About this role
Job summary
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts; the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Southeast Integrated Care Boards
The Deputy Director for Medicines Optimisation - Strategic Commissioning is a senior leader within the ICB's CMO directorate, supporting the ICB Chief Pharmacist in delivering strategic commissioning responsibilities for medicines and pharmacy. The role is pivotal in shaping medicines commissioning strategies, pathway redesign, and system-wide transformation, aligned with the NHS 10 Year Plan. The postholder leverages data insights to inform commissioning decisions, focusing on population health, digital innovation, and outcomes-based approaches.
Main duties of the job
Lead and deliver strategic commissioning plans, managing substantial budgets to ensure value, sustainability, and improved outcomes. Oversee and contract manage the commissioned/delegated Medicines Optimisation delivery unit including shaping the future direction of commissioning for neighbourhood teams with respect to medicines and prescribing. Provide authoritative leadership for pathway redesign, service transformation, and clinical stewardship (including but not limited to Antimicrobial Stewardship and the management of Controlled Drugs). Oversee financial stewardship, workforce planning, and performance management in line with ICB objectives. Champion stakeholder engagement, effective communication, and collaborative partnerships across the health system. Ensure compliance with governance, equality, safeguarding, and information standards.
About us
We are committed to a culture that supports all staff at NHS Kent and Medway to be the best version of themselves.
Our ability to improve outcomes for our population depends on how effectively clinical, operational, financial and strategic professionals work together to make informed commissioning decisions. That's why our workforce works a minimum of two days-a-week on-site, with the expectation that all one-to-ones are held face-to-face and that colleagues will regularly visit the services we are commissioning to understand more about them.
We believe regular on-site working supports stronger collaboration, faster problem-solving, peer learning, visible leadership and the integration of colleagues into our organisation. We also know that culture is built through shared experiences and day-to-day interactions.
We are a flexible working friendly organisation; we aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.
We work with staff to agree objectives through regular supervision, annual appraisal and access to training opportunities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity. In order to reflect the diversity of our population, we positively encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Job description Job responsibilities
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
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All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience Essential
Significant experience in pharmaceutical/prescribing advice in primary care
Qualifications and Experience Essential
Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent
Qualifications and Experience Essential
Proven leadership in complex healthcare environments, with expertise in commissioning, financial management, and service transformation.
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 NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board
Address Gail House
Maidstone
ME15 6NB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)