Pharmacy Technician

Job Description

NHS Scotland is dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across our teams. We actively work to remove any form of unlawful discrimination, ensuring our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve. Every employee should feel valued, respected, and empowered to perform at their best. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Pharmacy Technician – Centralised Purchasing & Invoicing
NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service

Band 5 | Full-time (1.0 WTE) | Permanent | 37 hours per week

Salary: £33,247 – £41,424 per annum
(Includes commitment to weekend and public holiday working where required)

Be Part of a Supportive and Impactful Team

We are excited to invite a dedicated Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly and efficient centralised Purchasing & Invoicing Team at NHS Lothian. This collaborative group—made up of pharmacy technicians and administrators—works together to provide safe, high-quality, and cost-effective medicines supply services that directly support patient care across the region.

In this rewarding position, you’ll contribute to streamlining processes, tackling supply challenges, and maintaining smooth day-to-day operations. Your responsibilities will include managing central purchasing tasks, handling invoicing, processing off-contract claims, and assisting colleagues in resolving medicines availability issues—all with a strong focus on keeping patients at the centre of what we do.

If you thrive in a busy environment, enjoy collaborative problem-solving, and are motivated to deliver excellence in pharmacy services, this could be the ideal next step in your career.

What Makes This Role Stand Out?

• Professional growth: Access structured training to build advanced skills and broaden your expertise.
• Positive team culture: Join a welcoming, professional group that genuinely supports one another and celebrates success.
• Meaningful contribution: Play a direct role in ensuring reliable and efficient medicines supply for patients throughout Lothian.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• A National Certificate in Pharmacy Services (or equivalent qualification)
• Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 in Pharmacy Services
• Completion of an approved HN Unit in Procedures for Pharmacy Dispensary Checking Technicians, or the Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) Award (from Buttercups or NPA, completed in 2019 or earlier)

• Preferably an HNC in Pharmacy Services Development and Management

We’re open to applications from those who don’t hold the HNC but can show equivalent relevant experience. If this applies to you, please complete and submit a Mapping Assessment Form with your application. We recommend getting in touch beforehand for advice on how to prepare this.

About NHS Lothian and Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service

As Scotland’s second-largest health board, NHS Lothian serves around 900,000 people and is one of the country’s four major teaching health boards. We pride ourselves on innovation, research, and delivering outstanding patient care.

Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service is driven by a clear vision: to provide clinically led, person-centred pharmacy support so everyone in Lothian can get the maximum benefit from their medicines. We’re building a workplace where every team member has the chance to grow, develop their talents, and thrive.

Interested? Let’s Talk!

For a full overview of the responsibilities and essential criteria, please review the attached Job Description and Person Specification. That said, a job pack can only tell part of the story. If you’d like to hear more about the day-to-day realities, the team dynamic, or how this fits with your career plans, we’d love to chat informally.

Please contact:
Susanne Lamb – Purchasing & Invoicing Pharmacy Technician Team Leader
Email: Susanne.Lamb@nhs.scot
Phone: 0131 242 2948

Important Notes

Due to expected high interest, we may close this vacancy early once we receive enough strong applications—so apply soon!

Late applications cannot be accepted.

Check your email (including Junk/Spam folders) regularly for updates, as all notifications will be sent there.

We are fully committed to supporting disabled applicants, those with long-term conditions, and neurodivergent candidates through reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

Right to Work in the UK: You must confirm you have the legal right to work in the UK before applying. NHS Scotland will verify this during pre-employment checks. For details on visas, settled/pre-settled status, or potential sponsorship (where applicable and subject to criteria), visit the GOV.UK website.

This role requires PVG Scheme membership (Protecting Vulnerable Groups). If you’re not already a member in the relevant category, we’ll support an application to Disclosure Scotland, which must be satisfactory before starting. Note that changes from April 2025 may affect checking levels—details will be confirmed if needed.

Ready to bring your skills to a team that values what you do? We look forward to hearing from you!