About this role
Job summary
An exciting new opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Clinical Trials Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician to lead and develop the business, financial, and management of our large Clinical Trials Pharmacy service. This is a senior leadership role with a strong commercial and strategic focus. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the sustainability, growth, and financial performance of the clinical trials portfolio while maintaining high standards of governance and patient safety.
We are therefore looking for someone with proven leadership and management skills and business acumen, who will be able to work well with the current operational clinical lead , pharmacy, finance and clinical colleagues. We are also looking for someone with strategic vision who can work with the pharmacy leadership team to develop future growth plans, demonstrate achievement of KPIs and ensure relevant national and local standards are met.
Our Trust is committed to supporting growth in research in a wide variety of specialties and this a great time to join the trust with the commitment to increase our number of research with the new Sir Bobby Robson Institute build that started in April 2026.
Interview Date Thursday 18 June 2026 30 Hours/Week You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
Strategic Leadership
Lead the development and delivery of the Clinical Trials Pharmacy business strategy Identify and maximise opportunities for portfolio growth, income generation, and service expansion Act as a senior advisor on clinical trials pharmacy matters across the organisation
Financial Management
Take responsibility for budgeting, financial planning, and reporting for the clinical trials service Develop robust costing models for commercial and non-commercial trials Ensure accurate pricing, invoicing, and recovery of trial-related costs Deliver financial efficiencies while maintaining service quality
Business Development
Build strong relationships with commercial sponsors, CROs, and research partners Lead negotiations for pharmacy service agreements and cost recovery Drive innovation in service delivery models to enhance competitiveness
Governance & Quality
Ensure compliance with GCP, regulatory standards, and Trust policies Maintain robust governance systems to support safe and compliant trials delivery Lead audits, inspections, and continuous quality improvement initiatives Ensure readiness for MHRA and sponsor inspections
If you want to join a large Trust committed to growth in research and dynamic change, this could be the role for you!
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Freeman Hospital Newcastle Dental Hospital Cramlington Manor Walks Urgent treatment centres Newcastle Fertility Centre Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria Northern Genetics Service These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description Job responsibilities
To optimise clinical trials commercial income To manage the day-to-day operations of Pharmacy Clinical Trialso Delivery of Directorate performance targets and budget managemento The leadership and oversight of all technical staff within Pharmacy Clinical Trialso The direct line management of senior technical staff working within Pharmacy Clinical Trials Responsible for the delivery of Pharmacy Clinical Trials Contribute to the Pharmacy Leadership Team meetings involving the Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Directors of Pharmacy. Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within Pharmacy Clinical Trials (e.g. time to set up a commercial clinical trial) taking corrective action if required to ensure targets are achieved. Report KPIs at monthly pharmacy governance meetings Implement agreed strategic changes within Pharmacy Clinical Trials Work alongside the Deputy and Assistant Directors of Pharmacy and the Lead Clinical Pharmacists to ensure optimal delivery of pharmacy services. Ensure all relevant standards relating to Pharmacy Clinical Trials met:o RPS standardso CQC standardso MHRA standardso Trust and Regional Pharmacy Standardso Drug alert and recalls.o Health and safety of the work environmento Controlled drug processeso Risk Management To undertake the role of a registered pharmacy technician or pharmacist.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education Essential
Master of Pharmacy or Postgraduate management qualification to Master's Level or relevant management experience Management diploma or equivalent in work experience Registered with GPhC Recognised qualification to check dispensed medicines
Desirable
Management qualification e.g. NVQ level 4 Project management qualification (PRINCE 2)
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Specialist knowledge and understanding of all aspects of pharmacy clinical trials, supported by significant practical experience Specialist knowledge of current NHS policies affecting Pharmacy Leadership and management strategies Specialist knowledge as a Pharmacy operational lead Experience of generating and delivering commercial income from clinical trials Sound understanding of confidentiality and IG How to write (and version control) SOPs / policies Requirements of training and development programmes How to manage performance, sickness and implement HR policies How to deliver Cost Improvement Strategies Evidence of professional CPD Significant experience of working as a manager in hospital pharmacy with experience of budgetary management Understanding of key performance targets, measures, clinical and corporate governance requirements Significant experience of successful operational staff deployment, prioritisation, managing rotas and adapting working patterns to align with service need Significant experience of leading, managing and empowering staff to deliver change and to be resilient to service pressures / conflict Project management experience (delivered on time within budget) Improving staff experience and engagement Significant experience of objective setting, staff appraisal and performance management Significant experience of error monitoring and responding to complaints Producing written reports, letters, meeting notes and action plans Monitored implementation of SOPs / compliance in practice
Desirable
Implementation and assessment of audits Experience across a wide range of pharmaceutical services Evidence of understanding of Trust Business Experience of working in the Trust previously
Skills & Abilities Essential
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail Highly skilled negotiator Ability to work under pressure, managing multiple projects to tight deadlines Strong people management, mentoring, influencing, negotiating, delegating and leadership skills. Ability to handle conflict and overcome resistance to change Good organisational / project management skills, effective time management with ability to make decisions and prioritise Patient / service user focused attitude and ability to manage expectations Adaptable to changes in working environment / processes Ability to work on own or as part of a team Analysis of budget statements and tracking reports
Desirable
Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
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 The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Trustwide
317 Trustwide
NE1 4LP
Employer's website https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)