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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Job ref
387-DT4720-LMH
Employer
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Town
Bristol
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 pa pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/11/2026 23:59
Interview date
23/11/2026

Employer heading

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust logo

Quality Assurance Releasing Officer

Band 6

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

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Job overview

We’re delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to join our close-knit Quality Assurance team at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, where you’ll take a leading role in our Quality Control laboratory and serve as a Releasing Officer for sterile and non-sterile medicinal products, manufactured under our MHRA 'specials' licence.

You’ll be supported by a small, dedicated team of Quality Assurance Technical Officers, working collaboratively to uphold the highest standards of pharmaceutical quality and patient safety.

This role is ideal for someone looking to develop a career in Quality Assurance, with hands-on experience in product release and laboratory oversight. We are deeply committed to staff development and will provide:

  • Comprehensive in-house training
  • Funded external training opportunities tailored to your personal development goals

If you're passionate about quality, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to make a meaningful impact in healthcare, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note that this vacancy is subject to an applicant cap and may close earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications are received. Early application is advised.

Main duties of the job

Pharmacy Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) provide specialist support to Technical Services within University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring that all pharmacy manufacturing activities comply with relevant regulatory and quality standards. The service works collaboratively across manufacturing units to maintain patient safety, product quality, and the timely supply of medicines.

The primary purpose of this role is to support the delivery of the Quality Assurance function by contributing to the effective management of the Quality Control Laboratory, undertaking duties as a QC Releasing Officer, and providing specialist QA and QC technical support to pharmaceutical manufacturing services. The post holder will play a key role in maintaining compliance with Godd Manufacturing Practice and other applicable regulatory requirements, supporting investigations, quality systems, environmental monitoring, and the release of medicinal products.

The post holder will normally work Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, with occasional out-of-hours working required to support service needs.

Working for our organisation

    Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston. 
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the Job Description & Person Specification for full details of the job role and responsibilities.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Relevant science degree or equivalent
  • Member of a professional bodies (Royal Society of Biology, Royal Society of Chemistry or the Royal Pharmaceutical Society/General Pharmaceutical Council) or eligibility to register as a member
  • Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. PTQA, STP) or willingness to complete appropriate formal training for subsequent qualification
Desirable criteria
  • COSHH and/or risk assessor

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • In depth knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and related legislation
  • Good analytical skills and working with accuracy/precision
  • Good IT skills including data analysis through the application of databases
  • Ability to plan and prioritise workload on daily and monthly basis
  • Risk assessment skills
  • Ability to act independently and always consider the safety implications of product release over request for product
Desirable criteria
  • Good knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
  • Ability to assess and manage risk in relation to manufacture and testing of medicinal products
  • Basic knowledge of microbiology

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Minimum two years post-qualification relevant GMP experience
  • Experience of working with a Pharmaceutical Quality Management System
  • Substantial experience of aseptic preparation
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of releasing medicinal products
  • Experience of working in a laboratory undertaking analysis

Personal qualities

Essential criteria
  • Able to complete routine and repetitive tasks within defined guidelines and procedures

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDDisability Confident - two yearsVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Pastoral CareStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldPride In Veterans

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Marc Lennon
Job title
Deputy Pharmacy Quality Assurance Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0117 342 2370

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
People & Transformation Division
North Bristol NHS Trust
Southmead Hospital
BS10 5NB
Telephone
0117 4141151
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