Production Operative

Newcastle Hospitals; Newcastle upon Tyne; Remote; GBP 12,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Production Operative to join the Pharmacy Production Service at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital. You will work as part of a team to assemble and manufacture sterile and non-sterile products, with involvement in facility monitoring and stock management.

Candidates should have GCSE English and Maths, and are encouraged to undertake a GPhC level 2 qualification.

Qualifications

• GCSEs (minimum Grade 4) in English Language and Mathematics.
• Accredited training will be provided; commitment to study for a GPhC level 2 qualification.
• GCSE equivalent grades should be recorded on application and evidenced at interview.

Responsibilities

• Carry out preparation and / or manufacture of products from raw materials under supervision.
• Provide technical support to production services, including ordering, packing, distribution and storage of pharmaceuticals.

Skills

Good oral communication

Excellent customer care

Manual dexterity

Prioritisation

Written procedures

Education

GCSE in Mathematics and English Language

GPhC approved level 2 qualification

Literacy and Numeracy (minimum score 10)

Job description

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Production Operative

The closing date is 05 November 2026

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.

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.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

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

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

• 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)

KNOWLEDGE

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

EXPERIENCE

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

SKILLS

• Good oral communication
• Excellent customer care
• Ability to demonstrate good manual dexterity
• Ability to prioritise
• 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.

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust