Pharmacy Technician / Senior Pharmacy Technician Clinical Trials

Job overview

Are you an experienced clinical trials pharmacy technician OR is this an area you would now like to specialise in? 

We have an exciting opportunity to join our non-oncology team. You will play a key role in the entire pharmacy clinical trial process and ensure we provide a safe, effective, timely and high-quality service. We host a wide variety of trials, including a growing Advanced Therapies portfolio, and have excellent relationships with our R&D colleagues and clinical teams.

Starting salary is dependent on experience, post is a progression post to Band 6, once core competencies and relevant experience gained.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a friendly and supportive team that places a strong emphasis on staff well-being and professional development
• Receive training in all pharmacy trial activities, expanding your expertise and career potential

If you possess the necessary skills and are passionate about making a difference in the field of pharmacy clinical trials, we would love to hear from you. Join us in this exciting role and become an integral part of our mission to advance clinical research and patient care.

Main duties of the job

Setting up all aspects of a wide variety of clinical trials, including ensuring that:

• Trial medications are correct, safe and in accordance with the study protocol and Good Clinical Practice
• Required records are kept throughout the study
• Pharmacy are remunerated appropriately

You would also undertake training of new team members and rotational staff and work closely with R&D, study teams and sponsors.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Would you like more information? Do you have a question?  Please do get in touch to discuss further.

Please see the attached Applicant Information Packs (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

N.B Starting salary is dependent on experience, post is a progression post to Band 6, once core competencies and relevant experience gained.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
-    applied for a Graduate visa
-    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 5th August 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 19th August 2026

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications Band 6

Essential criteria

NVQ3 Pharmacy Services, BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or CGLI/Apothecaries Hall pre 1985 certificates

Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Good Clinical Practice certification, including Investigational Medicinal Products module

Desirable criteria

Accredited as an Educational Supervisor for the ACPT scheme

Attendance at Train the Trainer course or equivalent

Member of Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK) or Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)

Project management qualification

Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician

Qualifications Band 5

Essential criteria

NVQ3 Pharmacy Services, BTEC Pharmaceutical Science or CGLI/Apothecaries Hall pre 1985 certificates

Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Fundamentals of Clinical Research for IMP Management module (NIHR)

Desirable criteria

Accredited as an Educational Supervisor for the ACPT scheme

Attendance at Train the Trainer course or equivalent

Member of Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK) or Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)

Project management qualification

Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician

Experience Band 6

Essential criteria

Recent post-registration experience in hospital pharmacy

Post-registration experience in clinical trials

Experience in the management of clinical trials, including dispensing processes, within a hospital environment

Experience of working with Medicines Governance principles in the hospital setting including Controlled Drug legislation.

Experience of staff training and supervision.

Desirable criteria

Experience of writing professional reports.

Evidence of having conducted and implemented the outcomes of an audit.

Experience of utilising electronic prescribing.

Experience of financial management.

Experience of accuracy checking

Experience Band 5

Essential criteria

Recent post-registration experience in hospital pharmacy

Experience in the dispensing of clinical trials, within a hospital environment

Experience of working with Medicines Governance principles in the hospital setting including Controlled Drug legislation.

Experience of writing guidelines or equivalent.

Experience in liaising with a range of stakeholders from varied disciplines, e.g., clinicians, nursing staff, R&D, study teams, specialist pharmacists, finance team.

Desirable criteria

Experience of writing professional reports.

Evidence of having conducted and implemented the outcomes of an audit.

Experience of utilising electronic prescribing.

Experience of financial management.

Experience of accuracy checking

Experience of staff training and supervision

Experience of risk management.

Knowledge Band 6

Essential criteria

Knowledge of good dispensing practices

Knowledge of clinical trial structures

Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and its application

Knowledge of current UK medicines legislation, including controlled drug regulations, NPSA and MHRA related alerts, especially in relation to clinical trials

Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to create documents and spread sheets and extract information.

Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems.

Desirable criteria

Technical knowledge of clinical trial operation and management

Up to date knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice and its application

Working knowledge of Good Distribution Practices

Familiar with the use of a range of visual aids for teaching & able to give oral presentations appropriate to the level of the audience, including students.

Knowledge of error reduction strategies and experience of error monitoring and reduction schemes

Working knowledge and experience of medicines procurement, NHS purchasing and supply contracts.

Knowledge of financial management of clinical trials within the commercial and non-commercial sector

A working understanding of High Cost Drug management processes, PAS schemes and commissioning principles.

Knowledge Band 5

Essential criteria

Knowledge of good dispensing practices

Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and its application

Knowledge of current UK medicines legislation, including controlled drug regulations, NPSA and MHRA related alerts

Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to create documents and spread sheets and extract information.

Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems.

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of clinical trial structures

Technical knowledge of clinical trial operation and management

Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice and its application

Knowledge of Good Distribution Practices

Familiar with the use of a range of visual aids for teaching & able to give oral presentations appropriate to the level of the audience, including students.

Knowledge of error reduction strategies and experience of error monitoring and reduction schemes

Skills Band 6

Essential criteria

Ability to communicate complex information effectively and overcome barriers to understanding

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrating good attention to detail.

Ability to work as part of a team and to lead others

Ability to prioritise own workload and initiate and oversee a number of projects/tasks at any one time.

Proven ability to create and maintain effective relationships with all grades of staff including those from a clinical, medical and technical background.

Proven ability to have successfully liaised with staff from different areas in pharmacy department for the benefit of patients.

Demonstrate strong data handling and analysis skills.

Ability to organise project work and work unsupervised on own initiative

Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines/targets, including reprioritisation of tasks when necessary.

Ability to manage change

Desirable criteria

Ability to influence and negotiate.

Ability to review and adapt plans as circumstances dictate.

Ability to train different staff groups.

Skills Band 5

Essential criteria

Ability to communicate complex information effectively and overcome barriers to understanding

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrating good attention to detail.

Ability to work as part of a team and to lead others

Ability to prioritise own workload and initiate and oversee a number of projects/tasks at any one time.

Proven ability to create and maintain effective relationships with all grades of staff including those from a clinical, medical and technical background.

Proven ability to have successfully liaised with staff from different areas in pharmacy department for the benefit of patients.

Demonstrate data handling and analysis skills.

Ability to organise project work and work unsupervised on own initiative

Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines/targets, including reprioritisation of tasks when necessary.

Ability to manage change

Desirable criteria

Ability to influence and negotiate.

Ability to review and adapt plans as circumstances dictate.

Ability to train different staff groups.

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Robyn Staples

Job title

Lead Pharmacist Clinical Trials Non-oncology

Email address

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Telephone number

View phone number on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Additional information

Mark Bolton

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk