Head of Aseptic Services: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

This is not just about running an aseptic unit. It is about ensuring some of our most complex medicines reach patients safely.

Following a planned retirement, University Hospitals Dorset has a rare opportunity for an experienced aseptic services leader to take responsibility for our established service and help shape what comes next.

Our aseptic unit prepares more than 25,000 medicine items each year, including chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies, and supports medicines used within clinical trials.

As our Head of Aseptic Services, you will hold overall accountability for service delivery and operational oversight across pharmacy technical services. You will provide the specialist leadership and assurance needed to maintain the quality, safety and professional standards on which our patients and clinical teams depend.

This is a role with significant professional responsibility, but also significant opportunity. We are looking for someone with the technical credibility, leadership and ambition to develop our people, drive improvement and shape the future direction of aseptic services at UHD.

Relocation expenses will be available for this role in line with Trust policies and subject to internal review.

Base location – Poole Hospital but with occasionally working at Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Advert closes: 1st November 2026

Shortlisting: w/c 2nd November 2026

Interview date: 14th November 2026

Main duties of the job

The quality. The complexity. The opportunity.

You will provide strategic leadership across aseptic services and pharmacy quality assurance, leading the development and continuous improvement of our Pharmaceutical Quality System and ensuring our service continues to meet the required standards.

You will lead inspection readiness, oversee responses to audits, incidents and areas of non-compliance, and ensure our facilities, equipment, systems and working practices support safe and effective service delivery.

But maintaining today’s standards is only part of the role.

You will lead service development and improvement, exploring new technologies, equipment and service models and developing capacity, supply and business continuity plans. You will contribute to regional and system-wide work exploring the future of aseptic services and play an important role in our digital transformation.

Working across professional boundaries, you will provide expert advice, manage complex risks and lead and develop our multidisciplinary aseptic workforce.

When standards matter, you will be the person accountable for ensuring they are right.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Essential

  • PGDip Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance or equivalent experience
  • Extensive experience in pharmacy aseptic services
  • Registered Pharmacist
  • Leadership or project management qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Extensive experience of quality assurance in an aseptic or manufacturing unit
  • Previous experience with a range of electronic worksheet systems and / or electronic chemotherapy prescribing systems

Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive knowledge of section 10 legislation demonstrated

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).

Closing Date: 1 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.