Head of Aseptic Services

Job overview

This is not just about running an aseptic unit. It is about ensuring some of our most complex medicines reach patients safely.

Following a planned retirement, University Hospitals Dorset has a rare opportunity for an experienced aseptic services leader to take responsibility for our established service and help shape what comes next.

Our aseptic unit prepares more than 25,000 medicine items each year, including chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies, and supports medicines used within clinical trials.

As our Head of Aseptic Services, you will hold overall accountability for service delivery and operational oversight across pharmacy technical services. You will provide the specialist leadership and assurance needed to maintain the quality, safety and professional standards on which our patients and clinical teams depend.

This is a role with significant professional responsibility, but also significant opportunity. We are looking for someone with the technical credibility, leadership and ambition to develop our people, drive improvement and shape the future direction of aseptic services at UHD.

Relocation expenses will be available for this role in line with Trust policies and subject to internal review.

Base location - Poole Hospital but with occasionally working at Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Advert closes: 1st November 2026

Shortlisting: w/c 2nd November 2026

Interview date: 14th November 2026

Main duties of the job

The quality. The complexity. The opportunity.

You will provide strategic leadership across aseptic services and pharmacy quality assurance, leading the development and continuous improvement of our Pharmaceutical Quality System and ensuring our service continues to meet the required standards.

You will lead inspection readiness, oversee responses to audits, incidents and areas of non-compliance, and ensure our facilities, equipment, systems and working practices support safe and effective service delivery.

But maintaining today's standards is only part of the role.

You will lead service development and improvement, exploring new technologies, equipment and service models and developing capacity, supply and business continuity plans. You will contribute to regional and system-wide work exploring the future of aseptic services and play an important role in our digital transformation.

Working across professional boundaries, you will provide expert advice, manage complex risks and lead and develop our multidisciplinary aseptic workforce.

When standards matter, you will be the person accountable for ensuring they are right.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Senior leadership that expects more.

Reporting to the Chief Pharmacist, you will be an active member of the pharmacy senior leadership team, contributing to strategy and change across the wider service.

You will work closely with Quality Assurance, Pharmacy Cancer Clinical Leads, Research and Development, cancer services and clinical, nursing, Estates and regional colleagues. You will provide expert technical and pharmaceutical advice, influence complex decisions and ensure aseptic requirements are considered as treatments and services develop.

You will provide leadership for workforce planning, recruitment, development, competence and performance, building the capability needed to meet future service demands.

We are looking for someone with extensive hospital pharmacy technical services experience, senior experience within an aseptic manufacturing unit and expert knowledge of GMP and aseptic preparation. You will combine technical expertise with sound judgement, strong influencing skills and the ability to turn complex problems into practical solutions.

Applicants must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

For further insight into this role, please view the recruitment brochure. If you are applying via Trac please click here – Recruitment Brochure - Head of Aseptic Services . If you are viewing via NHS Jobs, you can find the brochure under the ‘Supporting Links’ section.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.