Principal Pharmacy Technician

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Lead, Innovate, and Shape Pharmacy Stores and Procurement

Refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more!

You step into the pharmacy, ready to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective supply of medicines. After a check in with your team, your day begins with a medicine shortage review, using your expertise to source suitable alternatives and liaise with suppliers to maintain continuity of care. You check stock levels, ensuring that essential medicines are available and that procurement processes run smoothly.

This role involves cross-site working between St Helier and Epsom, providing an opportunity to develop a broad range of experience across different pharmacy settings.

At St Helier, you take a hands-on approach, overseeing pharmacy stores operations, reviewing medicine shortages, and using your expertise to source alternative products.

Meanwhile, at Epsom, your role is more desk-based, supporting staff who are managing procurement and distribution of the on-site medicines top-up service. You may also be involved in projects aimed at improving the top-up service, procurement efficiency, compliance, or cost-effectiveness.

Across both sites, you take an active role in staff training and development - teaching best practices for stock top-up procedures, conducting staff appraisals, and ensuring the team is equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver a high-quality service.

Main duties of the job

What You'll Be Doing:

• Staff management - checking staff coverage, managing sickness, and coordinating rotas across sites.
• Overseeing medicine procurement and distribution, ensuring safe and efficient supply chains.
• Managing medicine shortages, using expertise to source suitable alternatives.
• Resolving invoicing and credit issues with procurement senior assistants.
• Supervising pharmacy stores operations at St Helier and supporting procurement staff at Epsom.
• Leading training sessions, mentoring staff on top-up procedures, procurement best practices, and system usage.
• Conducting staff appraisals and supporting professional development.
• Participating in procurement projects, contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Managing pharmacy computer system updates, including contract pricing and stock list maintenance.
• Deputising for the Pharmacy Computer System Manager when required.

What We're Looking For:

• Registered Pharmacy Technician (GPhC) with a BTEC/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
• Experience in medicines procurement, distribution, and stock control within a hospital setting.
• Strong leadership and staff supervision experience, with a focus on training and development.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure.
• Confidence in managing supplier relationships and working collaboratively with clinical teams.

About us

ESTH is an incredibly diverse workplace, which is reflected in our pharmacy team. Celebrating our differences together is something truly valued by all our staff, we foster a supportive and collaborative work environment where pharmacy technicians feel valued and respected for their contributions.

Overall, we have created a genuinely friendly workplace where pharmacy technicians feel supported, valued, and motivated to excel in their careers - and we also love to laugh!

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective medicines management within the Trust. If you're ready to step up and lead, we'd love to hear from you.

Job summary

Lead, Innovate, and Shape Pharmacy Stores and Procurement

Refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more!

Job responsibilities

Please see job description for a more detailed expectation of the post holder including the person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Skills

Essential

• BTEC / NVQ Level 3 or equivalent. Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Post qualification experience of medicines distribution and procurement.

Desirable

• Good IT skills

Experience

Essential

• Extensive hospital experience across various pharmacy departments.
• Experience with the CMM pharmacy computer system.
• Experience in supervision of staff.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of appraisal.
• Knowledge of NVQ process
• Knowledge and experience of contracts/contracting

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.

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

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

St Helier Hospital

Carshalton

SM5 1AA

Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Chief Pharmacy Technician Procurement and IT

£42,939 to £50,697 a year pro rata incl. HCAS outer