Unit Manager in England

At Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH) we have an exciting opportunity for a healthcare professional to join our Pharmacy Team. As Unit Manager (UM) you will assist with the production of aseptic medicines. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our Aseptic Team as we look forward to the future with the aim to develop our existing workforce, as well as welcoming new members to the team.

GOSH Pharmacy have been on a transformation journey to modernise Pharmacy Services and facilities to deliver expert care to our paediatric population. GOSH Pharmacy Manufacturing operate under a Manufactured Specials (MS) licence to provide over 10,000 doses per annum from our on-site Cytotoxic and CIVAS unit providing patient specific doses and batches for patients supporting NHS, International Private Care and Clinical Trials for our children.

You will be responsible for ensuring that aseptic dispensing and manufacturing activities comply with all current statutory obligations, including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

Main duties of the job:

• To support the safe, efficient and compliant delivery of Pharmacy Technical Services through day-to-day operational supervision and coordination of unit activities.
• To act as the first point of contact for staff within the unit, providing operational support, guidance and escalation as required.
• To provide direct supervision of cleanroom and aseptic manufacturing activities, ensuring compliance with GMP, local procedures and fitness to practice requirements.
• To support service continuity by deputising for defined operational responsibilities of the Aseptic Services Manager and Education Development team during periods of absence.
• To support staff competence and service resilience through hands-on training, supervision, revalidation and effective capacity management.
• To ensure stock, documentation and workload data are maintained accurately to support service planning and assurance.
• To support the management of deviations, CAPAs and change controls at unit level, within agreed scope and level of authority.
• To ensure unit staff are compliant with required SOPs, training and fitness-to-practice requirements prior to undertaking operational activities.
• To support audits, inspections and self-inspections by providing documentation, records and operational input as required.
• To escalate quality, compliance or capacity concerns promptly to the Aseptic Services Manager, Quality Assurance or Senior management as appropriate.

Working for our organisation:

We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we will have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care. Our hospital is committed to creating an environment that is open and inclusive. Our staff are encouraged to engage with colleagues through various networks, all of which are sponsored by a member of our Executive Management Team. We want to ensure that all of our people, regardless of their background, are seen and heard. We want to attract applicants that share our commitment to inclusion and that understand diversity is a strength that is embraced and valued.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

Person specification:

Combined Values Essential criteria:

• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) OR Completion of Level 3 Science Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Scheme OR Completion of another professional qualification related to manufacture of medicines for human use OR Equivalent Scientific qualification, knowledge expertise in the aseptic setting, manufacturing techniques for sterile medicinal products with relevant post-qualification experience working in a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit.

Experience/Knowledge Essential criteria:

• Suitable relevant experience of working in a GMP manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated practical knowledge of GMP and QA, GCP and all current relevant regulations (e.g. Annex 1).
• Demonstrated knowledge of the validation and requalification requirements for operators.
• Proven experience of delivering training.
• Experience of senior responsibilities in leading more junior members of staff.

Desirable criteria:

• Demonstrated practical knowledge of GCP and Annex 1.

Skills/Abilities Essential criteria:

• Excellent written English with good spelling and grammar.
• Computer literate, with experience of using a wide range of computer programs. Essential: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel.
• Able to complete documentation accurately with attention to detail.
• Able to accurately follow written procedures under pressure.
• Demonstrates ability to monitor and take action on deviations within the context of Quality System.
• Demonstrates ability to perform accurate complex calculations and numeracy skills.
• Good time management – with ability to identify priorities and proactively organise workload for self and the team in order to meet specified timeframes.
• Ability to utilise available resources in order to collate data to be used for investigative purposes.
• Proactively able to use available resources to research information from available resources if not readily available.

Desirable criteria:

• Q -Pulse, EPIC.