Quality Control Lead Microbiologist

Esneft; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

ESNEFT is seeking a Band 8a Quality Control Lead Microbiologist based at Colchester Hospital (with cross-site work to Ipswich). You will lead microbiological quality activities, oversee sterility and environmental monitoring, and ensure compliance with MHRA and licensing requirements.

The role requires strong leadership, advisory and investigative capabilities in a NHS setting. You will provide expert support on contamination control, risk assessment and CAPAs, while contributing to QA

Qualifications

• Band 8a level Quality Control Microbiologist lead.
• Expertise in GMP, MHRA requirements and pharmaceutical licences.
• Experience in sterility, environmental monitoring, contamination control.
• Leadership and mentoring of QC staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate microbiological quality activities within Pharmacy Technical Services, ensuring compliant operation of licensed manufacturing and preparation facilities.
• Oversee environmental monitoring programmes, analyse microbiological trends and manage contamination control systems.
• Act as releasing officer and provide expert microbiological quality advice maintaining MHRA guidance and governance.
• Support validation, qualification and continuous improvement projects, audits and staff development.

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Department for a Band 8a Quality Control Lead Microbiologist. This key role will act as the GMP QC Lead Microbiologist for ESNEFT, providing expert microbiological support and ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements for all pharmaceutical licences held by the Trust.

Working alongside the Head of Pharmacy Quality Assurance, you will be responsible for ensuring microbiological compliance within the PQS, supporting adherence to GMP, MHRA requirements and the standards associated with the Trust's pharmaceutical licences. You will contribute to service development, governance, patient safety, risk management and continuous quality improvement.

The role will involve providing specialist expertise in sterility assurance, environmental monitoring, contamination control, microbiological risk assessment and investigation management. You will support the development of new products, facilities and technologies, contribute to clinical trials activity, and provide leadership, mentoring and professional support to colleagues involved in quality assurance activities.

You will be based at Colchester Hospital, with cross site working to Ipswich, and where required to support service needs, participate in weekend and unsocial hours duties. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced microbiology professional to help shape and advance pharmacy quality assurance services within a progressive NHS organisation.

Main Duties of the Role

You will lead and coordinate microbiological quality activities within Pharmacy Technical Services, ensuring safe and compliant operation of licensed manufacturing and preparation facilities. Key responsibilities include overseeing environmental monitoring programmes, analysing microbiological trends, reviewing sterility assurance data, identifying and characterising microorganisms, and managing contamination control systems.

You will act as a releasing officer and provide expert advice on microbiological quality, supporting the maintenance of pharmaceutical licences and compliance with MHRA guidance and Trust governance requirements. The role includes leading investigations into microbiological excursions, deviations and quality events, performing root cause analyses, assessing patient and product risk, and ensuring effective corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) are implemented.

You will support validation, qualification and continuous improvement projects, contribute to research and clinical trials activity, deliver specialist training, and provide professional guidance to pharmacy, technical and quality assurance staff. You will also participate in audits, service development initiatives, staff recruitment and performance management, while helping to ensure high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance are maintained across both ESNEFT sites.

For further information about this role please contact:

Mina Tawfik, Head of Pharmacy QA/QC, [e-mail] 01206745243

Interview date: 23rd November 2026.

Working at ESNEFT

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Sponsorship Eligibility

To comply with UK Government regulations on sponsorship we are unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold. Full guidance on sponsorship can be found Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

Notes

Please note that where response levels are exceptional we may close the post before the specified date, therefore early application is recommended.

In line with AfC Terms and Conditions new entrants to NHS will commence on the entry level of the salary

If you require any information in an alternative format or have any access needs for the application process, please contact us.