Senior Assistant Technical Officer

NHS; Stockport; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Stockport is looking for a Laboratory Support Technician to assist in microbiological and chemical testing to ensure pharmaceutical products are safe for patient use. The ideal candidate will have relevant science education and analytical skills, working under the supervision of senior scientists. This full-time position offers various benefits including generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme membership.

Benefits

27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays

NHS pension scheme membership

Salary sacrifice schemes

NHS staff discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Essential: Relevant experience.
• Broad range of micro techniques.
• Good health and flexibility to cover occasional out-of-hours working.

Responsibilities

• Carry out microbiological and chemical testing under supervision.
• Ensure safety of medicines through testing.
• Communicate difficulties in a timely manner.

Skills

Analytical skills

Manual dexterity

Time management

Numeracy

Record keeping

Team/Independent work

Good IT skills

Education

Relevant science A level or BTEC

Relevant science degree

Job description

Overview

To maintain the microbiology and chemistry support areas in a suitable condition including tasks associated with ensuring laboratory and equipment are clean and orderly.

To ensure pharmaceutical products are fit for patient use by carrying out microbiological, physical and chemical testing using a range of classical and instrumental techniques and working under the supervision of a qualified and experienced analyst.

Main duties

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out a limited range of microbiological, physical and chemical tests on starting materials, packaging materials and pharmaceutical products to established specifications.

To sample raw materials from the production unit with particular regard to, avoidance of cross contamination, health and safety and adequate labelling.

To ensure chemicals used in pharmaceutical analysis are accurately prepared, stored, labelled and disposed of in accordance with laboratory procedures.

To perform regular inspection of reagents, chemicals reference materials and microbiological media.

To ensure glassware is ready to use.

To perform calibration checks on glassware using accurate analytical technique, and to produce and maintain accurate records.

To perform microbiological and chemical analysis on water and environmental samples in accordance with procedures, using a range of classical and instrumental techniques.

To perform routine downloads of temperature records from laboratory areas, to assess compliance.

Under supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out the calibration of a full range of laboratory equipment to predetermined time-scales.

To work at all times in accordance with the departmental Quality Manual.

To keep accurate records of all work performed.

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Details

Date posted: 30 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 3

Salary: £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 362-A-25-7507673

Job locations: Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport, SK2 7JE

Job responsibilities

Communications

• To participate in staff meetings.
• To take accurate messages and ensure they are passed to the intended recipient.
• To communicate difficulties to senior staff in a timely manner to minimise delay in sample release.
• To communicate verbally with Production and Aseptic Unit staff where necessary to resolve sample receipt problems.
• To communicate verbally to team members any urgent special requests accompanying samples.

Responsibility for Patient Care

• To ensure safety of medicines by carrying out, under supervision, a limited range of microbiological and chemical testing on packaging and starting materials and finished pharmaceutical products.
• Under supervision, to carry out correct evaluation of data and production of laboratory reports for submission to the Senior Scientists.
• To work to predetermined time scales ensuring timely release of products.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

Visa sponsorship

Important Notice on Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

Please note that whilst the trust does offer sponsorship this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Health and Care Worker visa route. This is due to the position not meeting the minimum salary threshold of £25,000 per annum and/or the required skill level set by UK Visas and Immigration.

We appreciate your interest in this opportunity and encourage applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK.

Person Specification

Education

• Essential: Education - relevant science A level or BTEC

Desirable: Education - relevant science degree

Knowledge

• Essential: Broad range of micro techniques

Skills

• Essential: Analytical skills, manual dexterity, time management, numeracy, record keeping, team/independent work etc
• Essential: Good IT skills

Experience

• Essential: Relevant experience

Work related circumstances

• Essential: Good health and flexibility to cover occasional OOH working

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 details

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport, SK2 7JE

Website: http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)