Quality Supplier Management Apprentice

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharmaceutical company is offering a Quality Supplier Management Apprenticeship based in Macclesfield. This role includes supporting quality oversight in the pharmaceutical development activities, while studying for a BSc (Hons) degree in Bioscience. Successful candidates will engage in projects that have real impact and will receive a competitive salary of £24,570 along with a benefits fund and bonus. The program encourages growth and development in a supportive environment.

Benefits

11% benefits fund

Bonus

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths, English & Science (Grade A-C/9-4).
• A Levels including one in Biology (grades BCC - 104 UCAS Points).
• The apprentice must be self-motivated and organized.

Responsibilities

• Support Quality Supplier Management activities.
• Conduct scientific investigations according to procedures.
• Develop practical solutions to quality issues.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisation skills

Problem solving skills

Analytical skills

Team working

Initiative

Education

5 GCSEs including Maths, English & Science

A Levels (one being Biology)

Job description

• At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. We're deeply committed to our strategy of being a great place to work. For us, that includes fostering an environment where everyone can be among inclusive, supportive individuals with curious minds
• A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you'll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore
• As part of our Early Talent Programme, you'll be involved in projects and learning opportunities that have real impact from day one
• Being part of our journey and helping us to provide life‑changing medicine to patients all over the world and transform lives for the better
• Making important contributions and embracing our values to deliver on our purpose. Because regardless of role or level, we all have an important part to play in making a positive difference.
• The Development Quality function is responsible for quality oversight of the pharmaceutical development activities in AstraZeneca. The Quality Supplier Management Apprentice role has a broad range of responsibilities to ensure all internal and external requirements are fulfilled for the AstraZeneca projects in the development phase.
• As a Quality Supplier Management (QSM) Apprentice, you will support the Quality team in ensuring that our external suppliers meet the standards needed to safely and effectively develop AstraZeneca (AZ) medicines. You will learn how quality oversight works and play an important role in helping maintain AZ's reputation for high‑quality science and product development.
• In this role, you will:
• Work alongside project and sourcing teams to learn how to use science‑based risk management to identify potential quality issues and help develop practical solutions.
• Support the Quality Supplier Management activities related to the development, manufacture, testing, release, and distribution of Drug Substance, Drug Product, and Investigational Medicinal Products for clinical trials.
• Help monitor and improve supplier performance by applying the Quality Supplier Management Lifecycle under guidance from experienced colleagues.
• Build strong working relationships and develop your scientific understanding of the products and processes you will be supporting.
• AstraZeneca will sponsor you through your Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship including studying to complete a BSc (Hons) degree in Bioscience at Manchester Metropolitan University https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/courses/scientist-bioscience
• The apprenticeship combines working, earning a full‑time salary, with fully funded part‑time university learning (on average 1 day/week). This will give you the opportunity to gain a qualification, just as you would if you went to university full‑time, with the advantage of gaining relevant work‑life skills and the excitement of helping to develop new medicines whilst taking your first steps towards a rewarding career
• Additionally, the apprenticeships are recognised by the relevant professional bodies at Registered Scientist (RSci) level, for which there is a requirement that the scientist will participate in subsequent continuing professional development on completion of the apprenticeship
• We truly value Early Talent – their thoughts, ideas and contributions. So throughout the programme, you'll be encouraged and inspired to speak up, have a voice and make an impact, Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow‑up experiments.
• Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
• Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
• Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
• Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
• Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
• Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
• Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
• Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi‑skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
• Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
• Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
• Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
• Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
• Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
• Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
• Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
• Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
• Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
• Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
• Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
• Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
• Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
• Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
• Recommend synthetic pathways to target‑compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
• Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
• Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
• Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
• Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
• Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
• Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
• Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
• Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
• Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
• Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
• Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
• Design, develop and carry out biological investigations.
• Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
• Use of laboratory automation systems.
• Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
• Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow‑up experiments.
• Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
• Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
• Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
• Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
• Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
• Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
• Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
• Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi‑skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
• Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
• Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
• Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
• Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
• Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
• Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
• Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
• Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
• Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
• Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
• Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
• Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
• Training schedule
• Apprentices work full‑time whilst studying towards a BSc (Hons) Bioscience degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a Level 6 degree apprenticeship
• Students study a tutor‑supported e‑distance learning curriculum and attend residential schools. The work‑based projects, negotiated with employers, offer students the opportunity to apply their learning directly to their organisation
• The programme is primarily taught through tutor‑supported online study, part‑time over four years
• Apprentices will attend a two‑day induction at the University to help them get to know each other and balance undergraduate study with working full‑time
• They will also attend a week‑long residential at our campus in central Manchester once a year, in addition to a two‑day mini‑residential in the first year
  GCSE in:
• 5 GCSEs (including Maths, English & Science) (grade A-C/9-4)
• A Level in: Various (with one being Biology) (grade BCC (104 UCAS Points)) Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
• Communication skills
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Literacy skills
• Self‑motivated
• Work independently, The apprentice must be able to demonstrate the required attitudes, behaviours and interpersonal skills associated with the professional workplace. The apprentice must be willing to commit an amount of personal time to study. This is a 4 year Fixed Term Contract opportunity based in Macclesfield offering £24,570 starting base salary + 11% benefits fund + bonus. Successful candidates will be asked to attend a virtual Assessment Day on 24th and 25th March 2026. These positions are not open to those already educated to Bachelors degree level or above.
• At AstraZeneca we believe in the potential of our people and as an apprentice you will be given the opportunity to develop beyond your wildest dreams. We are looking for people who can share our passion for science & technology so if you feel you have the drive and determination to help us to deliver first‑class medicines to meet the needs of patients around the world, then we invite you to apply. Our scientific research, development and technological innovation is well respected in the industry and we support our people, helping them to go above and beyond their expectations. As a global, science‑led biopharmaceutical business, our focus is on creating and developing new medicines that make a meaningful difference to patients' lives and the UK is at the heart of our efforts to do that.