Senior Radiopharmacy Technician

The Christie Nhs Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is seeking an enthusiastic Radiopharmaceutical Technologist. You will contribute to aseptic dispensing, quality control, and daily Radiopharmacy operations under supervision, with training provided where needed.

The role supports regional production, environmental monitoring, and staff training, with potential progression to senior responsibilities within the department.

Qualifications

• Essential aseptic dispensing experience or willingness to train.
• Ability to work in GMP guidelines and local rules.
• UK registration with the GPhC is expected where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Operate Regional Radiopharmacy duties following regulatory requirements.
• Conduct quality control analyses (ITLC, HPLC) and pH testing.
• Support environmental and microbiological monitoring programs.
• Manage blood cell labelling services in absence of senior technologist.
• Assist training of staff and supervise junior team members.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Multitasking

Records keeping

Safety focus

Conscientiousness

Education

BTEC L3 & NVQ3 in pharmacy services

Science Degree or SMI Level 3

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Radiopharmaceutical Technologist with experience in aseptic dispensing to join our dynamic and expanding Radiopharmacy team. Experience of Radiopharmacy is desirable but full support and training will be provided to candidates who meet the other specifications.The post is advertised at band 6, however consideration would be given to a less experienced applicant to join the team as a trainee at a lower band with progression to a band 6 upon successful completion of training.

Main duties of the job

Applicants must have the ability to work in an aseptic unit under current GMP guidelines and local rules. The successful candidates will be responsible, under the supervision of the Production Manager, for the delivery of Radiopharmacy Aseptic Services, including participation in and supervising of aseptic dispensing and manufacturing activities. They would also participate in the quality control of the radiopharmaceuticals and contribute to the day to day running of the department in a proactive manner.

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Job responsibilities

1. Regional Radiopharmacy

To be part of the team that carries out the daily production of radiopharmaceuticals within the Regional Radiopharmacy, in compliance with the requirements of The Human Medicine Regulations 2012, The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and amendment 2024, The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and The Environmental Permitting Regulations. This includes:

• 1.1 Receipt of orders from customer departments
• 1.2 Preparation of the Radiopharmacy prior to each production run
• 1.3 Preparation of materials prior to Radiopharmacy production runs, including radionuclide generators
• 1.4 Participation in the complex processes for production of Tc-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals using aseptic techniques, and working with due speed and efficiency.
• 1.5 Participation in the complex processes for production of Ga-68 and In-111 Octreoscan for same-day administration to Christie patients, using aseptic techniques
• 1.6 Packaging and dispatch of QC products to other hospitals, including liaison with drivers
• 1.7 Decontamination and cleaning of the Radiopharmacy post production, including tidying of waste and restocking of consumables
• 1.8 Packaging and return of used radionuclide generators to manufacturers
• 1.9 Production of the documentation for all the above processes (in compliance with GMP and data integrity principles)
• 1.10 Proposes changes to policies and procedures
• 1.11 Acts as in-process checking technician for the Radiopharmacy routine service and maintain this practice in accordance with local policy

2. Quality control

Carries out the programme of quality control of radiopharmaceuticals produced within the Regional Radiopharmacy, in compliance with the requirements of the Medicines Act. This includes:

• 2.1 Analysis of radiochemical purity using chromatography techniques (ITLC and HPLC)
• 2.2 pH testing
• 2.3 Radionuclidic purity testing
• 2.4 Analysis of endotoxin levels
• 2.5 Ensuring that working areas are cleared after each operation

3. Environmental and microbiological monitoring

Participates in the programme of environmental and microbiological monitoring of the Radiopharmacy and blood labelling suites, to include:

• 3.1 Air quality and air flows
• 3.2 Microbiological contamination
• 3.3 Periodic monitoring of aseptic compliance for each member of staff
• 3.4 Integrity of air seals in the blood labelling suite

4. Regional blood cell labelling service

In the absence of the Senior Radiopharmaceutical Technologist, to be responsible on a day to day basis for the operation of the Regional blood cell labelling service, including:

• 4.1 Aseptic preparation of radio-labelled red and white blood cells, in multi-stage patient-critical procedures, prior to re-injection of the cells into patients for diagnostic scanning purposes
• 4.2 Liaison with customer departments for scheduling, transportation of blood to and from the customer department, and other arrangements

5. Management, supervision and training of staff

5.1 Deputises for the Senior Radiopharmaceutical Technologist in their absence.

5.2 Assists in the training of new staff and supervises the work of more junior members of the department.

6. Stock control

Responsible for stock control and ordering of pharmaceutical products, including:

• 6.1 Pharmaceutical products, chemical reagents, and disposable items used in the radiopharmacy and associated areas
• 6.2 Consumable items for the Clinical Isotopes Department
• 6.3 Orders stock items for Radiopharmacy and Clinical Isotopes from Pharmacy

7. Training

• 7.1 Assists in the training of junior Radiopharmacy staff
• 7.2 Introduces pre-registration pharmacists and radiography students to Radiopharmacy.

8. Radiation protection

• 8.1 Monitors the radiopharmacy for radioactive contamination, and records results
• 8.2 Assesses requirement for decontamination procedures, and carries these out if necessary

9. Professional

• 9.1 Where applicable maintain GPhC Registration, for which participation in a continuous professional development programme is compulsory
• 9.2 Participate in an Annual Personal Development Review (PDR)
• 9.3 Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BTec level 3 and NVQ level 3 in pharmacy services
• Science Manufacturing Technicians level 3 or Science Degree

Desirable

• Senior ATO with dispensing experience
• Second year student Pharmacy Technicians

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of aseptic dispensing

Desirable

• Experience of Radiopharmacy dispensing
• Management/supervisory experience

Skills

Essential

• Good communication skills
• Ability to work both within a team, and independently in complex multi-stage procedures
• Ability to think quickly and change plans at short notice
• Ability to keep accurate and legible written records
• Ability to work safely, quickly and meticulously with good manipulative skills
• Conscientious approach

Desirable

• Computer literacy

Knowledge

Essential

• Principles and practice of aseptic production techniques

Desirable

• Practical awareness of radiation protection principles

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

• 6.00-6:30am start each day

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. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).