Radiopharmacy Head of Quality/Quality Controller

Job responsibilities

You will work in close partnership with the Chief Radiopharmacist, and collaboratively with our Operations, Technical, Clinical and Quality teams to ensure a consistent and robust QA/QC framework underpins the safe and effective delivery of radiopharmaceuticals to patients across CUH and its partner sites. Your leadership will be central to ensuring product integrity, GMP compliance and inspection readiness, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and safety.

For candidates who demonstrate the necessary technical acumen and leadership potential, we offer structured training and development to support further career progression in Radiopharmacy and quality-focused service leadership. This role is ideally suited to those with a strong commitment to quality assurance, a deep understanding of aseptic production environments, and a desire to influence patient care at a strategic level.

At CUH, we are proud of our culture of innovation and excellence. You will join a highly skilled, collaborative and motivated team of professionals dedicated to delivering an outstanding, patient-focused service. You will also be part of an established academic partnership with the University of Cambridge, contributing to translational research projects that are shaping the future of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. One of our recent collaborative studies has already been selected for a top-rated presentation at the 2025 European Association of Nuclear Medicine Annual Congress, with further manuscripts in development.

Our department specialises in the preparation of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, produced to the highest standards in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice and national regulatory requirements. We are actively investing in facilities, systems and training to ensure our services remain responsive to the evolving demands of regulatory frameworks and clinical pathways. We champion professional growth, support innovation in practice, and are committed to developing the next generation of Radiopharmacy leaders.

We welcome applications from both NHS and non-NHS professionals who have the vision, expertise and leadership ability to deliver excellence in Quality within a modern Radiopharmacy service. If you are ready to take the next step in your career and lead quality at the forefront of nuclear medicine, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employmentFor NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over

This vacancy will close at midnight on 24th September 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 2nd October 2025

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

Our values and reputation for outstanding care Opportunities to experience a range of specialities Career and development opportunities Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team Research experience and opportunities Lovely location and quality of life Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters level Pharmacy degree (MPharm) or scientific equivalent e.g. MSc or BSc, BPharm with post graduate certificate or diploma in PTQA or other relevant qualification
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council or member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Biology, or other equivalent body

Desirable

• Education and Training qualification
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Formal Management Qualifications
• Further qualifications in relevant technical or management area
• Eligible as Quality Controller for the purposes of HTM 02 relating to piped medical gases
• MSC/Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent experience
• Eligible as Qualified Person (QP(IMP) under the medicines act and EU Directive

Experience

Essential

• Substantial and proven post qualification relevant GMP
• Extensive relevant postgraduate experience in radiopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical manufacturing, including experience in large, licensed facility
• Experience in a QC/laboratory and QA department
• Experience of training and supervising staff
• Experience of managing and developing a pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Service
• Experience of demonstrating expert technical knowledge covering Radiopharmaceutical of Pharmaceutical QA and production
• Previous experience of contributing to the operational and strategic direction of the Radiopharmacy or Pharmacy department
• Previous relevant experience at Senior Level e.g. Head of Section of Quality, Aseptic Technical Services or Radiopharmacy Quality
• Evidence of implementation of significant service change/innovation
• Effective project development and management
• Experience of validation and commissioning of new equipment and/or facilities

Desirable

• A proven ability to deliver education and training
• Previous experience of national presentations and publications
• Proven track record of exerting influence at a strategic level
• Line management experience
• Published pharmaceutical research in a peer-reviewed journal
• Financial awareness regarding the management of drug budgets

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrable knowledge of the validation requirements for radiopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical production facilities, equipment, personnel and processes
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices of aseptic/parenterals e.g. formulation, QC, stability, administration and legal issues
• Knowledge of COSHH and health and safety at work
• Demonstrated knowledge of radiopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical microbiology
• Knowledge of all aspects of current GMP and all current legislation and regulations and ability to apply this knowledge to develop and run Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Services
• Demonstrates knowledge of clinical governance and pharmaceutical risk assessment
• Demonstrates ability to monitor and take action on out-of-specification results, process deviations including reporting to the MHRA
• Highly computer literate

Desirable

• Knowledge of validation of IT systems
• Q-Pulse Management
• Radiopharmacy
• IBC Software
• Annex 1
• A thorough knowledge of Hospital Radiopharmacy or Pharmacy Technical Services (e.g. clean room design, isolator technology and production methodology etc.)

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate leadership skills and abilities
• Ability to work on own initiative, be innovative and develop the role
• Able to communicate complex, contentious and sensitive information effectively both verbally and in writing
• Able to develop staff within the team to release full potential
• Able to communicate effectively with all healthcare professionals and colleagues
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior medical staff, multidisciplinary teams, and management
• Able to promote and evaluate best practice within Radiopharmaceutical or Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance services
• Able to improve service quality at operational management level
• Communicate complex and specialised information to other staff and the representatives of external and governmental Discuss specialised information regarding Pharmaceutical Services with Regulatory Authorities
• Respond to complaints and reports of defective medicines and services
• Communicate with other staff outside of Radiopharmacy in the contracted Trusts
• Liaise with external contractors in the provision of goods and services to the Trusts
• Liaise with external agencies and contractors in the planning of facilities and services for radiopharmaceuticals
• Communicate complex and specialised information to other staff and the representatives of external and governmental agencies
• Able to identify and manage risks
• Able to manage non-compliances and incidents and develop and review action plans to resolve them
• Able to develop new systems of work
• Able to negotiate effectively and write business cases
• Able to prepare and complete documentation accurately with attention to detail, even when under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to perform accurate complex calculations and numeracy skills and to teach these
• Able to plan, prioritise and organise self and of others
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Critical appraisal skills (e.g. Clinical trials)
• Highly motivated and able to manage their own workload
• Able to work well under pressure and to prioritise work
• Flexible attitude to work and working hours to meet service needs
• Has a progressive proactive and innovative approach
• Standard keyboard skills
• Ability to maintain effectiveness and concentration under pressure and interruptions
• Ability to deal with confrontation
• Keyboard skills and IT knowledge - the ability to use word processing and to set up and use databases and spreadsheets as a minimum
• Ability to use complex laboratory and testing equipment and to train others in its use
• Ability to work in varying environments (laboratory, ward, operating theatre etc.)

Desirable

• Supervisory and training skills
• Familiarity with Radiopharmacy or Pharmacy computer systems including Pharmagraph
• To be able to respond to changing priorities
• Advanced IT skills including email, work processing spreadsheets databases, accurate data entry and use of specialist computer programmes
• Demonstrated ability to deliver lectures, workshops, and formal presentations

Additional Requirements

Essential

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).