks are completed.
2. Liaise with the portering team to ensure all delivers are collected and made to the various areas across the trust.
3. Support and deliver the relevant training to all staff working in the stores and distribution area.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification
• Evidence of commitment to CPD
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician

• Membership of APTUK
• Leadership qualification
• Project management qualification or equivalent experience

Experience

• Experience of supply chain management
• Experience of formulating standard operating procedures
• Experience of supervising and training staff
• Extensive experience in a senior stores a distribution role
• Familiar with the stock control systems
• Participation in training staff
• Supervisory skills

• Experience of supporting project management and delivery

Knowledge

• Knowledge of sales and purchase ledger
• Understanding of issues involved in stock control and how to resolve them

Personal Skills

• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Ability to work under pressure whilst maintain accuracy

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.