Assistant Director of Medicines Procurement and Optimisation

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic pharmacist to play a key role in ensuring the efficient sourcing, supply, and management of medicines across NHS Wales. This is a critical leadership position responsible for optimising procurement strategies, ensuring value for money, and maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and regulatory compliance.

The postholder will be part of the senior management team for the pharmacy division and have an integral role in influencing the short, medium and long-term goals of the transforming access to medicines programme. Aligned to the aims and objectives of pharmacy delivering a healthier Wales. Plus, recommendations from the RPS independent review - Prescribing Progress:Transforming Clinical Hospital Pharmacy in Wales for Enhanced Patient Care.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated effective leadership and change management attributes from previous roles. It is critical to have a track record of building effective teams as the head of the new medicines value unit to explore outcome and optimisation of medicine utilisation as part of the wider value in healthcare agenda.

They will have a comprehensive understanding of market access for new medicines into the NHS and in Wales. The potential commercial flexibilities that can be applied to ensure maximum population access where unmet need exists and value for the health system.

Main duties of the job

• Lead and oversee the procurement of medicines, ensuring cost-effective purchasing while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies in line with national and organisational policies.
• Work collaboratively with pharmacy teams, finance, clinical leads, and external suppliers to optimise the medicines supply chain.
• Manage contracts and supplier relationships to ensure timely and reliable medicine availability.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and legal requirements, including NHS procurement frameworks (where applicable).
• Provide expert advice on medicines procurement, cost-saving initiatives, and risk management.
• Lead and support a team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Monitor market trends and supply chain risks, proactively addressing challenges.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.

Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people.

Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.

Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone. To find out more about working for us, the benefits we offer and guidance on the application process please visit https://nwssp.nhs.wales/working-for-us/

NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Address

Imperial Park unit 5

Newport

NP10 8BE

Employer's website

https://nwssp.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

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Employer details

Employer name

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Address

Imperial Park unit 5

Newport

NP10 8BE

Employer's website

https://nwssp.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

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