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Job overview
We are looking for reliable, conscientious and practical team players to join our dedicated Pharmacy Production team in the role of Senior Production Operative.
A core team of twelve Pharmacists and seventy technical staff provide the Pharmacy Production Service across the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital sites. Services provided comprise a range of activities from non-sterile manufacture to the aseptic dispensing of chemotherapy. A wide range of specialist GMP equipment is also in operation across all facilities
- Interview Date: 13 August 2026
- 37 hours 30 minutes/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
You will join our large team of staff working in busy department providing an efficient pharmaceutical service to patients. As part of the licensed team you will participate in the manufacture of a range of sterile products, as well as non-sterile and terminally sterilised products. As part of the unlicensed team you will be involved in the aseptic preparation of CIVA's, parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies.
All post holders will have responsible for the cleaning and monitoring of facilities and stock management.
Applicant must hold GCSE’s (minimum Grade 4 or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics or have Pharmacy Production Unit experience. All applicants must have experience of working in a clean room environment and have knowledge of manufacturing, aseptic processing or pharmaceutical preparation. They must have good verbal and written communication skills and be able to demonstrate good practical skills.
A GPhC approved level 2 qualification is desirable, or the successful candidate must commence study in post.
Development opportunities for successful applicants include the potential to undertake a Science Manufacturing Technician qualification which, upon completion, would qualify applicants to apply for a R5 Specialist Technician post.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Candidates must be available to work shift patterns between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday, and be able to support Saturday and Bank Holiday service, as this will be a requirement of the expanding service.
Job Purpose
- To carry out the full range of Senior Production Operative duties including the preparation and / or manufacture of products from raw materials, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
- Provides technical support to production services including carrying out routine procedures in the ordering, packing, distribution and storage of pharmaceutical stock.
Person specification
SKILLS
Essential
- An ability to follow written standard operating procedures
- General keyboard skills
- Basic training skills
- Effective organisational skills
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Good customer care skills
- Able to manage own workload and use own initiative
- Ability to work accurately
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Must meet General Pharmaceutical Council guidelines which states pharmacy support staff must be able to demonstrate a range of work procedures and practices with base level of theoretical knowledge and understanding of the duties carried out within the role
- Knowledge of environmental monitoring
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical preparation, manufacturing or aseptic processing
- Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace
Desirable
- Theoretical knowledge and practical experience of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Practical knowledge of isolator or laminar flow technology
- Awareness of COSHH in the workplace
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working in a clean room environment
- Experience of working in a busy environment
Desirable
- Experience in a pharmaceutical production environment
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language or previous hospital pharmacy production experience
- GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role, or must commence study within 6 months of appointment
- Production induction period of four weeks and initial training period of six months to gain practical experience of work activities (routine duties) and a working knowledge of standard operating procedures
Desirable
- GCSE Chemistry and Biology or Dual Award Science
- Completion of in-house competency based training
- Completion of in-house validation for label production
- Completion of in-house validation for visual checking
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Production Operative with The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East and Yorkshire, England. The advertised salary is £25,778 - £27,549 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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