Senior Pharmacy Technician – Procurement in Luton

The Senior Pharmacy Procurement Technician supports the day-to-day management of medicines procurement services within the Pharmacy Department at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, primarily based at Luton, but cross site days may be required. The role ensures the safe, efficient, and cost-effective supply of medicines across the Trust while maintaining compliance with medicines legislation, national standards, and Good Distribution Practice (GDP).

Key responsibilities include:

• Sourcing and purchasing pharmaceuticals and unlicensed medicines.
• Managing stock levels and maintaining procurement records.
• Maintaining electronic purchasing systems such as EDI and e-commerce platforms.
• Responding to medicine shortages.
• Supporting cost-saving initiatives through effective purchasing strategies and therapeutic rationalisation.
• Working closely with pharmacy, clinical, and procurement teams to ensure continuity of supply and appropriate use of off‑contract purchasing procedures.
• Supervising pharmacy clerks and student technicians.
• Providing training on procurement systems and procedures.
• Participating in dispensary services, weekend and late shifts, and duties as an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT).

Main duties of the job:

• To support in the management of the day-to-day running and provision of the medicines procurement service, ensuring compliance with medicines legislation and GDP.
• To support with the management of drug shortages.
• To develop and maintain the e-commerce functionality and take responsibility for the maintenance of the Powergate EDI system.
• To undertake day-to-day supervision of pharmacy clerks and student technicians.
• To support departmental drug expenditure reduction projects through purchasing and therapeutic rationalisation initiatives.
• To provide training in purchasing procedures and EDI systems use to staff.
• To provide advice to pharmacy and non-pharmacy colleagues on pharmaceutical supply issues.
• Support the Procurement, Homecare & Stores/Distribution Services Manager and the Principal Procurement Technician in ensuring relevant service level agreements and any other contractual agreements are up to date and in place.

About us:

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region, you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

Our values:

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Job responsibilities:

• To provide professional leadership to all staff working within the Procurement and the wider department.
• Working with internal and external colleagues to ensure that service level agreements and operational partnership arrangements are negotiated and delivered effectively to ensure best value for money for the Trust.
• To maintain close links with the East of England (EoE) Procurement Hub in areas of mutual interest and to represent the Pharmacy department at East Anglia and Shires Pharmacy Consortium meetings.
• To proactively identify potential issues arising from medicines supply chain problems ensuring clinical staff are kept aware of the situation via the relevant sub groups.
• To determine pharmacy stockholding requirements and to place and authorise orders for pharmaceuticals in accordance with contractual arrangements and local purchasing policies.
• To be responsible for sourcing and ordering of unlicensed medication, completing risk assessments and quotes for all new items for the approval by the Lead Pharmacist QA or the Principal Procurement Technician.
• To provide assurance that systems are in place to ensure that all off contract purchases are appropriate, recorded and excess costs are claimed back where possible.
• Support the Procurement, Homecare & Stores/Distribution Services Manager and the Principal Procurement Pharmacy Technician in the management of the stock control system to input correct information onto the relevant IT systems for new drug lines, supplier, CMU contract updates, drug shortages and amendments in a timely manner.

Management:

• To help write policies and SOPs in conjunction with the Procurement, Homecare & Stores/Distribution Services Manager.
• To support and manage MHRA and manufacturer drug alerts, liaising with senior members of the Pharmacy team where appropriate, to ensure all actions are completed, documented and signed off.
• To assist Procurement, Homecare & Stores/Distribution Services Manager and the Principal Procurement Pharmacy Technician in the induction and training of Student Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants and other staff as appropriate.
• To play an active role in pharmacy recruitment.

Other:

• To participate in dispensary duties as required, maintaining a working knowledge in current drug usage and dispensary procedures.
• To provide professional leadership to all staff working within the Pharmacy Department.
• To offer support and guidance to junior members of staff working in all areas of the Pharmacy department.
• To work as an Accredited Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) as part of the department's ACPT rota.
• To participate in the weekend, bank holiday and late dispensary shifts in accordance with departmental rotas.
• To liaise with colleagues and professional staff in other disciplines.
• To maintain an active CPD portfolio and to participate in departmental and regional education and training.
• To participate fully in the Individual Performance Review and objective setting process of the Trust.
• To undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the Chief Pharmacist.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent, Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician, Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills, Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science, CIPS Level 3 (or willing to undertake), In-house leadership training (or willing to undertake).
• Experience: Experience in ordering, purchasing and stock-control, Experience resolving supply issues, Experience supporting junior staff, Experience of data inputting - raising orders/invoicing, Previous experience of working with pharmaceutical products, Previous Hospital Pharmacy experience, Experience of using WellSky/JAC stock control system.
• Knowledge: Understanding of pharmacy supply chains, Knowledge of CMU contracts, Knowledge and understanding of medicine stock control systems, Proficient in use of IT, i.e. Microsoft office products, including Excel and working with databases, Knowledge of sales and purchase ledger, Understanding of the need for confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Personal Skills: Strong organisational skills, High accuracy and attention to detail, Positive approach to improvement, Ability to supervise and support junior team members with day to day activity, Ability to organise day to day work tasks for self and others, Problem-solving skills.

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.