Senior Quality Assurance/Quality Control(QA/QC) Officer (Microbiology)

Candino CA; Colchester; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000

Job description

Job Summary

Have you got the enthusiasm, knowledge and experience to take up this exciting challenge? We are looking for a Specialist Quality Assurance Officer to cover maternity leave until 30th March 2026.

We require you to be responsible for the supervision of the Quality Assurance (QA) officers and assistants, under the guidance of the Head of Pharmacy Quality Assurance (HPQA) and QC Lead Microbiologist.

As a Senior Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) Officer you will manage the running of the QA Microbiology Laboratory, such that an efficient system of workflow through the department is maintained.

You will also manage and be responsible for routine and non-routine sampling and testing (e.g. physical and microbiological environmental monitoring and TVC testing), trending, and investigations, to maintain MHRA regulatory compliance in a licensed aseptic and non-sterile production facility.

Internal applicants currently employed by ESNEFT will be offered on a secondment basis only. This will need to be discussed with your current line manager.

Main duties of the job

1. Investigate/root cause microbiological Out-of-Limit (OOL) or unusual results. Undertake trending and routine reporting of microbiological status of facilities.
2. Manage the training/proficiency testing of relevant staff including assistants, students, technicians and pre-registration pharmacy graduates in Microbiological laboratory techniques and the principles of Quality Assurance.
3. Manage the recruitment, development and appraisal of the Quality Assurance staff.
4. Maintain the cross site Microbiological Reporting System (MRS).
5. Manage SLAs with external companies with regards microbiological testing.
6. Develop and validate microbiological enumeration test methods for raw materials and finished products.

About Us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

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.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Date posted: 24 March 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 11 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 432-HR2194-24
Job locations: Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL

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, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL
Employer's website: https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/