Sterile Manufacturing Manager

Upperton Limited; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Company pension

Life insurance

Rewards platform

Private medical insurance

Training & development

Free onsite parking

EV scheme

Job summary

Upperton Pharma Solutions, based in Nottingham, is expanding its sterile manufacturing capabilities and seeks a Sterile Manufacturing Manager to lead all sterile GMP operations, drive process development, and manage scale‑up and technical transfer. The role requires strong leadership, regulatory knowledge, and a track record of delivering high‑quality manufacturing outcomes.

The successful candidate will oversee the manufacturing team, ensure compliance with EU GMP Annex 1, and engage in client

Qualifications

• Leadership experience with team development and performance management.
• Strong relationship management across internal departments and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all sterile GMP manufacturing operations in the facility.
• Lead the sterile manufacturing team, including training and appraisal.
• Drive process development, tech transfer and scale‑up activities.
• Ensure compliance with EU GMP Annex 1 and Upperton Quality System.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Project delivery

Budget management

Resilience

Technical mindset

Problem solving

Education

Degree in science/engineering/manufacturing

Job description

Upperton Pharma Solutions is a Nottingham-based CDMO that specialises in the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical products, providing a complete service from early‑stage feasibility to GMP clinical manufacture. Formulations cover a range of delivery routes, typically including oral (tablets & capsules), nasal and inhaled.

We are entering an exciting phase of growth with the development of our new 7,000 sq. ft. state‑of‑the‑art sterile manufacturing facility, designed and built in full alignment with the latest EU GMP Annex 1 (2023) requirements.

To support this new facility, we are looking for a Sterile Manufacturing Manager who will be responsible for all sterile GMP manufacturing operations, including process development, clinical batch manufacture, technical transfer activities and process scale up.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Ensure that all manufacturing operations within the Sterile GMP facility are fully compliant with the regulatory requirements set out in EU GMP Annex 1: Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal products.
• Ensure that all manufacturing operations within the Sterile GMP facility are fully compliant with the Upperton Quality System
• Facilitate the development and qualification of all processes and systems relevant to Sterile operations within Upperton.
• Lead facility tours for client visits / audits and regulatory inspections.
• Responsible for implementation of the Upperton Quality system in the Sterile GMP facility
• Ensuring that all activities and outputs meet the Upperton quality system
• Direct all scale up and production activities to ensure that project deliverables and targets are successfully met and are of the highest quality.
• Manage and develop the Sterile GMP manufacturing team and be responsible for their performance, training and regular appraisal
• Responsible for the Sterile GMP facility (including environmental controls), equipment and all process qualification / validation / simulation.
• Ensure that all documentation emanating from the GMP facility meets the requirement of the Upperton Quality system including operating records, batch manufacturing records and project reports
• Participate in customer contacts and business planning with the Director of Clinical Manufacturing.
• Track project activities from a commercial perspective. Ensure that commercial deliverables are tracked and fully met.
• Liaise with Project Management and Finance to ensure that correct invoices are sent out on time
• Provide critical support and focus on Sterile projects, focusing on technical transfer and process scale up activities conducted both internally at Upperton and for projects outsourced to third party vendors.

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven leadership and management skills with the ability to optimise team performance and development
• Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to engage, negotiate and manage key stakeholders across internal departments
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Results orientated with ability to plan and deliver against project deadlines
• Commercially and financially astute with experience of managing budgets
• Resilient, self‑motivated and able to work well under pressure
• Technical mindset
• An appreciation of and an ability to positively resolve issues

Essential experience required:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant science / engineering / manufacturing discipline.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and leading a manufacturing function with a proven track record within a sterile manufacturing environment
• Intimate knowledge of the regulatory requirements set out in EU GMP Annex 1: Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal products.
• Ability to add value, reduce costs and make business improvements
• Experience of operating and influencing at a strategic level
• Knowledge and technical understanding of sterile manufacturing processes.

What you will get in return:

We offer employees not only a competitive salary but also an excellent suite of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday and your birthday off!
• Company contributory pension package
• Life insurance
• Upperton Rewards discount platform through reward gateway
• Private Medical Insurance through Vitality
• Internal and external training courses and professional development support
• Free onsite car parking
• EV scheme with Octopus energy

We know it is the little things that make every day special, so we also organise employee events for you to attend throughout the year, like our annual Christmas party, summer party and charity fund raising events.