Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job
Are you an experienced Pharmacy or Science Manufacturing Technician looking to take the next step in leadership and operational service delivery?

We are seeking a Lead Technician in Aseptics to lead the day-to-day management of our specialist aseptic services, ensuring the safe, effective and efficient supply of medicines while maintaining compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

This role combines operational leadership, service improvement and technical expertise, offering an excellent opportunity to make a significant contribution to patient care and service delivery across University Hospital Southampton.

As a senior member of the aseptic pharmacy team, you will oversee daily service operations, lead and develop technicians and support staff, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure medicines are supplied safely, efficiently and to the highest standards.

You will play a pivotal role in maintaining quality, driving continuous improvement and responding proactively to service challenges.This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and forward-thinking pharmacy professional who is passionate about service excellence, staff development and delivering outstanding care to patients.

About us
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Job responsibilities
In this role, you will: Lead the day-to-day operational management of a specialist aseptic services, ensuring medicines are supplied safely, efficiently while maintaining compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Manage, supervise and develop technicians and support staff, including recruitment, appraisal, performance management and workforce planning. Drive service improvement through audits and support the review, development and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System.

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate: Significant post-qualification experience within a specialist pharmacy service and registration with the required professional bodies. Experience of operational management, workforce supervision and leading teams in a busy healthcare environment. Strong communication, leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and influence others effectively.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate: Experience of leading teams, managing workload and developing staff within a busy operational environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships across multidisciplinary teams. Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards of GMP compliance. A proactive approach to service improvement, change management and continuous professional development.

For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for.

Person Specification
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential

• NVQ3, BTEC in pharmaceutical science or equivalent Technician registered with GPhC
• One of the following additional specialist pharmacy qualifications Recognised accuracy checking qualification/accreditation. Medicines management qualification. TAQA assessor or equivalent teaching/training qualification CIPS level 4 Foundation management or equivalent demonstrable experience of day-to-day operational management of staff and workload.
• Extensive post qualification Pharmacy knowledge /experience in one or more areas of pharmacy specialism
• Experience of staff management/operational workload and workforce supervision
• Recruitment and selection experience
• Competent in the accurate supply of medicines (in hospital or community pharmacy)
• Evidence of commitment to relevant ongoing CPD and personal and professional development
• Dealing with and resolving customers/patients' complaints

Desirable

• Experience of leading a team
• Additional specialist pharmacy qualifications e.g. Completed APTUK Foundation Framework Recognised accuracy checking qualification/accreditation. Medicines management qualification. TAQA assessor or equivalent teaching/training qualification CIPS level 4 Foundation management or equivalent demonstrable experience of day-to-day operational management of staff and workload. Quality/Service improvement Qualification
• Awareness of current professional regulations/issues
• Experience of JAC or similar computer stock control system
• Experience of service development and or design and implementation of audit
• Experience relevant to role applied for e.g.: Logistics, providing a ward-based medicines management service, Clinical Trials or research experience, Aseptic services experience
• Experience of mentoring/coaching/motivating others
• Experience of ESR and E rostering systems

Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).