Principal Pharmacist: High Cost Drug & Medicine Optimisation
About this job
Job Advert Skip to main content
document.body.className = ((document.body.className) ? document.body.className + ' js-enabled' : 'js-enabled');
Cookies on NHS Jobs
We've put some small files called cookies on your device to help us make improvements to our site.
To improve our site we'd also like to use cookies which will send information to Google Analytics. You can read more about our cookies before you choose.
Accept analytics cookies Do not accept analytics cookies
Menu
Menu Close menu
BETA Your feedback will help us to improve this service.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Principal Pharmacist: High Cost Drug & Medicine Optimisation
The closing date is 12 November 2026
Job summary
Would you like to lead improvements in medicines use and help patients receive safe, timely treatment across hospital and community care?
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced pharmacist to lead medicines optimisation and strengthen collaboration between primary and secondary care. This varied role combines senior pharmacy leadership with 18.75 protected hours each week for commissioned interface work.
Main duties of the job
Working with clinical teams and ICB colleagues, you will improve prescribing pathways, develop shared-care arrangements, lead joint formulary implementation and support appropriate access to high-cost medicines. You will also deliver medicines cost improvement programmes, provide leadership for formulary and homecare services, and contribute professional advice to procurement.
As a member of the pharmacy senior management team, you will help shape service development, support colleagues and turn agreed priorities into measurable improvements for patients.
We are looking for a pharmacist with strong clinical judgement, experience of leading change and the confidence to influence across organisational boundaries. If you are committed to collaborative working, developing people and improving the quality and value of medicines use, we would welcome your application.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
Details
Date posted
29 October 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8b
Salary
£66,582 to £77,368 a year Per annum, pro rota
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
179-8291678-C
Job locations
West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury st Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree or master's level in Pharmacy
- Registered Pharmacist (GPhC)
- Postgraduate diploma or master's qualification relevant to clinical pharmacy practice, or equivalent demonstrable postgraduate learning and experience.
- Leadership / Management qualification relevant to the NHS or equivalent management qualification or experience.
Desirable
- Registered Pharmacy nonmedical prescriber
- Project management qualification (PRINCE 2 or equivalent)
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Significant senior pharmacy leadership experience relevant to medicines commissioning, interface transformation and service management, with acute-care expertise appropriate to the agreed clinical duties.
- Experience of clinical and medicines financial management, including analysis, forecasting and benefits assessment.
- Recent experience of both operational and strategic planning
- Experience of working across the wider health economy including partnership work
- Recent responsibility for managing transformational change programmes
- Knowledge of national pharmacy transformation and medicines optimisation priorities.
- Knowledge and experience of medicines commissioning and HCD funding and approval requirements, using Blueteq or equivalent systems, and homecare governance appropriate to the leadership remit.
- Experience of leading change management processes
- Understanding of challenges present at the interface between primary and secondary care relating to prescribing.
- Understanding of the current challenges facing primary care and the broader NHS.
Desirable
- Experience across acute and commissioner sectors.
- Advanced experience of high-cost medicines commissioning and development of prior approval systems.
- Experience of holding and managing a formally delegated budget.
- Experience of managing and facilitating change
- Experience of communicating highly complex drug information or medicine related information to prescribers, clinicians, where professionals may challenge the advice
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Communication of highly complex information to senior managers, other professionals, and patients
- Proven leadership skills
- Able to demonstrate effective management of staff
- Critical appraisal of medicines evidence, interpretation of commissioning policy and complex financial data, business case preparation and sound judgement when clinical and financial priorities conflict.
- Concentration required frequently interrupted with urgent requests
- Acts appropriately in distressing or emotional circumstances
- Proven ability to influence and negotiate with relevant senior clinicians, managers, and key stakeholders
- Organisational awareness
- Ability to forecast and innovate including long term service planning
- Strong influencing skills and the ability to sensitively handle difficult conversations.
Personal qualities
Essential
- Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious, and emotional needs and beliefs
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree or master's level in Pharmacy
- Registered Pharmacist (GPhC)
- Postgraduate diploma or master's qualification relevant to clinical pharmacy practice, or equivalent demonstrable postgraduate learning and experience.
- Leadership / Management qualification relevant to the NHS or equivalent management qualification or experience.
Desirable
- Registered Pharmacy nonmedical prescriber
- Project management qualification (PRINCE 2 or equivalent)
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Significant senior pharmacy leadership experience relevant to medicines commissioning, interface transformation and service management, with acute-care expertise appropriate to the agreed clinical duties.
- Experience of clinical and medicines financial management, including analysis, forecasting and benefits assessment.
- Recent experience of both operational and strategic planning
- Experience of working across the wider health economy including partnership work
- Recent responsibility for managing transformational change programmes
- Knowledge of national pharmacy transformation and medicines optimisation priorities.
- Knowledge and experience of medicines commissioning and HCD funding and approval requirements, using Blueteq or equivalent systems, and homecare governance appropriate to the leadership remit.
- Experience of leading change management processes
- Understanding of challenges present at the interface between primary and secondary care relating to prescribing.
- Understanding of the current challenges facing primary care and the broader NHS.
Desirable
- Experience across acute and commissioner sectors.
- Advanced experience of high-cost medicines commissioning and development of prior approval systems.
- Experience of holding and managing a formally delegated budget.
- Experience of managing and facilitating change
- Experience of communicating highly complex drug information or medicine related information to prescribers, clinicians, where professionals may challenge the advice
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Communication of highly complex information to senior managers, other professionals, and patients
- Proven leadership skills
- Able to demonstrate effective management of staff
- Critical appraisal of medicines evidence, interpretation of commissioning policy and complex financial data, business case preparation and sound judgement when clinical and financial priorities conflict.
- Concentration required frequently interrupted with urgent requests
- Acts appropriately in distressing or emotional circumstances
- Proven ability to influence and negotiate with relevant senior clinicians, managers, and key stakeholders
- Organisational awareness
- Ability to forecast and innovate including long term service planning
- Strong influencing skills and the ability to sensitively handle difficult conversations.
Personal qualities
Essential
- Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious, and emotional needs and beliefs
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury st Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury st Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Wegdan Mohamed
Details
Date posted
29 October 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8b
Salary
£66,582 to £77,368 a year Per annum, pro rota
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
179-8291678-C
Job locations
West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury st Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
United Kingdom
Supporting documents
Privacy notice
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
Support links
© Crown copyright
Market insight
Explore related jobs
Similar jobs
See all similar jobsAssociate Director of Nursing/AHPs - Community & CSS
Assistant Practitioner
Rehabilitation Assistant
Liver Nurse
Patient Referral Management Centre Coordinator
Staff Nurse
Frequently asked questions
What salary can I expect?
This listing does not show a salary. Similar roles in Bury St Edmunds often pay around 36 751 £ (median of 30 offers).
How do I apply for this job?
Open the original source page and contact the employer there. Finder never charges job seekers.
Are these jobs up to date?
Yes. Finder regularly refreshes vacancies from public sources and removes closed offers.