Band 8b Lorn & Islands Hospital, Oban Full Time | Permanent
Shape the Future of Pharmacy Services in Rural and Islands Healthcare
Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership is seeking an exceptional Clinical Pharmacy Team Manager to lead and develop pharmacy services at Lorn & Islands Hospital, Oban. The Lorn & Islands Hospital is a 46-bed Rural General Hospital providing a wide range of acute and specialist services, including medical, surgical, HDU, oncology and haematology care.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced and ambitious pharmacist to take on a senior leadership role within NHS Highland, influencing pharmacy practice across hospital and integrated care services during a period of significant service transformation and professional development. Drawing on your extensive clinical expertise, leadership skills and strategic vision, you will help shape the future delivery of pharmaceutical care within one of Scotland's most distinctive rural and island healthcare settings.
Based in Oban, the gateway to Scotland's west coast islands, this role combines an outstanding quality of life with the opportunity to lead innovative, patient-centred pharmacy services that make a real difference to the communities we serve. A relocation package is available in line with the NHS Highland relocation policy.
About The Role
As Clinical Pharmacy Team Manager, you will provide professional, clinical and operational leadership for pharmacy services within Lorn & Islands Hospital. You will lead the pharmacy team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred pharmaceutical care while driving service development in line with local and national priorities. The post combines strategic leadership responsibilities with advanced clinical practice, clinical governance, medicines optimisation and workforce development.
Working closely with medical, nursing and allied health professional colleagues, you will:
- Lead, manage and develop the clinical pharmacy service at Lorn & Islands Hospital.
- Provide visible professional leadership to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff.
- Deliver highly specialised pharmaceutical care and independent prescribing within your area of expertise.
- Lead service improvement, quality assurance, research and audit programmes.
- Provide expert advice on medicines optimisation, governance and prescribing practice.
- Lead workforce development, education and training initiatives.
- Contribute to the development of advanced practice and prescribing services.
- Represent Argyll & Bute HSCP at local, regional and national professional forums.
- Provide expert strategic advice at Hospital, HSCP, NHS Highland and national level.
- The successful candidate will also deputise for the Associate Director of Pharmacy and have opportunities to contribute to wider strategic developments across NHS Highland pharmacy services.
About You
We are looking for a motivated and forward-thinking pharmacy leader who can inspire others, deliver change and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Essential Qualifications
- Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree or equivalent.
- Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Postgraduate qualification at Master's level (or equivalent) in a recognised area of pharmacy practice.
- Independent Prescriber qualification.
Essential Experience
- Extensive clinical pharmacy experience across one or more areas of practice.
- Significant post-registration experience working at an advanced level.
- It would be highly desirable for the candidate to be credentialed by Royal College of Pharmacy to Advanced Practice level.
- Significant independent prescribing experience.
- Proven leadership and team management experience.
- Experience of service redesign, quality improvement and change management.
- Experience of delivering education, training and workforce development.
- Experience of research, clinical audit and service evaluation.
Essential Skills
- Advanced clinical and professional knowledge.
- Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to influence, negotiate and build effective relationships across professional boundaries.
- Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Understanding of NHS systems, governance arrangements and healthcare policy.
- Commitment to person-centred care and continuous improvement.
Our Values
NHS Highland Is Committed To Delivering Person-centred, Safe And Effective Care. We Are Looking For Leaders Who Demonstrate Our Values Of
- Care and Compassion
- Dignity and Respect
- Openness, Honesty and Responsibility
- Quality and Teamwork
Informal Enquiries
Informal enquiries are welcomed and encouraged.
Applications are welcomed from suitably experienced pharmacists who wish to undertake this post on a secondment basis. This is an excellent opportunity to develop senior leadership, strategic management and advanced clinical practice skills within a supportive and innovative healthcare environment. Candidates considering a secondment should discuss this opportunity with their current line manager before applying.
For further information about the post, please contact Fiona H Thomson, Associate Director of Pharmacy Argyll & Bute HSCP.
fiona.thomson5@nhs.scot; mobile 07881 842363
Additional Information For Candidates
- Effective from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reduced from 37 to 36 hours. Part-time hours will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis. There will be an increase in the hourly rate to ensure that pay remains unaffected.
- Applications are welcome from Gaelic speakers. / Tha fàilte air tagraidhean bho luchdlabhairt na Gàidhlig.
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NHS Highland is geographically the largest of the 14 regional boards of NHS Scotland, covering an area of 12,500 square miles, across Highland and Argyll & Bute.
We employ over 10,700 people, making us one of the biggest employers in the area. As an organisation, we make a very significant contribution to the local economy.
Our staff are also important members of our communities. Our greatest asset is our workforce, and the way we go about our work comes from the values and behaviours we demonstrate on a daily basis. As a board we strive to ensure the environment is conducive to nurturing a positive culture, supported and delivered through .