Senior Quality Control Operative | The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Overview

The candidate will be working with the Quality Assurance and Quality Control team based in the Quality Control Laboratory within the Pharmacy Production Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary to support the Quality Assurance team.

The role will primarily involve daily assessments of unlicensed medicines received, which will involve attention to detail, documentation and IT skills. There will also be scope for assessments of other material received such as packaging components and consumables, and if the candidate has the correct skills to support scheduled tasks within the QC Laboratory.

Responsibilities

The Senior Quality Control Operative will be responsible for undertaking a range of duties necessary to support the Quality Assurance team and the Pharmaceutical Quality Control service to operate in an efficient, safe and effective manner.

Duties will include the daily assessment of unlicensed medicines received by the Trust. This involves following approved specifications, documenting the outcome and maintaining electronic records. All deviations from the specifications must be reported as may impact the suitability of the unlicensed medicines for use.

The candidate will support the QA team in other activities associated with the Pharmaceutical Quality System and Document Control.

The candidate will also be involved in other tasks to support the Quality Laboratory such as the assessment of packaging components, managing laboratory stock levels and ensuring orders are raised and correctly processed on receipt.

There is an in‑house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Quality Control.

• To carry out the full range of duties including receipt, processing, sampling and testing of raw materials, packaging materials and certain defined products, having successfully completed the in‑house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
• To liaise with external organisations to source certification for raw materials and packaging materials.
• Assist in the product releasing process by transferring released items from quarantine to the Production Store.
• To send samples off site to a contract laboratory ensuring all documentation is completed. To receive completed results and file appropriately.
• Assist in inputting environmental monitoring results into the database.
• To maintain stock levels of analytical reagents and chemicals in the QC Lab.
• To prepare orders, check all analytical reagents and chemicals on receipt and ensure they are correctly stored and documentation processes completed.
• To ensure that used laboratory glassware is cleaned, dried, and returned to the appropriate storage thus avoiding cross contamination and the invalidation of analytical results.
• Assist the Trust Quality Controller and other QC/QA staff by photocopying and distributing approved copies of authorised documentation.
• Assist in the training of rotational staff assigned to the QC Laboratory.
• Storage and organisation of reference samples and destruction when appropriate.
• Complete the daily equipment checks.

Qualifications

Suitable candidates should possess and state on their application a GCSE (minimum Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics, a science‑based subject and English Language or previous relevant experience.

Flexible Working

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.

Advert Closes

This advert closes on Tuesday 21 Apr 2026.

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