Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems

Job reference:

257496

Salary:

Band 8B (£76,888 - £82,251)

Job closing date:

11/10/2026

Job Type:

Other Therapeutic

Location:

The Balfour

Employment type:

Permanent

Hours Per Week:

36

Job posted date:

16/09/2026

Employer (NHS Board):

NHS Orkney

Department:

• Pharmacy
• Where to find us
• location_on
• Get directions
• Job Advert

About the Organisation:

NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.

Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.

We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.

About Orkney:

With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.

The Position:

NHS Orkney is seeking an exceptional pharmacist leader to join our Pharmacy Team as Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems. This is a rare opportunity, due to internal promotion, to combine clinical leadership, digital transformation, medicines governance and service development in a senior role that will have a direct influence on patient care across the organisation.

As a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, you will lead and develop our Acute Services Pharmacy Team, providing strategic and operational leadership for clinical pharmacy services within Balfour Hospital. You will also have responsibility for the safe and effective operation, optimisation and future development of NHS Orkney's Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) system and associated pharmacy systems.

This is an exciting role for an experienced clinical pharmacist who is passionate about medicines optimisation, service improvement, digital healthcare and leading people. You will work closely with clinicians, service managers and regional partners to ensure high-quality pharmaceutical care, support transformational change and maximise the benefits of technology for patients and staff.

Why Join NHS Orkney?

Pharmacy in Orkney is ambitious, innovative and integrated.

Our pharmacy team works across acute, primary care and community settings, delivering seamless pharmaceutical care across the whole patient journey. We have developed a genuinely integrated model of practice where pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff work collaboratively to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for our island population.

As Lead Pharmacist Acute Services and Systems, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a skilled and enthusiastic team of acute clinical pharmacists.
• Influence strategic decisions relating to medicines, prescribing and digital systems.
• Drive the ongoing development and optimisation of HEPMA and pharmacy digital infrastructure.
• Develop your own specialist clinical practice and prescribing role.
• Contribute to medicines governance, procurement, safety and quality improvement programmes.
• Represent NHS Orkney regionally and nationally through HEPMA, clinical pharmacy and medicines governance networks.
• Support the development of future pharmacists through education, training and professional leadership.You will be joining a service that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, where pharmacy is recognised as a key contributor to modern multidisciplinary care.

Professional Development

We are committed to supporting our staff to develop across all four pillars of advanced practice:

• Clinical Practice
• Leadership and Management
• Education
• Research and Quality ImprovementYou will be supported by experienced pharmacy leaders locally and by regional networks across the North of Scotland, with opportunities to participate in strategic initiatives, service redesign and national programmes.

The Candidate:

We are looking for a pharmacist who can demonstrate:

• Significant post-registration clinical pharmacy experience.
• Experience delivering specialist clinical pharmacy services.
• Strong leadership, team development and change management skills.
• A passion for improving patient care through innovation and digital transformation.
• Experience of service development, quality improvement and project delivery.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Independent Prescribing qualification or willingness to undertake training.

Most importantly, you will bring the vision, enthusiasm and leadership required to help shape the next phase of pharmacy services in NHS Orkney.

Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:

• This post will be based at The Balfour
• The successful candidate will work: Full Time 36 hours per week
• This post is Permanent

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.

Benefits and Salary:

Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?

The salary for this post is Band 8b and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,719 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.

NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.

Further Information:

If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact ork.recruitment@nhs.scot

For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Russell Mackay, Director of Pharmacy by email on Russell.Mackay@nhs.scot

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.

NHS Orkney is an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcomes applications from groups of people currently underrepresented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies.

Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Please note this advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Interviews will be held week commencing 26th October 2026