Senior Pharmacy Technician

Job summary Are you a Pharmacy Technician looking for a new challenge or with an interest in research? Are you passionate about making a real impact on the lives of cancer patients? Do you have a keen eye for detail, and a desire to be at the forefront of oncology research?Or are you a newly qualified Pharmacy Technician? We welcome applications and would offer a band 4 to band 5 progression post until competencies and accuracy checking qualifications are complete.If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!The Christie is one of the largest oncology Trusts in the UK with an international reputation for clinical excellence, research, and development. This is a unique opportunity to work with us and contribute to the challenging and rewarding specialty of oncology pharmacy.As a member of the Clinical Trials team training will be provided for you to help manage portfolio of clinical trials. You will work closely with other members of the team to ensure that Christie patients have access the latest development of oncology/haematology investigational medicines. You will form an integral part of the clinical disease teams and work closely alongside research teams. The Pharmacy Department are also supporting the large-scale collaborative project alongside several research partners and have strong links with the University of Manchester. Main duties of the job You must hold an NVQ Level 3/BTEC in Pharmacy Services and be able to work as an accredited checking technician in our purpose-built clinical trials dispensary. Applications are also welcomed from exceptional candidates who are working towards the checking qualification. The successful candidate will:o Support the safe set-up and delivery of clinical trials, including dispensing, checking, storage, accountability, returns, destruction and monitoring visits.o Provide technical expertise in managing clinical trial medicines, ensuring work meets Good Clinical Practice, Good Dispensing Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice and relevant research governance and clinical trial regulations.o Support the Clinical Trials Lead Technician and pharmacist with service delivery, audits and MHRA regulatory inspections. Hospital or clinical trials experience is not essential. We are looking for drive, ambition, willingness to learn, attention to detail, effective workload management, organisation and strong team-working skills. 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. Details Date posted 07 October 2026 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 5 Salary £32,073 to £39,043 a year Pro rata Per Annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 413-112008-CNS-TM Job locations Pharmacy Trials - E00922 Manchester M20 4BX United Kingdom Job description Job responsibilities Communication & Relationship skills Communicate professionally with staff on all levels, both internal and external relating to trial activities, regarding information which may be confidential and sensitive in nature. Communicate with sponsors for monitoring appointments and meetings verbally and in written format. Liaise with other health professionals within research teams providing advice and support pertaining to clinical trial pharmacy issues.Analytical & Judgemental skills Exercise judgement when dealing with all enquires. Assess and manage query if possible, referring to the Lead clinical trials technician, senior trials technicians or pharmacists as appropriate. Check pharmacy files for missing data and organise, retrieve, and record data in a timely manner. Planning and organisational skills Co-ordination of monitoring visit requests, ensuring availability of staff and workspace. Ensuring clinical trial pre orders and vial allocations are turned around in a timely fashion to prevent any delay in patient treatment. Support co-ordination of study set-up with the clinical trials pharmacist in a timely manner. Physical skills Work with sponsor IVRS/IWRS for ordering, acknowledging orders, dispensing update calls for Investigational Medicinal Products. Supports the generation of worksheets and labels for Investigational Medicinal Products for both Aseptics and the Dispensary. Responsibility Patient/Client Care Dispensing and preparation of medicines for clinical trials in accordance with departmental and study specific SOPs To act as a certified accredited checking technician, supporting the final check of clinical trial prescriptions. To provide support to other pharmacy staff in the dispensing of complex clinical trials. Support and advise key staff accordingly in relation to handling, labelling, and dispensing for all new products used in clinical trials. Ensure all trial related reports and documentation are maintained within the timeframes defined by the sponsor. Responsibility Policy & Service Development Follow all relevant policy and legislation (e.g., EU Directive) Prepare master worksheet and labels for approval by appropriate pharmacists using Sponsor supplied documents. Awareness of COSHH regulations in the safe handling and storage all clinical trial materials. Assists SATO, Student Technicians, and the CTA in ensuring supplies of Investigational Medicinal Product are ordered in a timely manner. Responsibility Information Resources Use computer-based data storage systems and IVRS/IWRS to record clinical trial activity. Work with Microsoft office programmes, requiring standard software skills. Maintain individual patient treatment records on Trust based systems, ensuring information is up to date, accurate and complies with Data Protection Act. Responsibility Research & Development Assist pharmacy team in all areas of R&I administration as required. Ensure all drug accountability for all clinical trials are processed accurately and in a timely manner ensuring drug accountability is up to date at the time of a monitoring visit, audits, and Inspections. Assists the ATO/CTA in maintenance of pharmacy documentation where required. Support regulatory compliance across all clinical research services within pharmacy. Freedom to Act Post holder is expected to follow all relevant protocols, SOPs, and standard practice. Clinical Trials Team Leader is available as point of reference for any queries and will meet regularly with staff. Plan and organise own time and workload activity with prioritisation. Physical, Mental and Emotional Effort Long periods of time spent using screens and keyboard to input information Prolonged concentration is regularly required e.g., when entering new products onto the computer system to produce worksheets and labels. Working Conditions The Trust operates a range of policies, e.g. Human resources, clinical practice (available on the Trust Intranet). All Trusts employees must observe and adhere to the provisions outlined in these policies. Participate in the extended hours of the department, if required. To be able to participate in weekend and bank holiday working as required by the service. This may be reviewed and altered depending on the service demands. Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours and the positive working relationship policy. Job description Job responsibilities Communication & Relationship skills Communicate professionally with staff on all levels, both internal and external relating to trial activities, regarding information which may be confidential and sensitive in nature. Communicate with sponsors for monitoring appointments and meetings verbally and in written format. Liaise with other health professionals within research teams providing advice and support pertaining to clinical trial pharmacy issues.Analytical & Judgemental skills Exercise judgement when dealing with all enquires. Assess and manage query if possible, referring to the Lead clinical trials technician, senior trials technicians or pharmacists as appropriate. Check pharmacy files for missing data and organise, retrieve, and record data in a timely manner. Planning and organisational skills Co-ordination of monitoring visit requests, ensuring availability of staff and workspace. Ensuring clinical trial pre orders and vial allocations are turned around in a timely fashion to prevent any delay in patient treatment. Support co-ordination of study set-up with the clinical trials pharmacist in a timely manner. Physical skills Work with sponsor IVRS/IWRS for ordering, acknowledging orders, dispensing update calls for Investigational Medicinal Products. Supports the generation of worksheets and labels for Investigational Medicinal Products for both Aseptics and the Dispensary. Responsibility Patient/Client Care Dispensing and preparation of medicines for clinical trials in accordance with departmental and study specific SOPs To act as a certified accredited checking technician, supporting the final check of clinical trial prescriptions. To provide support to other pharmacy staff in the dispensing of complex clinical trials. Support and advise key staff accordingly in relation to handling, labelling, and dispensing for all new products used in clinical trials. Ensure all trial related reports and documentation are maintained within the timeframes defined by the sponsor. Responsibility Policy & Service Development Follow all relevant policy and legislation (e.g., EU Directive) Prepare master worksheet and labels for approval by appropriate pharmacists using Sponsor supplied documents. Awareness of COSHH regulations in the safe handling and storage all clinical trial materials. Assists SATO, Student Technicians, and the CTA in ensuring supplies of Investigational Medicinal Product are ordered in a timely manner. Responsibility Information Resources Use computer-based data storage systems and IVRS/IWRS to record clinical trial activity. Work with Microsoft office programmes, requiring standard software skills. Maintain individual patient treatment records on Trust based systems, ensuring information is up to date, accurate and complies with Data Protection Act. Responsibility Research & Development Assist pharmacy team in all areas of R&I administration as required. Ensure all drug accountability for all clinical trials are processed accurately and in a timely manner ensuring drug accountability is up to date at the time of a monitoring visit, audits, and Inspections. Assists the ATO/CTA in maintenance of pharmacy documentation where required. Support regulatory compliance across all clinical research services within pharmacy. Freedom to Act Post holder is expected to follow all relevant protocols, SOPs, and standard practice. Clinical Trials Team Leader is available as point of reference for any queries and will meet regularly with staff. Plan and organise own time and workload activity with prioritisation. Physical, Mental and Emotional Effort Long periods of time spent using screens and keyboard to input information Prolonged concentration is regularly required e.g., when entering new products onto the computer system to produce worksheets and labels. Working Conditions The Trust operates a range of policies, e.g. Human resources, clinical practice (available on the Trust Intranet). All Trusts employees must observe and adhere to the provisions outlined in these policies. Participate in the extended hours of the department, if required. To be able to participate in weekend and bank holiday working as required by the service. This may be reviewed and altered depending on the service demands. Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours and the positive working relationship policy. Person Specification Qualifications Essential oNVQ Level 3 / BTEC Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent oRegistered as a pharmacy technician with GPhC oAccredited Accuracy Checking Technician or willing to work towards Desirable oCurrent certified ICH-GCP training Experience Essential oSuitable post qualification experience or willing to complete a progression period to gain experience post qualification Desirable oClinical Trials experience oHospital Experience oOncology Experience oAseptic Experience Skills Essential oGood initiative, ability to work on own or as part of a team oSelf- motivating oAbility to work under pressure oGood interpersonal skills oAbility to communicate effectively, verbally and written, with a wide range of staff and external drug companies oGood time management oIT proficient able to use Microsoft office applications e.g. Word, teams, excel and outlook oAbility to train other members of staff oCalm under pressure, maintaining accuracy and attention to detail oAdaptable to change oPrepared to take responsibility and able to work without direct supervision oDemonstrate initiative: proactive and self-motivated Knowledge Essential o Knowledge of ICH -GCP o Knowledge of COSHH Desirable o Knowledge of oncology o Knowledge of GMP Values Essential o Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours Other Essential o Participating in extended working hours, weekend, bank holidays if required) Person Specification Qualifications Essential oNVQ Level 3 / BTEC Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent oRegistered as a pharmacy technician with GPhC oAccredited Accuracy Checking Technician or willing to work towards Desirable oCurrent certified ICH-GCP training Experience Essential oSuitable post qualification experience or willing to complete a progression period to gain experience post qualification Desirable oClinical Trials experience oHospital Experience oOncology Experience oAseptic Experience Skills Essential oGood initiative, ability to work on own or as part of a team oSelf- motivating oAbility to work under pressure oGood interpersonal skills oAbility to communicate effectively, verbally and written, with a wide range of staff and external drug companies oGood time management oIT proficient able to use Microsoft office applications e.g. Word, teams, excel and outlook oAbility to train other members of staff oCalm under pressure, maintaining accuracy and attention to detail oAdaptable to change oPrepared to take responsibility and able to work without direct supervision oDemonstrate initiative: proactive and self-motivated Knowledge Essential o Knowledge of ICH -GCP o Knowledge of COSHH Desirable o Knowledge of oncology o Knowledge of GMP Values Essential o Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours Other Essential o Participating in extended working hours, weekend, bank holidays if required) 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). Additional information 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).