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Job overview
Are you an experienced clinical trials pharmacy technician OR is this an area you would now like to specialise in?
We have an exciting opportunity to join our non-oncology team. You will play a key role in the entire pharmacy clinical trial process and ensure we provide a safe, effective, timely and high-quality service. We host a wide variety of trials, including a growing Advanced Therapies portfolio, and have excellent relationships with our R&D colleagues and clinical teams.
Starting salary is dependent on experience, post is a progression post to Band 6, once core competencies and relevant experience gained.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a friendly and supportive team that places a strong emphasis on staff well-being and professional development
- Receive training in all pharmacy trial activities, expanding your expertise and career potential
If you possess the necessary skills and are passionate about making a difference in the field of pharmacy clinical trials, we would love to hear from you. Join us in this exciting role and become an integral part of our mission to advance clinical research and patient care.
Main duties of the job
Setting up all aspects of a wide variety of clinical trials, including ensuring that:
- Trial medications are correct, safe and in accordance with the study protocol and Good Clinical Practice
- Required records are kept throughout the study
- Pharmacy are remunerated appropriately
You would also undertake training of new team members and rotational staff and work closely with R&D, study teams and sponsors.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Would you like more information? Do you have a question? Please do get in touch to discuss further.
Please see the attached Applicant Information Packs (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
N.B Starting salary is dependent on experience, post is a progression post to Band 6, once core competencies and relevant experience gained.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: - applied for a Graduate visa - or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment This vacancy will close at midnight on 5th August 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 19th August 2026
Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?
- Our values and reputation for outstanding care • Opportunities to experience a range of specialities • Career and development opportunities • Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team • Research experience and opportunities • Lovely location and quality of life • Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Skills Band 5
Essential
- Ability to communicate complex information effectively and overcome barriers to understanding
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrating good attention to detail.
- Ability to work as part of a team and to lead others
- Ability to prioritise own workload and initiate and oversee a number of projects/tasks at any one time.
- Proven ability to create and maintain effective relationships with all grades of staff including those from a clinical, medical and technical background.
- Proven ability to have successfully liaised with staff from different areas in pharmacy department for the benefit of patients.
- Demonstrate data handling and analysis skills.
- Ability to organise project work and work unsupervised on own initiative
- Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines/targets, including reprioritisation of tasks when necessary.
- Ability to manage change
Desirable
- Ability to influence and negotiate.
- Ability to review and adapt plans as circumstances dictate.
- Ability to train different staff groups.
Skills Band 6
Essential
- Ability to communicate complex information effectively and overcome barriers to understanding
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrating good attention to detail.
- Ability to work as part of a team and to lead others
- Ability to prioritise own workload and initiate and oversee a number of projects/tasks at any one time.
- Proven ability to create and maintain effective relationships with all grades of staff including those from a clinical, medical and technical background.
- Proven ability to have successfully liaised with staff from different areas in pharmacy department for the benefit of patients.
- Demonstrate strong data handling and analysis skills.
- Ability to organise project work and work unsupervised on own initiative
- Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines/targets, including reprioritisation of tasks when necessary.
- Ability to manage change
Desirable
- Ability to influence and negotiate.
- Ability to review and adapt plans as circumstances dictate.
- Ability to train different staff groups.
Knowledge Band 5
Essential
- Knowledge of good dispensing practices
- Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and its application
- Knowledge of current UK medicines legislation, including controlled drug regulations, NPSA and MHRA related alerts
- Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to create documents and spread sheets and extract information.
- Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems.
Desirable
- Knowledge of clinical trial structures
- Technical knowledge of clinical trial operation and management
- Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice and its application
- Knowledge of Good Distribution Practices
- Familiar with the use of a range of visual aids for teaching & able to give oral presentations appropriate to the level of the audience, including students.
- Knowledge of error reduction strategies and experience of error monitoring and reduction schemes
Knowledge Band 6
Essential
- Knowledge of good dispensing practices
- Knowledge of clinical trial structures
- Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and its application
- Knowledge of current UK medicines legislation, including controlled drug regulations, NPSA and MHRA related alerts, especially in relation to clinical trials
- Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to create documents and spread sheets and extract information.
- Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems.
Desirable
- Technical knowledge of clinical trial operation and management
- Up to date knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice and its application
- Working knowledge of Good Distribution Practices
- Familiar with the use of a range of visual aids for teaching & able to give oral presentations appropriate to the level of the audience, including students.
- Knowledge of error reduction strategies and experience of error monitoring and reduction schemes
- Working knowledge and experience of medicines procurement, NHS purchasing and supply contracts.
- Knowledge of financial management of clinical trials within the commercial and non-commercial sector
- A working understanding of High Cost Drug management processes, PAS schemes and commissioning principles.
Experience Band 5
Essential
- Recent post-registration experience in hospital pharmacy
- Experience in the dispensing of clinical trials, within a hospital environment
- Experience of working with Medicines Governance principles in the hospital setting including Controlled Drug legislation.
- Experience of writing guidelines or equivalent.
- Experience in liaising with a range of stakeholders from varied disciplines, e.g., clinicians, nursing staff, R&D, study teams, specialist pharmacists, finance team.
Desirable
- Experience of writing professional reports.
- Evidence of having conducted and implemented the outcomes of an audit.
- Experience of utilising electronic prescribing.
- Experience of financial management.
- Experience of accuracy checking
- Experience of staff training and supervision
- Experience of risk management.
Experience Band 6
Essential
- Recent post-registration experience in hospital pharmacy
- Post-registration experience in clinical trials
- Experience in the management of clinical trials, including dispensing processes, within a hospital environment
- Experience of working with Medicines Governance principles in the hospital setting including Controlled Drug legislation.
- Experience of staff training and supervision.
Desirable
- Experience of writing professional reports.
- Evidence of having conducted and implemented the outcomes of an audit.
- Experience of utilising electronic prescribing.
- Experience of financial management.
- Experience of accuracy checking
Qualifications Band 5
Essential
- NVQ3 Pharmacy Services, BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or CGLI/Apothecaries Hall pre 1985 certificates
- Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Fundamentals of Clinical Research for IMP Management module (NIHR)
Desirable
- Accredited as an Educational Supervisor for the ACPT scheme
- Attendance at Train the Trainer course or equivalent
- Member of Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK) or Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
- Project management qualification
- Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician
Qualifications Band 6
Essential
- NVQ3 Pharmacy Services, BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or CGLI/Apothecaries Hall pre 1985 certificates
- Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Good Clinical Practice certification, including Investigational Medicinal Products module
Desirable
- Accredited as an Educational Supervisor for the ACPT scheme
- Attendance at Train the Trainer course or equivalent
- Member of Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK) or Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
- Project management qualification
- Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Pharmacy Technician / Senior Pharmacy Technician Clinical Trials with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Pharmacy technician role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £48,117 Starting salary is dependent on experience, is a progression post. The contract type is Fixed term: 104 weeks (Full Time or Part Time/ Flexible working hours may be considered). The application deadline is 05 Aug 2026.
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