Pharmacy Procurement Lead

University Hospitals Sussex; Worthing; On-site; GBP 55,000 - GBP 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS foundation trust in Worthing is seeking a forward-thinking pharmacy technician or pharmacist. This role involves overseeing procurement across multiple sites and ensuring high-quality and cost-effective services. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and analytical skills, with experience in leading procurement teams. Join a supportive environment that values professional development and excellent patient care. Competitive salary offered along with opportunities for growth and leadership support.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in pharmacy procurement is required.
• Proven leadership in team management and process alignment.
• Ability to work with service level agreements and hospital procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead pharmacy procurement across all sites to ensure efficiency.
• Negotiate purchasing agreements with suppliers.
• Monitor service performance and implement savings programs.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Procurement knowledge

Education

Relevant pharmacy qualification

Job description

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Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type NHS
Site Worthing
Town Worthing
Salary £55,690 - £62,682 per annum pro rata
Salary period Yearly
Closing 01/03/2026 23:59

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values . We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research , we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

We’re looking for a forward-thinking, collaborative and innovative pharmacy technician or pharmacist with strong communication and analytical skills, with a successful track record in pharmacy procurement.

You will lead the merging of two legacy sites procurement teams ensuring process alignment and efficient way of working. You will also provide expert procurement advice and input, including monitoring of stock holding, contract changes, quality improvement, efficiency, savings and wastage management- leading and supporting a team of pharmacy technicians and invoicing/ordering staff cross-site.

In return, you’ll join a supportive and forward-thinking pharmacy team with access to professional development and leadership support — helping you deliver excellent care every time.

Main duties of the job

• To lead, plan, manage, develop and participate in the provision of safe, high quality and cost-effective medicines procurement and supply service to the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and to external units via appropriate Service Level Agreements.
• To negotiate purchasing agreements with the Pharmaceutical Industry and other suppliers within predetermined guidelines.
• Work closely with the Purchasing Department to evaluate Controls Assurance Standards and supply management.
• To monitor service performance using an evolving set of performance indicators.
• To be responsible for identification of annual contributions towards Cost Improvement Programme or other efficiency or savings programmes. To implement changes to deliver savings.
• To liaise with representatives of the Pharmaceutical Industry and other suppliers to resolve any issues relating to availability of product, level of service and price.
• To merge the pharmacy procurement teams and processes across UHSussex Trust.
• To support the supply, governance and efficiency of medical gases across the organisation. To be an active member in the Medical and Laboratory Gases Group.
• To be a Responsible Person (RP) for the management of the wholesale distribution authorisation (WDA) and to ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) principles.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

• To lead the provision of pharmacy procurement across all sites of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust.
• To monitor service performance using an evolving set of performance indicators. To maximise the quality and depth of pharmacy related information and reporting.
• To be responsible for identification of annual contributions towards Cost Improvement Programme or other efficiency or savings programmes. To implement changes to deliver savings.
• To ensure the service complies with all mandatory and statutory legislation and to ensure this is evidenced, documented and reported. To have a level of understanding of complex legislation and professional guidance in order to pre-empt any non-compliance or inappropriate service provision.
• To develop a cutting-edge strategy for the service taking into consideration the needs of patients and the Trust management, new ways of working, best national practice, outcomes of external audits and legislative guidance.
• To oversee and manage all purchasing within the Pharmacy department, ensuring that all products are purchased in a timely manner and ensuring adequate stocks are maintained within the Pharmacy departments whilst not letting stock holding value rise, unless by prior agreement.
• To ensure that all pharmaceutical products required by the Pharmacy are purchased at the most competitive rate possible.
• In line with current good purchasing practice, to make full use of CMU negotiated contracts, to develop strategic partnerships with main suppliers and to participate in other purchasing arrangements, for example consortium purchasing.
• To investigate and rectify any anomalies within the ordering and drug receipt process.
• Review relevant performance and benchmarking information in relation to purchasing, implementing any recommendations as appropriate.
• To support the strategic development of the whole of the pharmacy service by working with the Pharmacy Board.
• To ensure that invoices are passed through to Finance Department with a minimum of delay.
• To write and update Standard Operating Procedures for purchasing and receipt
• To be a delegated budget holder for the Procurement Team. To ensure expenditure remains within budget. To ensure the collection of all appropriate income.
• To have a high-level understanding of budgetary management and reporting as well as commissioning arrangements and the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions.
• To monitor pay budget and consider opportunities for skill-mixing or changes in configuration to overcome recruitment difficulties or to improve the efficiency of the area.
• To be an active member of regional and national procurement groups. This involves reviewing tenders and adjudicating all regional contracts. To identify any potential difficulties with regional/national supplies. Liaising with manufacturers to improve supply chain.
• To implement policies and decisions made by the MGC in relation to the purchasing of pharmaceuticals.
• To develop automated methods for order processing, stock receipt and invoice entry onto the CMM Pharmacy computer system.
• To be Responsible Person (RP) for the management of the wholesale distribution authorisation (WDA) and to ensure compliance with GDP principles.
• To be responsible for supplier qualifications under wholesale requirements to ensure Wholesale Licence terms are met.
• To be responsible for recording procurement related quality issues in the pharmacy quality system.
• To take an active part in WDA and Home Office Controlled Drugs licence inspections.
• To ensure purchasing work supports Trust prescribing guidelines and implement changes as necessary.
• To liaise with finance to ensure appropriate accounting arrangements for CMM pharmacy stock control system. To ensure appropriate reconciliation processes exist.
• Membership of medical gases group and support the governance, supply and efficiency of medical gases across the organisation.
• To ensure full use of EXEND and VEND, and any other available tools, by the purchasing team, including opportunities to reduce slow moving lines and avoid wastage.
• To be responsible for waste management in relation to stock lines, seeking and utilising all available opportunities to reduce.

Person specification

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This advert has been capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, it will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in this post to prevent you from missing out on applying for this opportunity.