Head of Pharmacy Aseptics and Clinical Trials

Head of Pharmacy Aseptics and Clinical Trials

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the senior leadership team of the pharmacy department at The Royal Marsden. The Head of Aseptics and Clinical Trials provides leadership and management to a dedicated team of staff supporting our trial and aseptics activities. The team actively supports over 450 clinical trials, opening an average of 12 new trials every month. The aseptic service prepares many of the drugs used in our clinical trials and supports the provision of over 6000 IV doses of chemotherapy every month. In 2025, a new state-of-the-art aseptic unit will be opening on our Sutton site.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for the leadership and strategic development of the pharmacy aseptic services and clinical trials service across the Trust, including clinical education, training, and research.

Lead and manage the Clinical Trials and Aseptics Service in accordance with current UK Regulations, the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) regulation 2004 (EU Clinical Trial Directive) and all updates, together with ICH GCP guidelines and departmental procedures, ensuring provision of a high-quality service to patients and staff at the Royal Marsden.

To set standards for the aseptic and clinical trial pharmacy service, monitor performance, and ensure that services are provided efficiently, to the required GCP and MHRA standards, within budgeted costs and in accordance with the needs of users.

To act as a management and pharmacy role model.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance, and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities, and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities, and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees' work-life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values, and can play a crucial role in our ongoing achievements.

Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.

1. To develop and implement a vision and strategy for pharmacy aseptic services and clinical trial services for the Trust in line with the Trust objectives, national developments, and the department's overall service strategy.
2. To effectively work across boundaries to encourage and support the implementation of creative and innovative service models and ideas.
3. Identify and manage key partners and stakeholders in achieving the goals identified and plan how to gain their support.
4. To act as a channel of communication for aseptics and clinical trial issues with senior clinical and nursing staff and Trust management, in particular with Divisional Medical Directors, Director of Clinical Research and Development, Assistant Directors of Finance, and Chair of Drug and Therapeutics Committee.
5. Identify and lead on programmes in line with Trust Board strategies on the transformation and modernisation of Trust services.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• GPhC registration
• MSc/Diploma in relevant subject
• Recognised management qualification or equivalent experience

Experience

• Post registration experience in aseptic preparation and clinical trials
• Participation in senior management team meetings, both within and outside of the pharmacy department
• Management of a pharmacy service line (aseptics or clinical trials)
• Management of/participation in external audits of a service (e.g., MHRA inspection; Regional QA audit).
• Responding to external audit recommendations
• Recruitment and selection of staff
• Preparation and delivery of business cases
• Management of a departmental service line/budget

Skills Abilities/knowledge

• Published research

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.