Lead Pharmacist - Pharmacy Technical ServicesNHS

Job summary

We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic and innovative pharmacist to provide professional and operational leadership to our expanding Pharmacy Technical Services team.

Pharmacy Technical Services is a dynamic and evolving area of practice, that plays a vital role in the safe preparation and supply of complex medicines to patients. Our team prepares and supplies systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) to patients across all four hospital sites within the Health Board and delivers a growing clinical trials service, providing investigational medicinal products to each site. We are currently progressing the development of a new Pharmacy Aseptic Unit, due to become operational later this year, which will further enhance the capacity, resilience and capability of the service.

The post holder will provide operational management of the Pharmacy Technical Services team, ensuring the safe, effective and timely delivery of SACT and clinical trials, while maintaining compliance with all relevant regulatory and quality standards.

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

We welcome applications from candidates who currently don't hold the Postgraduate qualification in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance. Please refer to box 4 for more information to apply under Annex 21 Terms.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the Accountable Pharmacist for the Aseptic Unit, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulatory, quality and governance requirements.
• Oversee the operational delivery of Pharmacy Technical Services, managing workload, staffing and service priorities to ensure the safe and timely delivery of aseptic products and clinical trial activities.
• Lead and develop the Pharmacy Technical Services workforce, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and professional development.
• Ensure robust pharmaceutical quality systems are maintained, including oversight of validation, environmental monitoring, risk management, audits, investigations, corrective and preventative actions (CAPA), and regulatory inspections.
• Lead the planning, organisation and ongoing development of clinical trials services, ensuring the safe and compliant management of investigational medicinal products.
• Provide highly specialised professional advice on aseptic services, SACT preparation, clinical trials and technical services to healthcare professionals, senior managers and other stakeholders.
• Lead service planning, capacity management and service development activities to support the growth, sustainability and strategic development of Pharmacy Technical Services

Job description

The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, organisational and communication skills, with a proven ability to drive change, build effective stakeholder relationships and support the service through this significant period of growth and transformation.

The ideal candidate will hold a postgraduate qualification in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance. However, applicants without this qualification are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will need to attain the qualification within a maximum of two years and will be appointed under Annex 21 rules.

This means they will be supported by a development plan.During the first year, payment will be 70% of the top of Band 8b pay and the second year, 75%. Upon successful completion of the qualification, the post holder will then be paid at Band 8b (minimum point on the scale). Support and supervision will be provided in order to develop the successful applicant to the Band 8b role.Failure to achieve the qualification and required competencies in the designated timeframe could result in implementing Workforce policies.

This post may be included in a forthcoming organisational change process, to create the Transforming Access to Medicines (TrAMs) Service. The nature and timescales of the proposed change will be subject to consultation in conjunction with the All-Wales Organisational Change Policy. There is no anticipated risk to employment due to this change. Please contact the recruiting manager if you wish to discuss this further. More information on the TrAMs programme can be found here: Transforming Access to Medicines - NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 22/10/26

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff, and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private, and third-sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 99 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services