Job vacancy: Senior Quality Control Operative, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

Job summary

Main area: 317 Pharmacy Manufacturing Unit
Grade: PPU Range 3
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 317-2025-21-052

Employer: The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Royal Victoria Infirmary
Town: 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
Salary: £24,087 - £25,742 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 07/07/2025 23:59
Interview date: 30/07/2025

Senior Quality Control Operative

PPU Range 3

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To carry out the full range of duties including receipt, processing, sampling and testing of raw materials, packaging materials and certain defined products, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
To liaise with external organisations to source certification for raw materials and packaging materials.
Assist in the product releasing process by transferring released items from quarantine to the Production Store.
To send samples off site to a contract laboratory ensuring all documentation is completed. To receive completed results and file appropriately.
Assist in the inputting of environmental monitoring results into the database.
To maintain stock levels of analytical reagents and chemicals in the QC Lab.
To prepare orders, check all analytical reagents and chemicals on receipt and ensure they are correctly stored and documentation processes completed.
To ensure that used laboratory glassware is cleaned, dried, and returned to the appropriate storage thus avoiding cross contamination and the invalidation of analytical results.
Assist the Trust Quality Controller and other QC/QA staff by photocopying and distributing approved copies of authorised documentation.
Assists in the training of rotational staff assigned to the QC Laboratory.
Storage and organisation of reference samples and destruction when appropriate.
Complete the daily equipment checks.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Person specification

KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the duties carried out within the role
Understanding and appreciation of Chemistry
An understanding of some of the hazards associated with handling solid and liquid chemicals
Knowledge of GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) or GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Desirable criteria

Working knowledge of Microsoft computer systems

SKILLS

Essential criteria

Good organisational skills
Good oral communication
Good written communication
Ability to maintain high level of accuracy in a busy environment
Capable of working with minimum supervision
Able to demonstrate good manual dexterity

EXPERIENCE

Desirable criteria

Previous experience of GLP or GMP
Competence in the undertaking and organisation of delegated tasks associated with ordering and receipt of chemicals and reagents and distribution of approved documentation

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria

GCSE (Minimum Grade 4) in Maths, a Science based subject and English Language or equivalent qualification or previous relevant experience

Desirable criteria

A Level Chemistry or equivalent qualification

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.