Group Medications Services Manager

About Us

Mereside Medical is a flourishing group of three East Cambridgeshire practices in Ely, Haddenham and Soham, together serving c.45,000 patients. As a group, we’ve grown rapidly and now employ more than 170 people across the three practices. We are people-centred in our approach to work and believe that every contact that a patient has with our staff is as valuable as the next in the patient journey. We believe in clinical excellence, and that general practice is the cornerstone of well-being in our community. We are innovative and forward-looking, and we embrace technology to enable more effective, efficient, and connected ways of working to deliver ever better outcomes for our patients.

Our goal is to deliver on the ambitions laid out in the NHS 10 year Health Plan for England in a way that is locally relevant, valued by patients, and satisfying for our staff. In addition to our core general practice work we run a large clinical research trials unit and we work closely with the ICB to develop innovative ways to improve local service provision. We are the lead practice for one of the two local PCNs and are represented in both.

We are proud to be the host organisation for the NIHR Greater Cambridge & Suffolk Commercial Research Delivery Centre (Primary Care), one of only 14 in England. This prestigious designation recognises our commitment to accelerating commercial clinical research delivery for health and economic benefit across our region.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and working closely with Mereside’s five Partners, you will lead and manage all medications related services and operations across our three-practice group. You will be a pivotal member of the Group Operations team, also contributing to the wider strategic direction and culture of the organisation.

This role will bring our Practice dispensaries, drugs procurement, and Medicines Technicians teams together with the PCN clinical pharmacy team for the first time. A key early priority will be to build strong relationships across all teams and Partners, supporting the development of a clear, joined‑up approach that enables these functions to work cohesively and align effectively with the wider service.

The long-term purpose of the role is to deliver a more cohesive service to patients as efficiently and effectively as possible, while driving financial performance and operational excellence.

Your Responsibilities

Strategic Direction

• Work collaboratively with Partners and the wider Operations Team, contributing to the design and implementation of the long term strategic direction, culture, and values of the organisation
• Develop and articulate a vision for the Medications Services function as a whole which reflects and responds to the collective experience of patients and staff, and wholly integrates the PCN Clinical Pharmacy Team
• Oversee and deliver a group-wide strategy for dispensing, procurement, and formulary management, working collaboratively with the GP Partner Lead and the Prescribing Lead GP and the wider teams.

Leadership, Team Management & Culture

• Foster a collaborative ‘one team’, solutions-focused culture where all medicines-related staff proactively support each other to resolve patient needs at the first point of contact
• Inspire a positive, supportive and collaborative team culture by role‑modelling effective communication, practical problem‑solving, and a solutions‑focused mindset
• Work with team managers to develop consistent, integrated workflows that support smooth handoffs between teams and a reliable patient experience
• Oversee the recruitment, development and performance of all medicines services teams, coaching senior staff to mentor colleagues effectively
• Champion technology adoption to improve efficiency and patient experience.

Performance Oversight

• Work with the Lead Prescribing GP Partner to establish and lead the Medicines and Prescribing Group Meeting, to assure organisational oversight of overall performance of the Medicines Services function
• Partner effectively with the Group Finance manager and the Procurement Coordinator to assure financial sustainability of both dispensaries
• Ensure that the teams maintain full compliance with MHRA, GPhC, DSQS and NHS regulations, including controlled drugs governance, stock control, and prescription services optimisation
• Ensure that the teams are fluent in relevant NHS contractual obligations and embed these in their approach to service delivery
• Coordinate substantive and prompt responses to ad hoc medication-related requests (e.g. prescribing, monitoring) from the Commissioner (Central East ICB).

About You

You should have or be:

• An exceptional people leader with a strong track record of coaching managers, developing high‑performing teams, and transforming cultures across multi‑site operations
• Experienced in leading organisational change, integrating previously separate teams, and fostering collaborative, solutions‑focused ways of working
• Comfortable interpreting operational and financial information to inform decision‑making, with a clear understanding of how prescribing and dispensing activity influences practice finances
• Skilled in continuous improvement (e.g., QI, Lean, process redesign) with the ability to embed safe, efficient and patient‑centred workflows
• A confident adopter of technology with experience modernising services through digital tools and automation
• A diplomatic and credible communicator able to build trusted relationships with clinicians, regulatory bodies, commissioners, suppliers, and internal teams
• Adaptable and resilient, able to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on operational oversight
• Skilled at navigating complexity and driving clarity, alignment, and accountability across teams
• Willing to travel regularly between sites and attend external meetings as required.

It would be an advantage if you also have or are:

• Experience in Primary Care dispensing, medicines management, prescribing, community pharmacy operations, or general practice management
• Experience in regional/area management within healthcare or regulated operational environments
• Familiarity with NHS primary care systems such as SystmOne, ePACT2, and EPS
• A qualified Pharmacy Technician or Dispenser, or equivalent experience
• Experience delivering service redesign or large‑scale operational change programmes
• Knowledge of medicines governance, controlled drugs regulations, and formulary management
• Experience of commercial negotiation with suppliers or external partners.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.