Quality Control Lead Microbiologist

We exciting opportunity in the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Department for a Band 8a Quality Control Lead Microbiologist. This key role will act as the GMP QC Lead Microbiologist for ESNEFT, providing expert microbiological support and ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements for all pharmaceutical licences held by the Trust.

Working alongside the Head of Pharmacy Quality Assurance, you will be responsible for ensuring microbiological compliance within the PQS, supporting adherence to GMP, MHRA requirements and the standards associated with the Trust's pharmaceutical licences. You will contribute to service development, governance, patient safety, risk management and continuous quality improvement.

The role will involve providing specialist expertise in sterility assurance, environmental monitoring, contamination control, microbiological risk assessment and investigation management. You will support the development of new products, facilities and technologies, contribute to clinical trials activity, and provide leadership, mentoring and professional support to colleagues involved in quality assurance activities.

You will be based at Colchester Hospital with cross site working to Ipswich and where required to support service needs, participate in weekend and unsocial hours duties. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced microbiology professional to help shape and advance pharmacy quality assurance services within a progressive NHS organisation.

Main duties of the job

You will lead and coordinate microbiological quality activities within Pharmacy Technical Services, ensuring safe and compliant operation of licensed manufacturing and preparation facilities. Key responsibilities include overseeing environmental monitoring programmes, analysing microbiological trends, reviewing sterility assurance data, identifying and characterising microorganisms, and managing contamination control systems.

You will act as a releasing officer and provide expert advice on microbiological quality, supporting the maintenance of pharmaceutical licences and compliance with MHRA guidance and Trust governance requirements. The role includes leading investigations into microbiological excursions, deviations and quality events, performing root cause analyses, assessing patient and product risk, and ensuring effective corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) are implemented.

You will support validation, qualification and continuous improvement projects, contribute to research and clinical trials activity, deliver specialist training, and provide professional guidance to pharmacy, technical and quality assurance staff. You will also participate in audits, service development initiatives, staff recruitment and performance management, while helping to ensure high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance are maintained across both ESNEFT sites.

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in the region, employing over 12,000 staff. We deliver care from two main hospitals in Colchester & Ipswich, six community hospitals, clinics and patient's homes. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training. Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of ESNEFTs core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, procedures and in its practices and to foster positive work relationships. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values of Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan and Staff Standards, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.