The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Production Operative

The closing date is 04 December 2025

Job summary

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

Newcastle Specials and Pharmacy Production Unit 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 seventy technical staff provide the Pharmacy Production Service across the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital sites. Services provided comprise a range of activities from non-sterile manufacture to the aseptic dispensing of chemotherapy.

Interview date: 19th 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.
As part of the unlicensed team your main duties will include the assembly and disinfection of pharmaceutical starting materials prior to preparation, and as part of the licensed team your main duties would be pharmaceutical manufacture of sterile and non-sterile products. Post holders will also be involved in monitoring and preparation of facilities, and stock management.
It is essential that applicants have GCSE's (minimum Grade 4 or equivalent) in English Language and mathematics. Please ensure that GCSE equivalent grades are recorded on application form, and be prepared to provide evidence of grades at interview.
An accredited training will be provided and there is a commitment to study for a GPhC approved level 2 qualification.
Development opportunities for successful applicants include potential internal promotion to R3 Senior Production Operative and potential opportunity to undertake a Science Manufacturing Technician qualification which would qualify applicants to apply for R5 Specialist Technician posts.
Candidates must be available to work shift patterns between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday, and be able to support Saturday and bank holiday service, as this will be a requirement as the service expands.

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 around 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospital

o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)

o Newcastle Dental Hospital

o Newcastle Fertility Centre

o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

o Northern Genetics Service

o 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

Date posted

27 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,483 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-47-34-DR

Job locations

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP

Job description

Job responsibilities

To carry under the supervision of senior technical staff the preparation and / or manufacture of products from raw materials, having successfully completed the inhouse induction programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
Provides technical support to production services including carrying out routine procedures in the ordering, packing, distribution and storage of pharmaceuticals.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To carry under the supervision of senior technical staff the preparation and / or manufacture of products from raw materials, having successfully completed the inhouse induction programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
Provides technical support to production services including carrying out routine procedures in the ordering, packing, distribution and storage of pharmaceuticals.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language
Must undertake and complete a GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role
Literacy and Numeracy (minimum score 10)

Desirable

Previous relevant experience

Knowledge

Desirable

Knowledge of a range of pharmacy working practices
Aware of the importance of Health and Safety and hygiene in the work place

Experience

Desirable

Previous hospital or production experience
Experience of working in a clean room environment

Skills

Essential

Good oral communication
Good written communication
Excellent customer care
Ability to demonstrate good manual dexterity
Ability to prioritise
General keyboard skills

Desirable

Willing and able to follow written procedures

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language
Must undertake and complete a GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role
Literacy and Numeracy (minimum score 10)

Desirable

Previous relevant experience

Knowledge

Desirable

Knowledge of a range of pharmacy working practices
Aware of the importance of Health and Safety and hygiene in the work place

Experience

Desirable

Previous hospital or production experience
Experience of working in a clean room environment

Skills

Essential

Good oral communication
Good written communication
Excellent customer care
Ability to demonstrate good manual dexterity
Ability to prioritise
General keyboard skills

Desirable

Willing and able to follow written procedures

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).

Additional information