Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Chief Pharmacist & Clinical Director for Medicines Optimisations

The closing date is 22 October 2025

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Job summary

Are you a visionary pharmacy leader passionate about improving mental health services through medicines optimisation? Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) is seeking a dynamic and experiencedChief Pharmacist and Clinical Director for Medicines Optimisationto lead our pharmacy services and drive strategic improvements in medicines management across the Trust.

This is a pivotal role offering the opportunity to shape the future of pharmaceutical care in mental health, working closely with executive leadership, clinical teams, and external partners.

Main duties of the job

About YouYou will be a registered pharmacist with:

  • A Master's degree in Pharmacy.
  • Membership of the General Pharmaceutical Council and Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
  • A postgraduate clinical qualification and formal leadership/management training.
  • Extensive experience in NHS pharmacy leadership, ideally within mental health.
  • Strong analytical, communication, and strategic planning skills.
  • A commitment to NSFT's values: Team, Accountable, Learn and Improve, Kind.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic leadership of pharmacy services and medicines optimisation across NSFT.
  • Professional lead for medicines governance, safety, and compliance.
  • Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs.
  • Oversight of the Trust's formulary, prescribing policies, and medicines optimisation group.
  • Lead on pharmacy input into the Trust's Efficiency, Value and Improvement (EVI) programme.
  • Management of pharmacy budgets and workforce planning.
  • Championing quality improvement, clinical governance, and patient safety initiatives.

About us

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Details

Date posted

08 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year gross per annum (pro rata).

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

246-COR7413763

Job locations

County Hall

Norwich

NR1 2DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role involves regular travel across Trust sites and participation in strategic meetings. You will be expected to lead service development, respond to complex clinical and governance issues, and represent the Trust at regional and national forums.

Apply NowIf youre ready to make a lasting impact on mental health services and lead a high-performing pharmacy team, wed love to hear from you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role involves regular travel across Trust sites and participation in strategic meetings. You will be expected to lead service development, respond to complex clinical and governance issues, and represent the Trust at regional and national forums.

Apply NowIf youre ready to make a lasting impact on mental health services and lead a high-performing pharmacy team, wed love to hear from you.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Master's degree in pharmacy
  • Formal management or leadership qualification
  • Demonstrates continual professional development

Desirable

  • MBA or MSc relevant to management
  • Non-medical prescribing qualification

Expereince

Essential

  • Extensive pharmacy and NHS management experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience as a Chief Pharmacist

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of medicines legislation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Master's degree in pharmacy
  • Formal management or leadership qualification
  • Demonstrates continual professional development

Desirable

  • MBA or MSc relevant to management
  • Non-medical prescribing qualification

Expereince

Essential

  • Extensive pharmacy and NHS management experience

Desirable

  • Previous experience as a Chief Pharmacist

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of medicines legislation

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

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

County Hall

Norwich

NR1 2DH


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

County Hall

Norwich

NR1 2DH


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Medical Officer

Faisil Sethi

Faisil.sethi@nsft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

08 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year gross per annum (pro rata).

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

246-COR7413763

Job locations

County Hall

Norwich

NR1 2DH


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