Job Description Community Pharmacy Scotland

Policy OfficerPolicy and Development Team

Policy and Development
Reports to: Head of Policy and Development
Edinburgh (Hybrid)
GPhC Registration Required
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Overall Purpose of the Role

To work as part of the wider CPS team to support and promote strategic priorities. For the most part, the post holder will support and deliver on areas of work led by the Policy and Development team. This will involve working closely with other organisations outwith CPS, requiring the post holder to influence a range of different stakeholders using a mixed methods approach.

Principal Accountabilities

Work with other members of the team on policy thinking, service development and implementation in areas relevant to the interests of community pharmacy contractors.
Deliver on plans which support the roles of the community pharmacy network and its functions in healthcare provision for the citizens of Scotland, ensuring that its reputation is protected and enhanced.
Support the organisation to deliver the CPS Strategy, involving extensive engagement with stakeholders and active relationship management as well as the sharing of expertise with other members of the team.
Support the policy and development team in establishing new community pharmacy services as well as contributing to the ongoing development of existing services.
Contribute to developing CPS policy positions on key issues affecting our members and their teams, influencing others in line with these policy positions.

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive, but they highlight a number of major tasks that the post-holder may be reasonably expected to undertake.

Job Challenges

Building relationships with stakeholders whose interest in pharmacy and opinions/aims may not match the post-holder's.
Working to timescales and deadlines which the organisation will not always have influence over.
Working alone and as part of a team to deliver a complex and fluid set of organisational objectives.
Prioritising workload effectively.
Keeping abreast of service developments in community pharmacy and fully understanding funding to produce accurate information and confidently communicate about both.
Occasional public speaking and work with media (training will be provided).
Post-holder will be required to travel anywhere in Scotland, and to work with other organisations outwith CPS.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours and Experience Required

Knowledge

Essential

Current GPhC Registered Pharmacist Health service landscape

Desirable

2 years post-registration experience Community pharmacy experience Understanding of Scottish NHS

Skills

Essential

Written and verbal communication Problem solving Influencing others Effective time management

Desirable

Stakeholder identification and analysis Social media use

Experience

Essential

Customer-facing role

Desirable

Community pharmacy role Public speaking

Behaviours

Essential

Initiative Works well alone and in a team Receptive to feedback Adaptability

Desirable

Creativity Persistence

Additional Information

Although office-based (with hybrid working arrangements) for the most part, the post will periodically involve working with other organisations and will involve some work outside normal office hours, travel across Scotland and overnight stays.

This job description is a guide to the nature and main duties of the job as they exist currently. It is not intended as a wholly comprehensive or permanent schedule and is not part of the contract of employment. It will be subject to ongoing review to ensure all roles are reflective of organisational priorities.