Head of Clinical Trials Pharmacy

Head of Clinical Trials Pharmacy – University Hospital Southampton NHS FT

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for the detailed job description.

Main Duties of the Job

Head of Pharmacy Clinical Trials – University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS).

UHS offers an exciting opportunity to lead our established and highly regarded Clinical Trials Pharmacy team. In this lead role, you will manage a team of over 30 staff, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants, delivering pharmacy services for more than 250 clinical trials across a wide range of clinical specialties. This is a unique and challenging leadership position within pharmacy practice.

You will work closely with UHS Research & Development, collaborate with local NHS trusts, and contribute to national groups shaping best practice in the pharmacy management of clinical trials. The role offers significant scope to influence service development, support innovation, and ensure the safe and effective delivery of clinical trial medicines.

This post is ideal for an experienced pharmacy leader with significant experience in clinical research/trials and service improvement.

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed

Job Description and Main Responsibilities

Leading the Clinical Trials Pharmacy team, you will work closely with UHS Research & Development and provide specialist advice on the pharmacy management of clinical trials. The role supports research activity across UHS and locally, including the Wessex Research Hubs, local NHS trusts, and the University of Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.

Specific to this role is the suitability for agile working which is a mixture of on‑site and remote working. In addition, we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service.

The postholder will be responsible for the strategic development of the Clinical Trials Pharmacy service, ensuring delivery against local and national KPIs, and will be a key member of the senior pharmacy leadership team at UHS.

Essential Prior Experience

• Management of a large, diverse team, including budgetary responsibility
• Experience of working in hospital pharmacy clinical trials or a Research & Development environment

Person Specification Trust Values

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Essential Criteria

• Significant post‑qualification experience in a hospital setting including a management role
• Highly specialised experience within research or clinical trials
• Staff recruitment, appraisal, performance and absence management
• Audit and service review
• Budget management

Desirable Criteria

• Working with agencies external to Trust

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential Criteria

• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience with specialist training/experience in clinical trials or related subject
• Management training/experience to intermediate level
• Good Clinical Practice certification
• Other relevant pharmacy or research qualifications e.g. ACPT, PIPC, Medicines Management

Desirable Criteria

• Leadership training

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Health Care Provider

Industries

Hospitals and Health Care

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