Assistant Director, Medicines Optimisation Delivery Pharmacist

Job summary
Are you an experienced pharmacy leader looking to influence population health at scale? NHS South East London ICB is seeking an Assistant Director, Medicines Optimisation Delivery Pharmacist to lead delivery of medicines optimisation priorities across Lambeth, Southwark and Bromley.Working across organisational boundaries, you will drive innovation, prevention, neighbourhood health service delivery, and community pharmacy integration, to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and maximise value from medicines for local communities.

Why join us?

• Influence medicines optimisation for a population of over two million people.
• Shape delivery of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan through neighbourhood health services.
• Lead a high-performing and innovative team working across multiple organisations and sectors.
• Drive innovation in prescribing, digital transformation and community pharmacy integration.
• Work with senior clinical, operational and strategic leaders with proven track records across South East London.

Main duties of the job
Leading a team of five within a wider system medicines optimisation function, you will be responsible for delivering strategic priorities that improve quality, safety and value from medicines use. You will work closely with primary care, community pharmacy, local authorities and provider organisations to support neighbourhood-based models of care, population health management and reduction of health inequalities.

Key areas of responsibility include prescribing budget management and QIPP delivery, medicines and long-term condition transformation programmes, digital prescribing optimisation tools, workforce development, emerging clinical pathways and the integration of community pharmacy within local health and care services.

You will provide strong professional leadership, build effective partnerships and support collaborative working across organisations to deliver meaningful improvements for patients and communities.

For an informal discussion, please contact Finlay Royle 07825 402907 [email protected] or Clare Fernee on 07958 657772 [email protected]

About us
In 2025, the boards of NHS South East London ICB and NHS South West London ICB took the decision to enter into a clustering arrangement. This means that we share a chair, chief executive officer and an executive team, but we remain as separate, statutory organisations.This also means that the ICBs will share some teams, who will be working across both organisations. Some teams will also be working across both geographical areas and integrated care systems.

This is a period of change for the NHS. The Government's 10 Year Health Plan presents an ambitious vision for a future NHS, with emphasis on the three 'shifts' - from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from cure to prevention - all underpinning the new neighbourhood health service.

ICBs are also changing, with a clear focus on strategic commissioning and delivering neighbourhood working. This is an exciting time to work within our ICBs. We currently have the opportunity both to shape the future of our clustered organisations, and to be part of a radical transformation of care for the local people and communities across south London. And while our two ICBs are different in some ways, improving lives for the people we serve is at the core of what we are both here to do.

Please note as you can only be employed by one ICB, this job description refers to 'the 'ICB', but your role may cover both ICB organisations, and / or geographical areas.

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job description and Person Specification for full details of the vacancy.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 8th October 2026

Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in Pharmacy: currently a masters degree taking 4 years plus one year pre-registration (5 years in total) or equivalent.

Experience
Essential

• Experience and understanding of performance and change management, business planning, budget setting and contracting processes, in a health setting.
• Experience of leading teams and improving team performance

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• The ability to analyse complex issues, to think and plan to achieve both tactical and strategic objectives, and to exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures
• Knowledge and experience of managing significant budgets and delivering financial performance
• Excellent working knowledge of national and local pharmaceutical and prescribing policies, clinical governance, information governance, legislation and guidance which relates to medicines supply, prescribing and practice

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.

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

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.