At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage pharmacy services for cancer pathways, ensuring quality and safety.
- Company: Join Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, a leader in healthcare innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and continuous quality improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in cancer care while leading a dedicated team.
- Qualifications: GPhC registration and extensive experience in oncology pharmacy required.
The predicted salary is between 68852 - 79638 £ per year.
The post holder is professionally and operationally accountable for the leadership, delivery, quality and safety of all pharmacy services to cancer pathways across the Trust, including systemic anticancer therapy (SACT), outpatient and inpatient services and clinical trials. The role is responsible for the strategic development, operational performance, financial management and governance of cancer pharmacy services, ensuring alignment with Trust, ICS, Cancer Alliance, and national priorities as well as GPhC, Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm), BOPA standards and hospital pharmacy standards. The post holder will ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality medicines optimisation, including oversight of medication safety, cancer medicines expenditure, service performance and workforce capability. As a member of the Pharmacy Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the post holder will lead innovation, digital transformation and service improvement across cancer services.
Main duties of the job:
- Lead and manage all pharmacy services for Cancer Services across the Trust, including systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), inpatient, outpatient and clinical trials services.
- Provide expert professional and clinical leadership in oncology and haematology medicines optimisation, medication safety and cancer medicines governance.
- Develop and deliver the strategic direction of cancer pharmacy services, ensuring compliance with national standards, Cancer Alliance priorities and regulatory requirements.
- Lead and develop the cancer pharmacy workforce, including workforce planning, succession planning, advanced practice development and performance management.
- Manage the cancer medicines budget, including financial forecasting, monitoring expenditure, high-cost drugs and delivery of cost improvement programmes.
- Lead service improvement, innovation, digital transformation and implementation of electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) developments within cancer services.
- Represent the Trust at local, regional and national cancer pharmacy, medicines optimisation and Cancer Alliance forums.
- Act as a member of the Pharmacy Senior Leadership Team, contributing to departmental strategy, operational delivery and organisational objectives.
About us:
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work.
Details:
- Date posted: 29 July 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8b
- Salary: 68,852 to 79,638 a year Pro rata, per annum
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: 252-8131917
- Job locations: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA2 8DA, United Kingdom
Person Specification:
Education and Training Essential:
- GPhC registration as a pharmacist
- Masters level degree of equivalent education
- Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
- Independent prescriber (or working towards)
Desirable:
- Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Member of BOPA
- Management and leadership qualification
- Practice Supervisor Accreditation or equivalent teaching accreditation.
Knowledge and Skills Essential:
- Knowledge of cancer medicines optimisation, including high-cost drug management and commissioning pathways
- Excellent interpersonal, including influencing skills and people management skills.
- Advanced knowledge of cancer medicines
- Broad pharmaceutical knowledge relating to general medicine and core medical specialties
- Knowledge of national and local guidelines relating to specialism
- Advanced computer literacy including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Budgetary control skills
- Awareness of current practice and policy affecting pharmacy practice in the NHS & understanding the NHS structure
Desirable:
- JAC computer skills
- Incident investigation/ root cause analysis
- Risk management
- Knowledge of Quality Improvement techniques
Experience Essential:
- Extensive experience of working at a senior clinical level in a multi-disciplinary hospital pharmacy setting
- Extensive prior clinical experience in Cancer services and chemotherapy
- Previous experience of working in cancer clinical trials including costing and feasibility
- Experience of writing protocols and standards
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary clinical pharmacy setting
- Previous teaching / tutoring experience
Desirable:
- Clinical Pharmacy teaching skills
- Experience of managing budgets and delivering financial targets
- Experience of working at system level with Cancer Alliances, cancer networks or Integrated Care Systems (ICSs)
- Demonstrable use of audit / research to improve practice
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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Lead Pharmacist for Cancer Services employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
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We think this is how you could land Lead Pharmacist for Cancer Services
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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Pharmacist for Cancer Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at National health service!
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How to prepare for a job interview at National health service
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at National health service that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
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If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
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In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
