The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is recruiting for a new director for England after previous postholder Dr James Davies left the role at the end of last year.

Applicants for the £80,000-£85,000 director for England role must be a pharmacist, an RPS member, and have experience or knowledge of more than one sector in pharmacy and of health and social care systems in England.

The RPS will also recruit an acting director for Wales, as current director for Wales Elen Jones will move into a new 15-month fixed-term role.

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As acting director of pharmacy for the RPS, Ms Jones will oversee the national directors in England, Wales and Scotland.

Elen Jones to oversee three national directors

Ms Jones has been overseeing professional leadership in both England and Wales since Dr Davies left his role.

In her new role, Ms Jones plans to focus on 'strengthening RPS advocacy for the profession'.

She will also support RPS chief executive Paul Bennett in 'strengthening collaboration with other professional bodies, specialist pharmacy groups and stakeholders as RPS transitions into the Royal College of Pharmacy', the RPS said.

And she will continue her current responsibilities for patient safety, guidance and heritage activities.

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Building foundations for the Royal College of Pharmacy

RPS chief executive Paul Bennett said the next 15 months would be 'very busy' for the RPS.

In particular, he highlighted the organisation's upcoming transition to become the Royal College of Pharmacy.

'I look forward to working with Elen as we focus on building the strategic and collaborative partnerships that will help secure the future foundations of the Royal College of Pharmacy for the benefit of the pharmacy ecosystem and the patients we serve,' he added.

Last month, around one quarter of RPS members voted for the organisation to become the Royal College of Pharmacy.

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The 4,369 members in favour of the proposed changes represented 71.1% of those who voted, and the motion was passed.

The result was welcomed by pharmacy leaders including the four UK chief pharmaceutical officers.