Overview of the role
Area Operations Manager – Pharmacy (Multi-site)
We are seeking experienced Area Operations Managers with a background in multi-site pharmacy management.
About You
We are looking for strong leaders who:
Thrive on colleague and patient interaction
Are passionate about spending the majority of their time in pharmacies
Work at pace while maintaining accuracy
Are resilient and enjoy a fast-changing, challenging environment
Are motivated by leading teams to deliver clear, measurable results
If this sounds like you, read on.
The Role
As an Area Operations Manager, you will be responsible for the performance and development of approximately 15–20 pharmacies. You will build high-performing teams to deliver an outstanding community pharmacy experience while achieving KPIs and budget targets, maintaining patient safety, and ensuring consistently high standards across your area.
This role reports directly to the Senior/Regional Operations Manager.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Performance
Visit each pharmacy at least every two weeks, setting SMART actions to drive performance
Support the ‘Delivering Well’ strategy by aligning pharmacy activity with corporate objectives
Drive prescription growth, service delivery and OTC sales in line with budget
Ensure full compliance with all operational processes and procedures
Monitor competitor activity and identify opportunities to grow market share
Patient Safety, Quality & Standards
Ensure all pharmacies meet GPhC standards and NHS contractual requirements
Complete first-line investigations into patient safety incidents and controlled drug discrepancies
Ensure delivery of all NHS quality standards
Delivering Outstanding Care
Ensure teams actively promote and deliver NHS and private services
Ensure complaints and incidents are reported, resolved or escalated appropriately
Build and maintain strong relationships within the local healthcare community
Ensure patients receive tailored advice and appropriate products for prevention, treatment and wellbeing
High-Performance Teams
Recruit, develop and retain capable and motivated teams
Manage performance through effective coaching, feedback and formal reviews
Identify and develop internal and external talent to create a strong succession pipeline
Ensure clear communication of roles, priorities and expectations
Continuously develop your own skills and foster a culture of learning across the area
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Experience in field or multi-site management (business as usual, cross-regional working and/or project-based roles)
Understanding of the pharmacy market and profession (desirable)
Strong commercial and analytical skills
Excellent communication skills
Effective coaching and feedback capability
Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
Ability to build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Understanding of NHS contractual requirements and GPhC/PSNI standards
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.
About the Company
For over 70 years, we’ve been looking after the health and wellbeing of communities across the UK. Well Pharmacy (part of Bestway Healthcare) is the second largest pharmacy chain in the UK with c.760 pharmacies and a team of around 7,000 colleagues based across our Community Pharmacies, Online Pharmacy, Healthcare Services Centre, Community Drivers, Bestway Medhub & Wardles team and our Support Centre team.
Our mission is to be here for the wellbeing of our patients and customers, to provide the best community pharmacy experience in the UK for everyone, for our patients, our customers, our people, and our NHS.
The pharmacy of the future will look very different from the one we know today. It will play a huge role in transforming primary healthcare and we will play a central role in bringing it to life.
We will use our clinical expertise and technological ambition to take advantage of the potential this future has to offer us. Making medicines, advice, services and care available in the places and spaces that people need and want it most.
We want to be a great business. To be recognised as delivering a community pharmacy experience that is the best there is. To do this we want our teams to feel proud about the positive impact they make, feel valued as part of a close-knit and expert community, and feel confident in their role in a business that is stable, innovative, and caring.
‘Together we make a difference’
