Quality Assurance Releasing Officer

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Funded external training

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Quality Assurance Releasing Officer (Band 6) to join the Pharmacy QA/QC team at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. The post involves leading role in the Quality Control laboratory and releasing sterile and non-sterile medicinal products under the MHRA specials licence.

You will work with a dedicated QA team to uphold pharmaceutical quality and patient safety, with opportunities for development and funded external training.

Qualifications

• Relevant science degree or equivalent.
• Member of a professional bodies (e.g. Royal Society of Biology/ Royal Society of Chemistry/ RPS/GPC) or eligible to register.
• Postgraduate qualification (e.g. PTQA, STP) or willingness to complete appropriate formal training.
• COSHH and/or risk assessor certification.

Responsibilities

• Support QA/QC function for GMP-compliant manufacturing of medicinal products.
• Release medicines as QC Releasing Officer.
• Assist investigations, quality systems and environmental monitoring.
• Maintain compliance with GMP/GLP and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to safe and timely release of medicinal products.

Skills

GMP knowledge

Analytical skills

IT/Data analysis

Workload planning

Risk assessment

GLP knowledge

Quality systems

Education

Science degree (relevant)

Professional body membership

Postgraduate qualification (PTQA/STP)

COSHH/risk assessor

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Job ref 387-DT4720-LMH

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Bristol Royal Infirmary Town Bristol Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 23/11/2026

Quality Assurance Releasing Officer

Band 6

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

We're delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to join our close-knit Quality Assurance team at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, where you'll take a leading role in our Quality Control laboratory and serve as a Releasing Officer for sterile and non-sterile medicinal products, manufactured under our MHRA 'specials' licence.

You'll be supported by a small, dedicated team of Quality Assurance Technical Officers, working collaboratively to uphold the highest standards of pharmaceutical quality and patient safety.

This role is ideal for someone looking to develop a career in Quality Assurance, with hands-on experience in product release and laboratory oversight. We are deeply committed to staff development and will provide:

• Funded external training opportunitiestailored to your personal development goals

If you're passionate about quality, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to make a meaningful impact in healthcare, we'll love to hear from you.

Please note that this vacancy is subject to an applicant cap and may close earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications are received.

Main duties of the job

Pharmacy Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) provide specialist support to Technical Services within University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring that all pharmacy manufacturing activities comply with relevant regulatory and quality standards. The service works collaboratively across manufacturing units to maintain patient safety, product quality, and the timely supply of medicines.

The primary purpose of this role is to support the delivery of the Quality Assurance function by contributing to the effective management of the Quality Control Laboratory, undertaking duties as a QC Releasing Officer, and providing specialist QA and QC technical support to pharmaceutical manufacturing services. The post holder will play a key role in maintaining compliance with Godd Manufacturing Practice and other applicable regulatory requirements, supporting investigations, quality systems, environmental monitoring, and the release of medicinal products.

The post holder will normally work Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, with occasional out-of-hours working required to support service needs.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston. With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the Job Description & Person Specification for full details of the job role and responsibilities.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Relevant science degree or equivalent
• Member of a professional bodies (Royal Society of Biology, Royal Society of Chemistry or the Royal Pharmaceutical Society/General Pharmaceutical Council) or eligibility to register as a member
• Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. PTQA, STP) or willingness to complete appropriate formal training for subsequent qualification
• COSHH and/or risk assessor

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• In depth knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and related legislation
• Good analytical skills and working with accuracy/precision
• Good IT skills including data analysis through the application of databases
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload on daily and monthly basis
• Ability to act independently and always consider the safety implications of product release over request for product
• Good knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• Ability to assess and manage risk in relation to manufacture and testing of medicinal products
• Basic knowledge of microbiology

Experience

• Minimum two years post-qualification relevant GMP experience
• Experience of working with a Pharmaceutical Quality Management System
• Substantial experience of aseptic preparation
• Experience of releasing medicinal products
• Experience of working in a laboratory undertaking analysis
• Able to complete routine and repetitive tasks within defined guidelines and procedures

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Marc Lennon Job title Deputy Pharmacy Quality Assurance Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0117 342 2370

If you have problems applying, contact

Address People & Transformation Division North Bristol NHS Trust Southmead Hospital BS10 5NB Telephone [phone]