Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Production Manager - Pharmacy Aseptic Services

The closing date is 10 September 2025

Job summary

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen to take a pivotal leadership role in our pharmacy aseptic services unit. As Production Manager you will provide day-to-day leadership within the cleanrooms, overseeing the aseptic preparation activities and ensuring compliance with GMP regulations. You will have the unique opportunity to influence production processes, training and culture working closely with the Associate Director of Pharmacy- Infusions and Special Medicines.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the development of our service in our newly refurbished facility and shape it's future. If you're passionate about leadership, operational excellence and making a real impact on patient care, we'd love to hear from you.

The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust is very keen to ensure an equal and diverse workplace. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with a disability as currently there is underrepresentation within the senior pharmacy professional leadership.

Main duties of the job

1. To manage the work of technicians and pharmacy assistants on a day-to-day basis under the professional direction of the Associate Director and to allocate work to all grades of staff.

To promote a collaborative and inclusive management approach that prioritises teamwork and inclusion from all members of our team, ensuring that everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.

To manage the daily work of the pharmacy aseptic services unit and aseptic preparation services, ensuring best use of resources and the safe, timely and cost-effective supply of products to internal and external customers of the trust.

To participate with the Associate Director in the planning and development of the aseptic manufacturing unit and aseptic preparation services.

All roles in the team are considered developmental. As such, and in line with seeking to provide fairness and equal access to opportunities, the recruitment decision will take account of potential in candidates. To this end, demonstrating commitment to meeting the role criteria will be accounted for alongside already having met criteria.

About us

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

Details

Date posted

02 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

1798720

Job locations

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services with appropriate underpinning knowledge (or equivalent).
  • Attendance at Leeds University APDM course or equivalent training programme

Desirable

  • Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance (PTQA)
  • Pre and In-Process Checking and or Product Approval Accreditation Programme
  • Previous experience and an NVQ assessor or similar training qualification
  • Health and Safety qualification IOSH, NEBOSH

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Previous experience in aseptic services
  • Experience of training staff

Desirable

  • Line management experience
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services with appropriate underpinning knowledge (or equivalent).
  • Attendance at Leeds University APDM course or equivalent training programme

Desirable

  • Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance (PTQA)
  • Pre and In-Process Checking and or Product Approval Accreditation Programme
  • Previous experience and an NVQ assessor or similar training qualification
  • Health and Safety qualification IOSH, NEBOSH

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Previous experience in aseptic services
  • Experience of training staff

Desirable

  • Line management experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

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

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Director of Pharmacy

Jackie Wilkinson

jackie.wilkinson3@nhs.net

01244365678

Details

Date posted

02 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

1798720

Job locations

Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)