Lead Pharmacist - Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness

Job summary
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and forward-thinking Pharmacist to join the Formulary Team as Lead Pharmacist for Formulary & Clinical Effectiveness for a 1 year to cover maternity leave. This is a fixed term 1 year post.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the Trust's Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness functions. You will work across the organisation and the wider healthcare system to ensure the safe, evidence-based and cost-effective use of medicines.

You will act as the Trust's expert in formulary management, medicines evaluation and clinical effectiveness, providing high-level pharmaceutical advice to senior medical, nursing and operational leaders. The role includes significant partnership working across the system to support alignment of medicines optimisation priorities. You will support the Principal Pharmacist for Pharmacy Commissioning & Formulary and play a key role in the Trust's medicines governance, NICE implementation and strategic medicines optimisation programmes.

Main duties of the job

• To lead the clinical effectiveness and formulary agenda within Pharmacy in accordance with the priorities set by the Trust
• Implement and manage the processes for introduction, approval, appropriate use and audit of medicines ensuring clinical effectiveness
• On behalf of the Trust, be responsible for contributing to the management of the system-wide medicines formulary, including development, implementation and maintenance.
• Provide senior leadership for the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the Trust's Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness functions.
• Work across the organisation and the wider healthcare system to ensure the safe, evidence-based and cost-effective use of medicines.
• Liaise with the relevant senior pharmacy, medical and nursing staff, other allied health professionals (AHPs) and managers to promote safe, evidence based and cost-effective use of medicines.
• Be responsible for the co-ordination, preparation and management of independent reviews of medicines (new and existing) for discussion at the Joint Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (JDTC).
• Provide advanced pharmacist advice and service in relation to Formulary matters.
• Provide leadership in relation to the ongoing development of the medicine's formulary.

About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Details
Date posted: 23 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year p.a. pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 180-B-264135-RE
Job locations: Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B, Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom

Job description
We are looking for an experienced pharmacist with strong leadership skills, advanced knowledge of formulary and medicines governance processes, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders. You will have excellent critical appraisal skills, a commitment to evidence-based practice, and the ability to drive high-quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing across the organisation. You should be proactive, collaborative and able to work effectively across organisational boundaries.

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 2nd August 2026

Interview Date - TBC

Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Masters level degree in pharmacy.
• Registered as a pharmacist with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice or Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (or equivalent)

Desirable

• MSc in Clinical Pharmacy (or equivalent qualification)
• Leadership or management development course.
• Risk management training.
• Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
• Registered Supplementary / Independent Prescriber.

Experience
Essential

• Extensive recent post-registration experience as a pharmacist at band 8a.
• Significant recent experience of formulary processes including pathway development
• Experience of leadership and management of a pharmacy team/ staff.
• Experience of horizon scanning for new medicines and new uses of implementing medicines.
• Highly Specialised knowledge of medicines use across a range of specialist clinical areas.
• Experience of the practical implementation of national guidance in drug use (e.g. NICE).
• Experience of writing professional reports.
• Experience of developing and reviewing shared care guidelines, medicine policies and treatment guidelines.
• Evidence of having written, supervised, conducted and implemented the outcomes of clinical audit or project.
• Experience of interface working with primary care.
• Experience of medicines expenditure analysis and reporting.
• Experience of the management of high-cost and high-risk medicines.
• Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development.
• Experience of working within a regional or national group to implement new or changed guidance.
• Previous management experience with responsibility for pharmacy staff

Desirable

• Extensive recent post-registration experience as a medicines governance pharmacist at band 8a/ 8b
• Experienced pharmacist who has covered a range of clinical specialities in more than one hospital/ICBs.
• Experience of writing a business case.
• Experience of managing and supervising a research project.
• Experience of writing for pharmaceutical or educational publications.
• Experience of leading on implementation of a national development or change in pharmacy practice
• Experience of strategic medicines optimisation with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of participating in medicine related Committees.
• Experience of undertaking economic analysis of medicines.

Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to identify a vision for the delivery of Formulary and clinical effectiveness for the Trust
• Advanced detailed clinical knowledge of medicines and therapeutic trends across a range of specialist areas.
• Knowledge of NHSE, NICE, MHRA and other national guidance/policy related to medicines, Specialist Pharmacy Services, NHSE medication safety alerts and their local implementation
• Knowledge of UK healthcare systems and the NHS including awareness of local and national priorities.
• Computer literate with knowledge of Word, Powerpoint and Excel (or equivalent IT systems).
• Demonstrate awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda
• Knowledge of regulations and legislation relevant to area of practice
• Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems.
• Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems.
• Knowledge and experience of clinical audit methodology
• Knowledge and experience of literature review and excellent critical appraisal skills.
• Knowledge of systems for non-medical prescribing.

Desirable

• Knowledge of electronic prescribing and medicines administration IT systems.
• Knowledge of pharmacoeconomic evaluation techniques.
• Knowledge of private patient pathways in the NHS

Skills
Essential

• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills - showing planning, prioritisation and effective time management.
• Be self-motivated and enthusiastic and able to motivate others.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication and consultation skills.
• Be able to give oral presentations appropriate to the level of the audience, including students.
• Be able to produce high quality written reports.
• Be able to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff including partners and senior stakeholders across the healthcare system.
• Be able to lead, manage and work well in a team.
• Show the ability to empathise with patients / carers.
• Be able to remain calm and work effectively under pressure often to tight deadlines to achieve results.
• Be able to teach, train, coach and mentor a range of staff groups.
• Be able to produce support materials for staff training and development.
• Demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills
• Demonstrate ability to analyse and interpret complex information with a range of facts and use evidence to make sound judgments in relation to patient or drug specific issues in a timely fashion.

Desirable

• Detailed analytical reporting techniques.

Additional Requirements
Essential

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).