Associate Director of Pharmacy

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This range is provided by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

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This role offers a unique platform for a pharmacy leader ready to step into a wider strategic position while retaining a close connection to day-to-day clinical services. As Associate Director of Pharmacy, you will help shape how medicines optimisation, governance, and service development evolve across North Devon, while being supported by an experienced leadership team.

With the scope to innovate and the autonomy to drive meaningful change, this role provides both immediate impact and clear, supported career progression. In North Devon, you’ll find not only an exceptional career but also an outstanding quality of life, surrounded by stunning coastlines, dramatic national parks and vibrant, welcoming communities.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced pharmacy leader to join our team as Associate Director of Pharmacy – North. Based at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, you will play a pivotal role in delivering safe, effective, and innovative pharmacy services across the Northern area of the Trust. As a senior member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy leadership team, you will work closely with the Chief Pharmacist, Senior Pharmacy Team, Care Group leadership team, clinical colleagues and managers to ensure high standards of clinical governance, medicines optimisation, and operational delivery.

This role is Band 8C and offers an exciting opportunity for a future aspiring Chief Pharmacist to develop their skills in a smaller department while being supported by an experienced leadership team. You will lead and support the North Devon team through service development to improve patient outcomes.

The Associate Director of Pharmacy (North) is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for pharmacy services across the Northern locality of the Trust, including North Devon District Hospital and associated community services.

• Oversee the safe and effective use of medicines in line with national standards and local policies.
• Provide professional leadership to pharmacy staff, ensuring a culture of quality improvement and excellence.
• Support the delivery of Trust-wide pharmacy strategy following the merger of services across the Royal Devon.
• Work collaboratively with senior clinical and operational leaders to ensure pharmacy services are fully aligned with organisational priorities.

• Develop and implement pharmacy strategies for the Northern locality in alignment with the Trust’s overall objectives.
• Provide expert advice to the Trust Board, senior managers, and clinical teams on medicines management and regulatory compliance.
• Lead on service redesign and innovation to improve patient experience and clinical outcomes.

• Manage and oversee pharmacy operations across hospital and community settings, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and professional standards, including medicines governance and controlled drug regulations.
• Lead on workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and staff development.

• Ensure systems are in place to monitor the safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medicines.
• Lead on medicines safety and incident investigations, working closely with governance and quality teams.
• Oversee pharmacy budgets and deliver cost-effective medicines use while maintaining high standards of care.
• Provide leadership on formulary management, medicines optimisation, and cost-improvement initiatives.

This is a highly visible senior leadership role, providing the opportunity to shape…