About Us

We are the Royal College of Pharmacy’s knowledge business. We support health professionals globally make quick and confident decisions about the safe and effective use of medicines to reduce risk and improve patient outcomes.

As a not-for-profit all our resources are invested into creating independent evidence-based content and essential tools that promote best practice in medicines use.

Our experienced editorial team of clinical and scientific writers includes pharmacists and science graduates who triage new information, assess evidence and review changes made by other experts before publication.

Referred to daily by health professionals across healthcare, academic and research settings and relied on by many commercial organisations to operate their businesses, our essential knowledge is available by organisational subscription online through MedicinesComplete and via license.

This is an exciting time to join the board of PhP (Pharmaceutical Press) as we have just become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College. As a wholly owned subsidiary we will have nearly 120 employees and total revenues of more than £18 million. Our surplus is “handed to the Royal College” annually to enable them to fulfil their charitable purposes.

For more information visit www.PharmaceuticalPress.com

About this Role

The PhP Board is comprised of a minimum of 7 members. The Chair, PhP Managing Director and 3 non-executive directors with skills and experience gained in publishing, information, media and digital markets, two ex-officio Royal College executive members (Chief Executive and the Director of Finance) and up to two nominee members of the Royal College Trustee Board, one of whom will have knowledge of the pharmacy sector.

The non-executive role is part time and requires a commitment of up to 6 days plus reading days over a year.

The initial appointment will be for three years, with the option of renewal for a further three years at the discretion of the board Chair, subject to College approval.

Role Scope & Accountability

• Participation in at least four and up to six meetings each year and interacting with the PhP Executive team outside the board, as reasonably required.

• Providing commercial and entrepreneurial advice and guidance to the PhP Executive team.

• Acting as a sounding board for the Managing Director of PhP and other members of the executive team, providing advice, introductions, and help as necessary.

• Working with the PhP Executive team and the other board members to ensure PhP is managed within a framework of prudent and effective controls that enable key risks to be assessed.

• Offering input to, reviewing, and approving the PhP strategy.

• Commenting on, challenging, and approving the PhP three-year business plan and the annual budget.

• Using your expertise and knowledge to suggest ways to improve the quality of delivery and general effectiveness of PhP’s systems and processes.

• Using your expertise and knowledge to comment on opportunities, suggest improvements to proposals and to highlight and warn of potential risks.

• Reviewing, advising on, and approving investment decisions within the authority limits set by the Royal College.

• Holding the Managing Director and the PhP Executive team to account for the delivery of the agreed business plan and other actions agreed at the board.

• Suggesting opportunities for growth.

• Helping to ensure the board operates within the appropriate guidelines.

Success Measures

• Delivery of the business plan within the agreed budget

• Technical challenge oversight and guidance provided to PhP Executive and the Board

• The development and implementation of a revenue growth acceleration plan

• Ensuring that personal effectiveness is reviewed and recommendations are implemented

• Engaging with the definition and development of the PhP Values, behaviours and inclusive culture

• Acting appropriately and in line with the organisational values.

Location: In person meetings held in London and/or on teams and board away days location varies but within reasonable travelling distance of London.

Accountable to: Chair

Fee: £9550 (reviewed annually)

Working Relationships: Publishing Executive, Publishing Board

Management Responsibility: None

Other Key Internal Stakeholders: Royal College nominee members, CEO and Director of Finance

The Candidate Profile

Essential Skills, Experience and Knowledge for the role:

Suitable candidates for the position will be able to demonstrate:

Essential (E) / Desirable (D)

• Recent and up to date experience in a successful business in publishing/content provision/data or an adjacent sector, ideally one operating as a wholly owned subsidiary (E)

• Recent and up to date experience in a successful business operating as a wholly owned subsidiary (D)

• Excellent understanding of governance and director duties and responsibilities and/or a willingness to learn (E)

• Proven capabilities as a business leader with relevant experience in technology and clinical decision support value chain (D)

• Relevant knowledge and experience of how digital and data businesses make money (E)

• A sound working knowledge of applying technology to improve business processes and service delivery (D)

• Recent experience of working in a non-executive and/or advisory capacity (D)

• Experience of boards, committees, and general business governance (E)

• Successful and innovative leadership in a dynamic commercial environment with proven ability to lead the implementation of change effectively (E)

• Understanding of the financial arrangements within a business and the ability to drive and achieve effective financial management and value for money within limited budgets, including identifying opportunities, and making recommendations, for suitable financial investments (E)

• Well-developed understanding of EDI strategies (D)

• Experience of strategically influencing and driving change (E)

Skills and Mindset

Essential (E) / Desirable (D)

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to negotiate with and influence others effectively (E)

• A team player willing to work with others to achieve agreed goals (E)

• Willing to listen and offer advice (E)

• Able to engage effectively and offer advice with tact and diplomacy (E)

• Curious about and interested in the wider mission of the Royal College of Pharmacy (D)

• Able to commit time to the role and support the PhP Executive team outside meetings (E)

DATE JOB DESCRIPTION drafted: October 2026