Pharmacy Senior Buyer

Overview

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Pharmacy Senior Buyer. The closing date is 08 February 2026.

The Pharmacy Procurement and supply services team is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, and self-motivated individual to manage the day-to-day ordering of medicines, liaise with wholesalers and suppliers, and collaborate with on-site colleagues to ensure medicines are received into the department and supplied to wards and departments in a timely and accurate manner. You will be integral to maintaining a quality supply service.

The role is office based, with most work at a computer. Frequent concentration is required for purchasing and invoicing, with an unpredictable work pattern due to interruptions from staff and suppliers needing immediate responses for medicine items.

Participation in the weekend and bank holiday rota is essential. Tasks are pharmacy stores based, including ward top up, picking and delivering ward orders. The tasks are manual in nature and require a high degree of physical fitness. Please see the personal specification for further details.

This is an exciting time for us following the opening of the new buildings on the Bournemouth site and services moving to become the major emergency hospital, while the Poole Hospital site will become the major planned care hospital for Dorset.

Interview Date: 19 February 2026

Main duties of the job

• Placing orders with wholesalers and suppliers
• Resolving issues and queries regarding stock received, such as accurately processing returns to suppliers in a timely manner
• Liaising with wholesalers and suppliers to chase outstanding orders, source products and obtain information for individual products requested
• Maintain procurement databases and accurate records of off-contract purchases
• Support data update for implementation of CMU contract changes
• Completing Key Performance Indicator (KPI) data for both internal and external use on a monthly basis
• Participate in procurement team meetings to identify and resolve problems and suggest potential improvements to processes
• Work in other areas of the pharmacy department as required and participate in weekend and bank holiday roster
• Undertake any other duties applicable to the grade/post as required

About us

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. Some services may move sites this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Womens, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process

Job responsibilities

This job role is essential to ensure the smooth running of systems involved in the ordering and invoicing of medicines and other pharmacy items, providing safe and timely patient care.

Utilising computerised systems and undertakes medicines replenishment involving ordering, invoicing, receipt, verification, unpacking and appropriate storage of products/goods.

The post holder liaises with internal and external, team colleagues and suppliers to foster a highly professional and responsive pharmacy procurement service that meets operational needs.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Minimum 3 GCSEs graded C in English, Maths and Science
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Science or willingness to work towards
• Computer literacy with working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook
• Minimum of one year's commitment to training for this post
• Previous experience of working in a purchasing/supply function
• Knowledge of Wellsky/computer based dispensing system
• Knowledge of GDP (Good Distribution Practice) and awareness of the Carter Report

Other requirements specific to the role

• Physically fit - this post includes manual handling, lifting, pushing, pulling and bending with boxes up to 20kg. Tasks may be required to be sustained for several periods in a working day.
• Walking over distances and for prolonged time is required to perform duties located across the hospital site.

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 CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust