Head of Education & Training (Full-time, Permanent)
Location: St Albans / Hybrid
Do you have significant senior leadership experience in learning, education, or training?
Do you have proven track record of managing a portfolio of products or services?
Do you have experience using data and customer insight to inform strategy and decision making?
Do you have strong understanding of quality assurance and assessment frameworks?
Then we have the perfect role for you!
The role
- Embed a product and category-led mindset across the learning and development function, ensuring all decisions are informed by customer need, market demand, and commercial viability.
- Take a strategic approach to the development and evolution of the portfolio by:
- Anticipating future trends in pharmacy practice, education, and workforce development, and translating these into forward-looking learning solutions
- Making balanced, evidence-based decisions that consider time, cost, and quality, ensuring efficient and sustainable delivery
- Defining and implementing pricing strategies that reflect market position, value, and commercial objectives
- Determining the most effective route to market for new and existing products, including whether to develop in-house, partner, or procure externally
- Ensuring all products are designed and managed with a clear focus on member/customer experience, usability, and impact
- Drive a culture where learning provision is viewed not only as education delivery, but as a strategic product portfolio, continuously evolving to meet member needs and market opportunities.
- Lead the development of learning and development solutions that meet the needs of pharmacy businesses as well as individual learners. Ensure the NPA offers relevant, flexible, and commercially viable services for employers, including the potential for bespoke or tailored programmes.
- Oversee the NPA’s learning provision delivered in partnership with universities and other institutions and partners, ensuring programmes are high quality, well-integrated, and aligned to both academic and professional requirements.
- Oversee the design and delivery of learning across digital, blended, and face-to-face formats. Ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility across all programmes, embedding best practice in instructional design and learner experience.
- Provide leadership and assurance over assessment strategy and quality processes. Ensure all programmes are robust, fair, and aligned to required standards, maintaining confidence in the integrity and outcomes of NPA qualifications and training.
- Ensure that all learning provision meets the requirements of relevant regulatory and awarding bodies, including alignment with General Pharmaceutical Council standards where applicable. Maintain readiness for audit, accreditation, and external review.
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, setting clear expectations and fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture. Ensure the function has the capability and structure to deliver against its strategic and operational objectives.
- Hold accountability for the financial performance of the learning and development function, including budget management and cost control. Support the development of a scalable and sustainable training offer.
Key facts
Hybrid-working pattern: Home working blended with at least 1 day per week working at the NPA's Head Office, just outside of London.
Availability: Immediate or very short notice.
The candidate
Your key attributes:
- Significant senior leadership experience in learning, education, or training
- Proven track record of managing a portfolio of products or services
- Experience using data and customer insight to inform strategy and decision making
- Strong understanding of quality assurance and assessment frameworks
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
- Familiarity with apprenticeship and work-based learning models
- Experience operating within a regulated or accredited environment
- Significant experience of managing change and team or departmental transformation.
- Experience within healthcare, pharmacy, or professional education
The organisation
The National Pharmacy Association is the representative body for the independent community pharmacy sector across the four nations of the UK and the provider of support, services and activities to community pharmacies and their teams.
Interested?
Please submit your application, attaching your CV, or contact Peopleteam@npa.co.uk if you have any questions.
Our privacy policy is available on our website: www.npa.co.uk
We encourage applications from all sections of the community. Furthermore, qualifications and/or experience identified are indicative. We will consider applications from candidates who have comparable qualifications and/or experience for the role advertised.
Head of Education & Training employer: National Pharmacy Association
The National Pharmacy Association is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With a hybrid working model based in St Albans, employees benefit from a balanced work-life environment while contributing to a meaningful mission of supporting independent community pharmacies. Join us to be part of a not-for-profit organisation that values outstanding customer service and fosters strong relationships within the community.
Contact Details:
National Pharmacy Association Recruitment Team
