Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Pharmacy Officer - Quality Assurance (B5)

The closing date is 09 March 2026

Job summary

We are looking for a motivated individual with excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills who is dedicated to working as part of the team.

Applications are invited for a Specialist Pharmacy Officer to work within the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Department and to join the Pharmacy Aseptic Production Service as well as the wider Pharmacy Team at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (formerly Southend University Hospital FT, Basildon & Thurrock University Hospital FT and Mid Essex Hospital Trust).

As a Specialist Pharmacy Officer, you will be responsible for the duties relating to the preparationforrelease of items prepared or procured under the Trusts MHRA MS and WDA licences; these include a wide range of Ready to Administer products, Pre-packed and Overlabelled products, and Radiopharmaceuticals.

You will also contribute to the operations of the departments Pharmaceutical Quality System and assist with the provision of expert advice on all Quality matters that support the wider Pharmacy department.

If you are interested in the role and believe you hold the qualities we require, then apply today!

Main duties of the job

Following departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures of the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Unit and Pharmacy Services
Checking of documentation generated by other Pharmacy staff in the preparation of pharmaceutical products,
Planning and organising of individual workload,
Carrying out testing of environments in which pharmaceutical products are prepared to GMP standards,
Carrying out microbial identifications in relation to pharmaceutical products and the environments in which they are produced,
Using your judgment to take appropriate action in relation to results of testing or other information,
Participating in the temperature monitoring programme for Pharmaceutical environments,
Data entry to and maintenance of databases in Pharmacy Quality Assurance.

Although the Pharmacy QA team is relatively small, it is comprised of personnel of various grades who support one another to promote and maintain the highest standards in order to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of the medicines prepared.

The Head of Quality is actively developingprogressionpathways within the department to allow suitable candidates to fulfill their career potential.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust

Date posted

23 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 a year Per Annum(Pro Rata for Part Time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

390-CSS-SO-0048

Job locations

Southend

Prittlewell Chase

Westcliff-on-Sea

SS0 0RY

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include:

Diligently following departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures
Accuracy checking batch documentation prior to submission for release,
Preparing and gathering supporting documentation for Unlicensed medicines,
Performing testing of environments to schedule,
Determining microbial identifications from environmental media plates,
Taking appropriate action in relation to out of specification results.

We look forward to your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include:

Diligently following departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures
Accuracy checking batch documentation prior to submission for release,
Preparing and gathering supporting documentation for Unlicensed medicines,
Performing testing of environments to schedule,
Determining microbial identifications from environmental media plates,
Taking appropriate action in relation to out of specification results.

We look forward to your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Pharmacy Technician holding BTEC Level 3 or equivalent qualification or Science Degree
Specialist courses in Quality Assurance or related specialty

Other

Desirable

Ability to drive or otherwise travel between the locations of internal/external Trusts.

Experience

Essential

Demonstrable post qualification Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Distribution Practice experience
Keyboard skills and IT knowledge - the ability to use basic word processing and spreadsheets as a minimum.

Desirable

Previous experience of working within a Scientific or Technical Services environment.
Basic understanding of Pharmaceutical microbiology and its impact on product quality and patient safety.
Expert IT knowledge - the ability to produce high quality word processed documents and to manipulate/present data located in spreadsheets.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Pharmacy Technician holding BTEC Level 3 or equivalent qualification or Science Degree
Specialist courses in Quality Assurance or related specialty

Other

Desirable

Ability to drive or otherwise travel between the locations of internal/external Trusts.

Experience

Essential

Demonstrable post qualification Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Distribution Practice experience
Keyboard skills and IT knowledge - the ability to use basic word processing and spreadsheets as a minimum.

Desirable

Previous experience of working within a Scientific or Technical Services environment.
Basic understanding of Pharmaceutical microbiology and its impact on product quality and patient safety.
Expert IT knowledge - the ability to produce high quality word processed documents and to manipulate/present data located in spreadsheets.

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

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Southend

Prittlewell Chase

Westcliff-on-Sea

SS0 0RY

Employer's website

https://www.mse.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Southend

Prittlewell Chase

Westcliff-on-Sea

SS0 0RY

Employer's website

https://www.mse.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)