The Area Manager will be a key member of our head office operations team, taking full end-to-end ownership of a portfolio of approximately 15 UK community pharmacies bases in South-West London and Sussex. This dynamic role offers the chance to influence healthcare delivery, optimize team performance and ensure exceptional customer service across your designated region. Your energetic approach will inspire teams, streamline processes and uphold the highest standards of pharmacy practice, all while fostering a positive and compliant environment that benefits both staff and patients.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Own end-to-end operations across ~15 community pharmacies, ensuring each branch delivers against service, compliance, and quality standards.
- Drive the implementation of group-wide policies, SOPs and best practice frameworks across the portfolio.
- Monitor branch KPIs including dispensing accuracy, prescription volumes and staff productivity — and respond with clear action plans.
- Lead on branch openings, relocations or service changes within the portfolio.
- Identify and resolve operational issues proactively, escalating where appropriate.
Commercial & P&L Accountability
- Take full accountability for the commercial performance of the pharmacy portfolio, including revenue, margin and cost control.
- Analyse branch-level P&L reports, identify variances and implement improvement plans for underperforming branches.
- Drive revenue growth through enhanced services (Pharmacy First, NMS, EPS, contraception etc) and OTC optimisation.
- Monitor NHS contract compliance and dispensing efficiency to protect and grow income.
- Partner with finance to manage budgets, forecasts and cost-saving initiatives.
- Provide visible, values-led leadership to pharmacy managers and their teams.
- Coach and develop pharmacy managers to build high-performing, capable branch teams.
- Support recruitment, onboarding and retention of branch staff in collaboration with HR.
- Lead performance reviews and manage employee relations matters across the portfolio.
Compliance & Regulatory
- Ensure all pharmacies in the portfolio comply with GPhC standards, NHS contractual obligations, and internal governance frameworks.
- Act as the primary contact for regulatory inspections, audits and compliance reviews.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of CQC, MHRA and NHS England requirements.
- Oversee safe and effective medicines management, including controlled drugs compliance.
- Champion a patient-first culture, ensuring consistently high standards of care at every branch.
- Monitor patient feedback and complaints, ensuring swift resolution and embedded learning.
- Support the rollout of enhanced and advanced pharmacy services to improve clinical outcomes.
Person Specification
- Significant multi-site operations or management experience in community pharmacy or a related healthcare/pharmacy retail environment.
- Demonstrable P&L management experience with a clear track record of commercial delivery across multiple locations.
- Strong people leadership skills — experienced in coaching, managing and developing site-level managers.
- In-depth knowledge of GPhC standards, NHS pharmacy contracts and UK community pharmacy regulation.
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills across a broad portfolio.
- Strong analytical ability — confident interpreting KPI dashboards, financials and operational data.
- Full UK driving licence with willingness to travel regularly across branch locations.
- MPharm degree, GPhC registration, or other relevant healthcare qualification.
- Prior experience working within a pharmacy group of 20+ branches at head office level.
- Familiarity with pharmacy systems (e.g. Apotec, Cegedim Services platform).
- Experience leading operational change or transformation programmes.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Performance-related bonus scheme
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Company pension scheme
- Continuous professional development and genuine career progression
- A collaborative, supportive head office environment within a growing 50-branch group
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