About this role
Job summary We are seeking an experienced Senior Radiopharmacy Technician to play a key leadership role within our radiopharmacy service. The post holder will bring extensive technical expertise in radiopharmacy and/or aseptic services, with a strong working knowledge of GMP, radiation protection, and regulatory requirements. You will lead and coordinate day-to-day operations within the radiopharmacy unit, ensuring the safe, timely and compliant preparation of radiopharmaceutical and aseptically prepared products. The role includes contributing to the development, validation and implementation of protocols and procedures, supporting quality and audit activities, and providing supervision, training and mentorship to junior technical staff. A strong commitment to patient safety, continuous improvement and collaborative working is essential.
Main duties of the job
The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician plays a key role in the preparation, production and safe supply of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic use. Working within a licensed radiopharmacy and aseptic environment, the post holder ensures activities are carried out in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), IRR/IR(ME)R, MHRA requirements and local procedures, with patient safety and product quality as priorities.
Reporting to the Production Manager, the role provides advanced hands-on technical support to the radiopharmacy service, focusing on expert technical practice and day-to-day operational support rather than overall production management. The post holder undertakes and supports aseptic preparation, dispensing and supply activities, including generator elution, dose preparation, labelling and documentation, working safely within cleanroom and controlled environments.
The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician performs production in-process checks, completes production, environmental and batch records, supports environmental monitoring and escalation of non-routine issues, and promotes compliance with SOPs and quality standards. As a senior technical resource, the post holder supports junior staff and trainees, works closely with radiopharmacists and other professionals, and maintains up-to-date technical knowledge in line with Trust policies, health and safety and equality requirements.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician is an experienced technical officer within the radiopharmacy service who works under the direction of the Production Manager. The post holder is responsible for undertaking and supporting the safe, accurate and compliant preparation and supply of radiopharmaceuticals within a licensed radiopharmacy and aseptic environment.
The role requires advanced technical knowledge of radiopharmacy and/or aseptic services, together with a strong understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice, radiation protection and medicines legislation. The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will act as a senior technical resource on a daytoday basis, supporting junior staff, contributing to the maintenance of high technical standards, and ensuring that agreed procedures and processes are followed. The post holder is not responsible for overall production management but plays an important supporting role in the delivery of a highquality radiopharmacy service.
The post holder will undertake the aseptic preparation, production, dispensing and supply of radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with GMP, IRR/IR(ME)R, MHRA guidance and local standard operating procedures. They will perform and support production inprocess checks to ensure that products meet defined specifications prior to release by an authorised individual. The role includes the accurate completion of production, environmental and batch documentation in line with procedural requirements, and the safe and correct operation of cleanroom and radiopharmacy facilities and equipment within approved and validated systems. The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will act as a source of technical advice within their scope of practice, referring complex or nonroutine issues to the Production Manager or radiopharmacist as appropriate.
The post holder will work in accordance with approved SOPs, protocols and risk assessments and will promptly escalate deviations or concerns to the Production Manager. They will assist in the recording and investigation of deviations, incidents and near misses, contributing accurate factual information and technical input as required. The role includes participation in environmental monitoring activities and reporting results in line with agreed procedures. The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will support audits, inspections and regulatory visits by ensuring documentation and work areas are maintained to the required standard and by providing technical information when requested.
As a senior member of the technical team, the post holder will provide daytoday technical guidance and support to radiopharmacy and aseptic technical staff, including trainees and less experienced technicians. They will support training and competency assessment activities as delegated by the Production Manager or radiopharmacist and will act as a role model for safe practice, GMP compliance and professional behaviour within the radiopharmacy environment.
The Senior Radiopharmacy Technician will support the implementation of new or revised SOPs, protocols and processes as agreed by the Production Manager. They will assist with validation, commissioning and change control activities by undertaking delegated practical and documentation tasks and will contribute ideas for service improvement and efficiency based on practical experience, raising suggestions through appropriate channels.
The post holder is expected to maintain uptodate technical knowledge and skills relevant to radiopharmacy and aseptic services. They will comply with Trust policies, health and safety requirements and equality and diversity principles and will undertake other duties appropriate to the grade as required by the Production Manager.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or NVQ level 3 in Pharmacy Services or Scientific Manufacturing Technician Level 3 Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council or The Science Council for Registered Science Technician King's College London (KCL) Radiopharmacy course or equivalent KCL Advanced Radiopharmacy course or equivalent
Desirable
Post-graduated MSc/Diploma in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance or equivalent experience.
Experience Essential
Substantial experience of working in Radiopharmacy or Aseptic S10 or MS special licence units. Experience in Education and Training within GMP and Radiopharmacy environment
Desirable
Experience in validation of equipment Experience in validation of processes Experience in project management and service development
Knowledge Essential
Good practical knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations
Desirable
Good practical knowledge of IRR17 Good practical knowledge or IR(ME)R 2017 regulation Good practical knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) regulation Good practical knowledge of Radiopharmacy preparation
Skills Essential
Good verbal skills Good written communication skills Logical thought processes Ability to work under pressure Ability to prioritise appropriately Ability to work as a part of a team Problem solving and decision making Good IT skills - ability to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and ability to learn new computer software used in Radiopharmacy
Desirable
Quick learner/Proactive approach Aseptic skills still current
Other Essential
Evidence of continuing professional development and of acquiring new skills. Demonstrate commitment to the development of others
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).
Employer details Employer name Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Street
Liverpool
L7 8XP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)