Production Radiochemist (Maternity cover)

About The Role

We have a new opportunity for a Production Radiochemist to join our Radiopharmacy team to cover maternity leave.

This is a full time position working 40 hours a week. Our site's operational hours Site open 24/6 with operational hours 00:00 to 20:00 so shift work is required. 

You should be a Scientific graduate with a scientific background, ideally with experience of (radio) pharmaceutical manufacture in a GMP environment.

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate

• excellent verbal and written communication skills, analytical skills, a logical approach to problem solving and good attention to detail. As an effective team member, you will have great organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure.
• Be educated to a degree level in a related scientific discipline or able to demonstrate relevant experience.
• Ideally be able to demonstrate experience in Radiochemistry or related disciplines.
• Ideally be able to demonstrate knowledge of GMP, validation and relevant regulations.
• Validation experience (including laboratory equipment and process validation) would be advantageous.
• Previous experience of operating in a GMP grade C cleanroom, operation of a GMP grade A isolator and/or distribution of radiopharmaceuticals would be advantageous.

Please note this is a fixed term role of 18 months to cover maternity leave.

Please note that we will be interviewing throughout the duration of this advert. Therefore if you are interested in this role an early application is advised as we may close the advert prior to the advertised date.

Duties And Responsibilities

Production

Daily, routine production of PET radiopharmaceuticals, including 18F-FDG, for Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy in strict adherence to GMP and relevant EU pharmacopoeia standards.

Operate routine protocols for customer orders and distribution of 18FDG and other PET and tracers to scanning sites.

Maintenance

Arrange first-line scheduled and emergency maintenance for production equipment and associated plant, in collaboration with  Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy engineers. 

Ensure efficient performance of, and undertake first-line maintenance and any required troubleshooting of the FDG Synthesisers, Dispensing Equipment, Hot Cells, including dose calibration, monitoring and sterility checks within the context of strict application of environmental and ‘clean room’ protocols. 

Faults

Maintain records of faults on any dysfunction – operational, equipment or environment integrity.  Interpret and rectify operational faults where possible and liaising with engineers and suppliers as necessary.

Quality Systems

Operating to approved quality standards by recording Production quality related actions (e.g., deviations and change controls) in a timely manner, to comply with AMR policies and regulatory requirements.

Principal Operator/Timetable

On a rota basis, act as production radiochemist for radio-synthesis of PET tracers in accordance with a pre-determined daily timetable.

The role will include some night work on a rotational shift rota. 

Chemical Preparation

Monitoring and maintaining lab stocks of chemicals, consumables, and spare parts as well as the safe disposal of waste chemicals and materials.

Standard Operating Procedures

Prepare and review SOPs in accordance with the relevant guidelines for approval by the QP and adoption by the unit.

Training Others

Provide training and support for others selected as rota/backup in production of Radiopharmaceuticals.

Safety and Control

Assume responsibility for the safe and efficient handling of all radioactive substances (solid, gas, liquid) received from the Centre’s cyclotron including their synthesis, transmission, dispensing, storage, containerisation, packing, despatch, transport, decay control, and release.   In accordance with local rules for emergency or serious incident procedure record such events in accordance with SOPs.

Responsible for following agreed safety procedures to ensure safety of yourself and others.

Regulatory

Strictly adhere to GMP, GLP and safety protocols laid down by the MHRA, EA and HSE in accordance with issued licenses as determined from time to time.  Corresponding adherence to local rules developed by Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy in conformity to such licensing requirement.

About Alliance Medical

Alliance Medical are Europe’s leading independent provider of imaging services.

We combine service excellence and innovative imaging technologies to improve patient care and support NHS and independent organisations with their ongoing imaging requirements. Our approach has delivered consistent company growth for more than 30 years.

We live by our company values to ensure the highest level of patient care: 

Our Values

Leaders, managers, and supervisors have a particular responsibility to be role models in terms of how they demonstrate these values themselves and how they engage their teams to work in this way.

Collaboration:

We work together and in partnership for all our patients. We respect expertise and combine it to achieve more.

Excellence:

We never compromise. We strive to deliver the very best in everything we do to ensure the highest quality of care. We treat our patients and each other with compassion, dignity and respect.

Learning:

Knowledge and understanding comes from learning.  At Alliance Medical we are committed to ensuring that each and every one of us keeps on learning and that we continuously look for improved ways of working.

Efficiency:

Efficiency in healthcare means more patients get better care. We constantly seek new ways to use the scarce resource of healthcare more intelligently so that more people can live longer, fuller lives.

Openness:

We act with transparency and honesty in everything we do, where staff are encouraged to speak up to ensure a safe and secure environment for our patients.