Senior Technician - Clinical Trials in Sutton

An exciting and unique opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, dynamic and self‑motivated professional to join our clinical trials team at the Sutton site of the Royal Marsden. You will be part of a team consisting of Pharmacists, Technicians and Assistants, who are always striving for excellence in all aspects of our work. We are working collaboratively as part of a Multi‑Disciplinary Team to ensure we always deliver outstanding care to our patients.

This is an exciting time to join the Royal Marsden Hospital Clinical Trials Department. Our service is built around providing a high‑quality service to our patients and staff of the Trust. The Oak Cancer Centre (a new, state‑of‑the‑art treatment and research facility) opened in June 2023 in Sutton which will speed up the translation of world‑leading research into breakthroughs in treatment and care, transforming the lives of cancer patients at The Royal Marsden and beyond. The hospital has recently introduced the EPIC digital health record system, and we are looking to use the full capabilities of this system to support the pharmacy teams and become a more efficient and truly paperless department.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will undertake duties involved in the provision of the clinical trials service within the pharmacy department, operating within procedures and current legislation governing the management of clinical trials and pharmaceuticals.
• All Clinical trials must be carried out in accordance with current UK Clinical Trial Regulations, the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) regulation 2004 (EU Clinical Trial Directive) and all updates, together with ICH GCP guidelines and departmental procedures and ensure provision of a high‑quality service to patients and staff at the Royal Marsden.
• As a member of the pharmacy clinical trials team you will be required to ensure that all of the relevant legislation and guidelines are adhered to at all times.
• Co‑ordinate and maintain the Clinical Trials service in accordance with current UK Clinical Trial Regulations, the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) regulation 2004 (EU Clinical Trial Directive) and all updates, together with ICH GCP guidelines and departmental procedures.
• Setting up new clinical trials at RM, attending set‑up meetings and working closely with Clinical Research Associates, Connect Team and Research Nurses.
• Be responsible for preparing set up pharmacy paperwork ensuring they are clear and concise and assist with nurses preparation guidelines for clinical trials as per set up timelines.
• Be responsible for checking set up pharmacy paperwork ensuring they are clear and concise and assist with nurses preparation guidelines for clinical trials as per set up timelines.
• Be responsible for ensuring that all pharmacy procedures are in place in time for recruitment of the first patient to a new clinical trial.
• Ensure storage condition records and accurate expiry records for clinical trials are kept up to date and archived for future reference.
• Be responsible for accurate record keeping and drug accountability of clinical trials.
• Be responsible for the accountability of clinical trial ‘returns’. Ensuring returns are stored safely but separately from other trial stock until disposed of as instructed by the clinical trial sponsors.
• Be responsible for the maintenance of pharmacy clinical trial site files, computer and written records.
• To review and process protocol amendments promptly and accurately ensuring that pharmacy paperwork is updated and new procedures are put in place as per amendment timelines.
• Be responsible for the ‘closing down’ of completed trials and maintaining archiving records.
• Liaise between research nurses and Pharmacy aseptic services with regards to the preparation of trial chemotherapy.
• To assist in the preparation of chemotherapy manual worksheets for clinical trials wherever appropriate.

Person specification

• Education/Qualifications
• NVQ level 3/BTEC equivalent in Pharmaceutical Science
• Registered as a pharmacy technician with GPhC
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) qualification or qualification will be required to be undertaken as per required timeframes
• Current certified ICH‑GCP training
• Practice Supervisor course or equivalent

• Experience
• Work experience (post qualification) in hospital pharmacy
• Clinical Trial experience
• Experience in aseptic preparation
• Experience of team leader or suitable management
• Working knowledge/experience of writing SOPs
• Experience of working with EPIC system and EDGE

• Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Well‑developed organisational, time management and planning skills; ability to organise workload
• Good communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal) with members of the public and other healthcare professionals
• Computer literate – Ability to use Microsoft office applications eg Word, Excel and Outlook with Intermediate level experience

• Other Requirements
• Calm under pressure, maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Adaptable to change
• Prepared to take responsibility and able to work without direct supervision
• Approachable and reliable with a good attendance record
• Demonstrate initiative: proactive and self‑motivated
• Able to work on both sites and to be flexible to meet the needs of the role
• Interest in oncology and medical research

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application. All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.