The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Warehouse Operative

The closing date is 16 November 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a reliable, conscientious and practical individual to work within our team based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital.

Newcastle Specials/Production Services is housed in the purpose built Production and Quality Control facility on the Royal Victoria Infirmary site with a Cytotoxic Dispensing Unit based on NCCC, Freeman Hospital.

A core team of twelve Pharmacists and over seventy Technical and support staff provide the Pharmacy Production Service across the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman hospital sites. The specialist services provided comprise a range of activities from non-sterile manufacture of Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) to the aseptic dispensing of chemotherapy. A wide range of specialist GMP equipment is also in operation across all facilities.

  • Interview Date Wednesday 03 December 2025
  • 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
  • You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

You will join our large team of staff working in busy department providing an efficient pharmaceutical service to patients. Based in the Pharmacy Production Unit Store, your main duties will include overseeing and carrying out tasks including receipt, stock management, appropriate storage and distribution of pharmaceutical starting materials and finished products. You will participate in efficient handling and accuracy checking of customer order in accordance with SOP's and GDP. You will use a range of pharmacy and NHS ordering and supply chains, to maintain efficient stock holding, and avoid unnecessary waste. You will also be expected to support Business Office and general admin activities. Applicant must hold GCSE's (minimum Grade 4 or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics or have Pharmacy Production Store experience. They must have experience of working in a busy store environment, have good verbal and written communication skills and be able to demonstrate good customer care skills. Candidates must also have excellent keyboard skills as the role involves admin activities.

A GPhC Level 2 qualification is desirable for the post, or the successful candidate must commence study within 6 months of appointment.

About us

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.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,954 to £26,669 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-45-35-DR

Job locations

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To carry out the full range of Senior Warehouse Operative duties including, overseeing and carrying out routine procedures in ordering, stock management, appropriate storage, and distribution of pharmaceutical starting materials and finished products having successfully completed the in-house competency-based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GDP and current licencing regulations.
  • Using pharmacy, Trust and NHS ordering systems and supply chains, to ensure starting materials are ordered and received in a timely manner to ensure consistent supply to the Pharmacy Production Unit.
  • Daily communication with multidisciplinary range of internal and external procurement personnel regarding orders, supply and stock issues and discrepancies.
  • Oversees and participates in the efficient handling and accuracy checking of internal and external customer orders.
  • Liaise directly with patients and Homecare Service users, regarding delivery and collection of pharmaceutical products, consumables and waste.
  • Coordinates and participates in stock check programme within Production Stores.
  • Ensures documentation is completed accurately and efficiently in accordance with local SOPs and licencing regulations. To ensure appropriate storage of documentation for required retention period, both on site and off.
  • Provides technical support to including carrying out routine and complex investigations into stock shortages and identifies alternate suppliers, often at short notice and to a tight deadline.
  • Supports quality systems by participating in Pharmacy Production Unit error and adverse event recording and investigation.
  • Deliver specific aspects of training to Warehouse Operative staff, as defined by Section Lead Business and Logistics.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To carry out the full range of Senior Warehouse Operative duties including, overseeing and carrying out routine procedures in ordering, stock management, appropriate storage, and distribution of pharmaceutical starting materials and finished products having successfully completed the in-house competency-based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GDP and current licencing regulations.
  • Using pharmacy, Trust and NHS ordering systems and supply chains, to ensure starting materials are ordered and received in a timely manner to ensure consistent supply to the Pharmacy Production Unit.
  • Daily communication with multidisciplinary range of internal and external procurement personnel regarding orders, supply and stock issues and discrepancies.
  • Oversees and participates in the efficient handling and accuracy checking of internal and external customer orders.
  • Liaise directly with patients and Homecare Service users, regarding delivery and collection of pharmaceutical products, consumables and waste.
  • Coordinates and participates in stock check programme within Production Stores.
  • Ensures documentation is completed accurately and efficiently in accordance with local SOPs and licencing regulations. To ensure appropriate storage of documentation for required retention period, both on site and off.
  • Provides technical support to including carrying out routine and complex investigations into stock shortages and identifies alternate suppliers, often at short notice and to a tight deadline.
  • Supports quality systems by participating in Pharmacy Production Unit error and adverse event recording and investigation.
  • Deliver specific aspects of training to Warehouse Operative staff, as defined by Section Lead Business and Logistics.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

  • GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language OR previous hospital Pharmacy Production Store experience
  • GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role or must commence study within 6 months of appointment
  • Production induction period of four weeks and initial training period of six months to gain practical experience of work activities (routine duties) and a working knowledge of standard operating procedures

Desirable

  • Completion of in-house competency-based training

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a store's environment
  • Experience of working in a busy environment
  • Must meet General Pharmaceutical Council guidelines which states pharmacy support staff must be able to demonstrate a range of work procedures and practices with base level of theoretical knowledge and understanding of the duties carried out within the role
  • Knowledge of temperature monitoring
  • Knowledge of pharmaceutical receipt, storage and distribution
  • Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace

Desirable

  • Theoretical knowledge and practical experience of Good Distribution Practice
  • Awareness of COSHH and health and safety in the workplace
  • Experience in a pharmaceutical production environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • An ability to follow written standard operating procedures
  • Excellent keyboard skills
  • Good training skills
  • Effective organisational skills
  • Good written and oral communication skills
  • Good customer care skills
  • Able to manage own workload and use own initiative
  • Ability to work accurately
Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

  • GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language OR previous hospital Pharmacy Production Store experience
  • GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role or must commence study within 6 months of appointment
  • Production induction period of four weeks and initial training period of six months to gain practical experience of work activities (routine duties) and a working knowledge of standard operating procedures

Desirable

  • Completion of in-house competency-based training

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a store's environment
  • Experience of working in a busy environment
  • Must meet General Pharmaceutical Council guidelines which states pharmacy support staff must be able to demonstrate a range of work procedures and practices with base level of theoretical knowledge and understanding of the duties carried out within the role
  • Knowledge of temperature monitoring
  • Knowledge of pharmaceutical receipt, storage and distribution
  • Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace

Desirable

  • Theoretical knowledge and practical experience of Good Distribution Practice
  • Awareness of COSHH and health and safety in the workplace
  • Experience in a pharmaceutical production environment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • An ability to follow written standard operating procedures
  • Excellent keyboard skills
  • Good training skills
  • Effective organisational skills
  • Good written and oral communication skills
  • Good customer care skills
  • Able to manage own workload and use own initiative
  • Ability to work accurately

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operations Manager Production & Preparation

Lisa Hunter-Blair

lisa.hunter-blair@nhs.net

01912825030

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,954 to £26,669 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-45-35-DR

Job locations

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)