Pharmacy Manager

Job overview

We are looking for a highly capable, enthusiastic, and motivated Pharmacy Manager with experience in hospital or community pharmacy to join our newly established Newcastle Pharmacy Services team.

Based at the RVI, you will be responsible for leading, motivating and effectively managing a team of pharmacy staff to deliver an effective pharmacy service, with a strong focus on customer service to patients of the Trust.

Full time 37.5 hours per week

Interview date: 19 May 2025

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Pay Date: 25th of the month

Main duties of the job

Working with the Superintendent Pharmacist and Multi-site Manager, you will advise the hospital and its departments on the safe management of medicines, ensuring compliance with current legislation and professional standards. You will be responsible for incident investigation in relation to dispensing errors and patient safety incidents and ensure that staff are appropriately trained to deliver the service.

The management of the daily workflow will be a key priority of this role and therefore we are looking for a candidate with the skills and experience to provide direction and leadership to ensure that key performance indicators are met.

You will ensure that all procedures relating to the supply of medicines are undertaken on a daily basis by the staff in the outpatient pharmacy department.

The post holder will communicate with pharmacy staff, other healthcare professionals and external customers on wide range of queries relating to the supply, availability and cost of medicines (including controlled drugs, unlicensed medicines, and specials); and supply issues or delays.

Working for our organisation

Our new outpatient pharmacy - Newcastle Pharmacy Services - will operate from 1 December 2024 as a subsidiary of the Trust. This follows an announcement from Lloyds in August 2024, that it was withdrawing from its 64 Lloyds Pharmacy-branded hospital pharmacy sites across the country, including those at the RVI and Freeman Hospitals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of Newcastle Hospitals Pharmacy Services Ltd that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

• NVQ 4 / Diploma in Management or equivalent previous practical experienc
• S/NVQ 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent
• Registered with GPhC

• NVQ Assessor qualification
• VDU/Risk Assessor qualification
• ECDL or equivalent.

Knowledge & Experience

• In depth knowledge of all aspects of business management including purchasing procedures as well as the legislation covering the ordering, receipt, invoicing and sales of medicinal products.
• In depth knowledge of pharmacy ordering systems and electronic trading gained through practical experience and training
• Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace
• Extensive post qualifying experience
• Significant practical experience of rotational work in major specialities including Inpatient and Outpatient dispensing, manufacturing and distribution.
• Previous experience of managing staff.
• Previous experience in training others.

• Theoretical knowledge of procurement issues relevant to pharmacy as covered by NHS CMU courses or equivalent.
• Experience with the JAC Pharmacy system and the Powergate electronic trading system
• Knowledge of finance systems and budget control processes
• Practical experience of working as a designated checker
• Experience working in a pharmacy-purchasing environment.
• Experience of Aseptic Services and Cytotoxic reconstitution
• Experience in developing and managing indicators for performance monitoring and auditing

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills within a team environment and proven team building abilities
• Excellent training skills
• Excellent planning and prioritisation skills
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written including understanding the need to respond to emails appropriately
• Negotiation, tact, diplomacy and political skills
• Ability to manage complaints from customers and suppliers
• Demonstrates the ability to identify and solve problems
• Numerate and accurate and able to maintain these skills in a busy environment.
• Ability to calculate discount rates, sales figures, saving, cost pressure, usage patterns etc.)
• Accurate computerised record keeping and excellent keyboard skills
• Able to implement written procedures
• Able to act on own initiative.
• Able to make critical decisions under pressure
• Advanced Microsoft office skills
• Ability to use standard office equipment e.g., telephone / fax machine
• Able to work both as an individual and as part of a team

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of Newcastle Hospitals Pharmacy Services that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.