Main Responsibility
Pharmacy Operations Manager
Overview
We are seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day running of one of the UK’s largest Distance Selling Pharmacies (DSP). Based within a national warehouse facility, this role operates at the intersection of healthcare and high-volume fulfilment — combining the regulatory rigour of a pharmacy with the pace, scale, and complexity of a logistics environment.
This is a senior operational leadership role responsible for managing the smooth running of the end-to-end pharmacy operation, ensuring we maintain high standards across safety, efficiency, service levels, and compliance. The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams across the wider business and play a vital part in shaping how we deliver pharmacy care at scale.
The operation processes over 150,000 items per month, servicing multiple streams including direct-to-patient prescriptions, care homes, prisons, weight management, online doctor services, and more. This is a diverse, fast-moving environment that rewards strategic thinking, people leadership, and operational agility.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Oversee the delivery of pharmacy operations across multiple service streams and shift patterns (Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat 6am–2pm)
- Ensure safe, compliant, and efficient operations in line with GPhC, MHRA, and NHS regulations
- Lead and support a team of Team Managers and shift leads to deliver daily KPIs and service-level agreements (SLAs)
- Act as the escalation point for operational challenges, working proactively to resolve issues as they arise
- Continuously review and improve workflows to optimise throughput and maintain service quality
Strategic & Project Support
- Provide expert operational insight into business and project planning
- Partner with internal stakeholders (e.g. IT, Projects, Marketing, Automation) to support the successful delivery of new services, systems, or improvements
- Plan for high-impact periods (e.g. bank holidays, seasonal peaks) to ensure business continuity
- Identify opportunities for innovation or automation, leading on change initiatives where appropriate
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as the go-to contact for all operational pharmacy queries across the business
- Work closely with the Responsible Pharmacist and senior leadership to ensure the wider operation supports the clinical and commercial aims of the pharmacy
- Liaise with suppliers, automation providers, and IT support teams to maintain operational stability and continuous improvement
People & Culture
- Directly manage Team Managers and oversee a large, diverse workforce split across multiple shifts
- Lead on all HR matters relating to pharmacy colleagues, including recruitment, onboarding, development, engagement, and performance management
- Foster a culture of accountability, safety, inclusivity, and excellence
- Support succession planning, talent development, and future-proofing of operational leadership
Key Benefits of the Role
- Strategic Influence at Scale
Make decisions that impact thousands of patients, across care homes, prisons, and national digital services - Innovation & Technology Exposure
Work closely with automated dispensing, robotic tooling, and digital systems that support high-volume operations - Cross-Department Collaboration
Gain visibility across IT, logistics, warehouse, governance, commercial, and marketing functions - Volume Mastery
Develop unparalleled expertise in managing scalable, lean operations — processing 150k+ items monthly - Leadership Development
Hone your skills managing complex teams, workforce planning, and large-scale operations - No Retail Distractions
Focus entirely on fulfilment excellence and innovation — no front-of-store duties - Embedded in National Warehouse
Benefit from the speed of warehouse-level inbound and outbound flows — faster order turnarounds and improved patient experience - 2nd Largest Pharmacy in the UK
Be part of one of the country’s most progressive and ambitious pharmacy operations
What We’re Looking For
Essential Experience
- Proven leadership experience within operations, ideally in a regulated, high-volume or healthcare environment
- Strong people management skills, especially across large teams or split shifts
- Strategic thinker with hands-on problem-solving ability
- Confident working in fast-paced, change-oriented environments
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Desirable Experience
- Familiarity with pharmacy operations, especially Distance Selling or centralised fulfilment models
- Understanding of GPhC, NHS, and MHRA pharmacy regulation
- Experience working with automation, robotic systems, or digital tooling
- Exposure to workforce planning, compliance, and project delivery
This Role Offers
- A senior operational leadership position in one of the UK’s largest DSPs
- A chance to influence how remote healthcare services are delivered at national scale
- A dynamic, high-volume environment where you’ll be trusted to make real impact
- The opportunity to work at the cutting edge of pharmacy, logistics, and digital transformation
Final Note
This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a large, fast-paced pharmacy operation that’s helping redefine how healthcare is delivered in the UK. If you’re ready to lead from the front, build high-performing teams, and drive meaningful change — we want to hear from you.
The Ideal Candidate
Well are proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer. If you have any specific requirements, we'll do everything we can to support you. Whether it is to find a pharmacy that is accessible, or if it is a part time position you are looking for, we can help find the role that is right for you. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, we will be happy to accommodate you.
Please be aware that due to the high number of applications we receive it may not be possible for us to provide an outcome to all applicants. If you are not contacted within 28 days of your submission unfortunately you will have been unsuccessful.
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’
