Job summary
Quality Assurance & Procurement Officer
Department: Pharmacy
Band 5, £31,049 - £37,796 Per annum, pro rata
Hours: 22.5 hours per week, 12 month fixed-term contractNote:all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Quality Assurance & Procurement Officer to join the Pharmacy team on a 12-month fixed term basis.
The role plays a key part in ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective procurement of medicines, alongside the ongoing maintenance and development of our Quality Management System required to support our wholesale activity under a WDA(H) licence. The postholder will work closely with pharmacists, technicians, procurement colleagues and external suppliers to ensure continuity of medicine supply and regulatory compliance.
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
Pleasenote:We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: 30 March 2026
Main duties of the job
As part of this role you will support medicine procurement activities, including managing stock, responding to shortages, and ensuring best value is achieved through effective purchasing and contract adherence. Alongside this, you will contribute to quality assurance activities, including document control, risk management, and preparation for internal and external inspections.
This post is well suited to someone with experience in pharmacy procurement, quality systems and medicine governance, who is organised and committed to patient safety and regulatory compliance. This role would be part of a job share.
To procure medicines ensuring optimal cost effectiveness.To identify and execute medicines savings opportunities.To manage stocks of medicines reducing avoidable wastage.Actively manage supplies of medicines under Early Access Medicines Schemes and Compassionate Use Medicines SchemesTo ensure Trust adherence to the Non-formulary and Unlicensed Medicine processes across the TrustTo maintain and develop the Pharmacy Quality Management System ensuring gaps in compliance are flagged and managed.Participate in external regulatory inspections ensuring availability of appropriate Quality Assurance data
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey:OurCompassionate CultureandLeadershipscores reflect a workplace where kindness, respect, and empathy are the normnot the exception.
Quality AssuranceTo manage quality assurance developments, procedures and other controlleddocumentation, propose and implement changes to accomplish serviceimprovements.
ProcurementExpedites orders for pharmaceuticals and obtains acceptable alternatives tounavailable items, keeping Pharmacy teams and ward staff informed, to maintain theclinical service.
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouragingdiversity,and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date onceenoughapplications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This isin accordance withthe streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Uponcommencingemploymentwith theTrust,allemployees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions)aresubjectto aprobationary periodlastingaperiod of sixmonthswithanoptiontoextendfor afurther sixmonths toatotalof 12months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey:OurCompassionate CultureandLeadershipscores reflect a workplace where kindness, respect, and empathy are the normnot the exception.
Quality AssuranceTo manage quality assurance developments, procedures and other controlleddocumentation, propose and implement changes to accomplish serviceimprovements.
ProcurementExpedites orders for pharmaceuticals and obtains acceptable alternatives tounavailable items, keeping Pharmacy teams and ward staff informed, to maintain theclinical service.
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouragingdiversity,and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date onceenoughapplications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This isin accordance withthe streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Uponcommencingemploymentwith theTrust,allemployees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions)aresubjectto aprobationary periodlastingaperiod of sixmonthswithanoptiontoextendfor afurther sixmonths toatotalof 12months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Knowledge of procurement legislation and policies, acquired through specialist training or experience.
- Evidence of providing advice to colleagues in relation to the procurement of cost effective medication.
- Knowledge of WDA and GDP requirements
- Understanding of Quality Management and its importance to Pharmacy services
Desirable
- CIPS or equivalent qualification
- Management Qualification
- Evidence of ability to plan and organise complex activities or programmes of work requiring planning and adjustment to meet changing needs
Experience
Essential
- Experience of ordering systems and supply chain management
- Hospital Pharmacy experience
Desirable
- Management Experience
- Education and training of staff
- Experience of using the JAC Pharmacy System
- Evidence of ability to create reports or documents including reporting on Key Performance Indicators
- Working with a QMS
Skills
Essential
- IT Skills for monitoring performance and reporting/audit
- Dedication to high quality patient care
- Flexible to meet service and patient need
- Meeting deadlines
- Professional supervisory skills
- Good training skills
- Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
- Evidence of providing effective support for less experienced staff
- Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments
Desirable
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of positive commitment to own development
- Polite and courteous
- Professional attitude
- Self-motivated and team player
Communication
Essential
- Excellent Communication skills, written and verbal.
- Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, carers, colleagues and external organisations about medicines or other technical information
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Knowledge of procurement legislation and policies, acquired through specialist training or experience.
- Evidence of providing advice to colleagues in relation to the procurement of cost effective medication.
- Knowledge of WDA and GDP requirements
- Understanding of Quality Management and its importance to Pharmacy services
Desirable
- CIPS or equivalent qualification
- Management Qualification
- Evidence of ability to plan and organise complex activities or programmes of work requiring planning and adjustment to meet changing needs
Experience
Essential
- Experience of ordering systems and supply chain management
- Hospital Pharmacy experience
Desirable
- Management Experience
- Education and training of staff
- Experience of using the JAC Pharmacy System
- Evidence of ability to create reports or documents including reporting on Key Performance Indicators
- Working with a QMS
Skills
Essential
- IT Skills for monitoring performance and reporting/audit
- Dedication to high quality patient care
- Flexible to meet service and patient need
- Meeting deadlines
- Professional supervisory skills
- Good training skills
- Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
- Evidence of providing effective support for less experienced staff
- Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments
Desirable
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of positive commitment to own development
- Polite and courteous
- Professional attitude
- Self-motivated and team player
Communication
Essential
- Excellent Communication skills, written and verbal.
- Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, carers, colleagues and external organisations about medicines or other technical 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.
