Senior Radiopharmacy Technician

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Radiopharmacy Technician to play a key leadership role within our radiopharmacy service.

The post holder will bring extensive technical expertise in radiopharmacy and/or aseptic services, with a strong working knowledge of GMP, radiation protection, and regulatory requirements. You will lead and coordinate day‑to‑day operations within the radiopharmacy unit, ensuring the safe, timely and compliant preparation of radiopharmaceutical and aseptically prepared products.

The role includes contributing to the development, validation and implementation of protocols and procedures, supporting quality and audit activities, and providing supervision, training and mentorship to junior technical staff. A strong commitment to patient safety, continuous improvement and collaborative working is essential.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician plays a key role in the preparation, production and safe supply of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic use. Working within a licensed radiopharmacy and aseptic environment, the post holder ensures activities are carried out in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), IRR/IR(ME)R, MHRA requirements and local procedures, with patient safety and product quality as priorities.

Reporting to the Production Manager, the role provides advanced hands‑on technical support to the radiopharmacy service, focusing on expert technical practice and day‑to‑day operational support rather than overall production management. The post holder undertakes and supports aseptic preparation, dispensing and supply activities, including generator elution, dose preparation, labelling and documentation, working safely within cleanroom and controlled environments.

The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician performs production in‑process checks, completes production, environmental and batch records, supports environmental monitoring and escalation of non‑routine issues, and promotes compliance with SOPs and quality standards. As a senior technical resource, the post holder supports junior staff and trainees, works closely with radiopharmacists and other professionals, and maintains up‑to‑date technical knowledge in line with Trust policies, health and safety and equality requirements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician is an experienced technical officer within the radiopharmacy service who works under the direction of the Production Manager. The post holder is responsible for undertaking and supporting the safe, accurate and compliant preparation and supply of radiopharmaceuticals within a licensed radiopharmacy and aseptic environment.

The role requires advanced technical knowledge of radiopharmacy and/or aseptic services, together with a strong understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice, radiation protection and medicines legislation. The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will act as a senior technical resource on a day‑to‑day basis, supporting junior staff, contributing to the maintenance of high technical standards, and ensuring that agreed procedures and processes are followed. The post holder is not responsible for overall production management but plays an important supporting role in the delivery of a high‑quality radiopharmacy service.

The post holder will undertake the aseptic preparation, production, dispensing and supply of radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with GMP, IRR/IR(ME)R, MHRA guidance and local standard operating procedures. They will perform and support production in‑process checks to ensure that products meet defined specifications prior to release by an authorised individual. The role includes the accurate completion of production, environmental and batch documentation in line with procedural requirements, and the safe and correct operation of cleanroom and radiopharmacy facilities and equipment within approved and validated systems. The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will act as a source of technical advice within their scope of practice, referring complex or non‑routine issues to the Production Manager or radiopharmacist as appropriate.

The post holder will work in accordance with approved SOPs, protocols and risk assessments and will promptly escalate deviations or concerns to the Production Manager. They will assist in the recording and investigation of deviations, incidents and near misses, contributing accurate factual information and technical input as required. The role includes participation in environmental monitoring activities and reporting results in line with agreed procedures. The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will support audits, inspections and regulatory visits by ensuring documentation and work areas are maintained to the required standard and by providing technical information when requested.

As a senior member of the technical team, the post holder will provide day‑to‑day technical guidance and support to radiopharmacy and aseptic technical staff, including trainees and less experienced technicians. They will support training and competency assessment activities as delegated by the Production Manager or radiopharmacist and will act as a role model for safe practice, GMP compliance and professional behaviour within the radiopharmacy environment.

The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will support the implementation of new or revised SOPs, protocols and processes as agreed by the Production Manager. They will assist with validation, commissioning and change control activities by undertaking delegated practical and documentation tasks and will contribute ideas for service improvement and efficiency based on practical experience, raising suggestions through appropriate channels.

The post holder is expected to maintain up‑to‑date technical knowledge and skills relevant to radiopharmacy and aseptic services. They will comply with Trust policies, health and safety requirements and equality and diversity principles and will undertake other duties appropriate to the grade as required by the Production Manager.