About this role
Job summary
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.
About us
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Interview date: 23rd November 2026
Working at ESNEFT
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Sponsorship Eligibility
To comply with UK Government regulations on sponsorship we are unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold. Full guidance on sponsorship can be found Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK
Notes
Please note that where response levels are exceptional we may close the post before the specified date, therefore early application is recommended.
In line with AfC Terms and Conditions new entrants to NHS will commence on the entry level of the salary
If you require any information in an alternative format or have any access needs for the application process, please contact us.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Microbiology, Biotechnology or equivalent BSc
Desirable
- Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Microbiology or equivalent
- Yellow belt certified or equivalent
- Train the trainer or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Previous extensive experience GMP pharmaceutical microbiology in NHS manufacturing unit or pharmaceutical industry
- Demonstrated experience of multi- disciplinary working
- Handling of high risk medicines
- Previous experience of educating and training other staff
- Demonstrated experience in providing microbiological support to a production facility
Desirable
- Previous experience of working within Quality Assurance service
- Previous experience of working as a Releasing Officer within
- Technical Services
- Previous experience of sterile manufacturing
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.
Employer details
Employer name
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Colchester Hospital
Colchester
Essex
CO4 5JL
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)