Principal Pharmacy Technician Stores - Band 7
Job Description
Job summary
Join Our Team as a Principal Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution)
Are you a pharmacy technician ready to step up in your career? Do you thrive in leadership and want to make a real impact on patient care?
Bedford Hospital's Pharmacy Department is seeking a Principal Pharmacy Technician (Stores & Distribution) to lead a skilled team in delivering a safe, efficient, and high-quality medicines supply service.
Why This Role?
This is your chance to lead, innovate, and shape pharmacy distribution services. You'll be at the heart of a fast-paced, patient-focused team, ensuring vital medicines reach those who need them.
What you'll do:
- Lead and manage pharmacy technicians and assistants.
- Oversee stock control, ensuring compliance with GDP and MHRA standards.
- Improve efficiency through innovation and collaboration.
- Utilise automated dispensing technology to enhance operations.
- Develop leadership skills and drive service improvements.
What you'll need:
- GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician
- ACPT accreditation
- Leadership and management experience
- Stock control and distribution expertise
- A proactive, problem-solving mindset
Why Join Us?
- Supportive, innovative team committed to excellence.
- Real career progression and leadership training.
- Staff wellbeing programmes and NHS benefits.
- Collaborative cross-site team ensuring best practice.
Make a difference every day. Apply now and help shape the future of pharmacy at Bedford Hospital!
Main duties of the job
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Stores & Distribution Management
- Lead the pharmacy stores and distribution team, ensuring efficient stock control and compliance.
- Supervise operations, investigate discrepancies, and maintain rolling stock counts.
- Oversee safe medicine distribution, cold chain supply, and temperature monitoring.
- Act as a super-user for automated dispensing systems.
Leadership & Compliance
- Manage and train staff, supporting performance and service improvements.
- Ensure adherence to GDP, MHRA, and Trust regulations.
- Investigate errors, implement corrective actions, and drive efficiency.
- Lead risk assessments, drug recalls, and safety training.
Other Responsibilities
- Participate in weekend and holiday rotas.
- Maintain a CPD portfolio and engage in ongoing training.
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.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details regarding the role
- Provide professional leadership to all staff working within the Pharmacy stores anddistribution service.
- Be responsible for the day to day running of staff activities and service to ensure effective.operations of the stores and goods receipt area.
- Organise and prepare rotas on a regular basis to ensure all core tasks are completed.
- Liaise with the portering team to ensure all delivers are collected and made to the various areas across the trust.
- Support and deliver the relevant training to all staff working in the stores and distribution area.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent qualification
- Evidence of commitment to CPD
- Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician
Desirable
- Membership of APTUK
- Leadership qualification
- Project management qualification or equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supply chain management
- Experience of formulating standard operating procedures
- Experience of supervising and training staff
- Extensive experience in a senior stores a distribution role
- Familiar with the stock control systems
- Participation in training staff
- Supervisory skills
Desirable
- Experience of supporting project management and delivery
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of sales and purchase ledger
- Understanding of issues involved in stock control and how to resolve them
Personal Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to work under pressure whilst maintain accuracy
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedford Hospital, Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ
Employer's website
https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)
