PET Production Manager

This position presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced radiochemist or radiopharmacist proficient in PET radiopharmaceutical production to GMP standards. As the Production Manager, you will lead our team of radiochemists at the Positron Emitting Radiopharmaceutical Laboratory (PERL), located within St Thomas’ Hospital. 

The PERL facility plays a crucial role in the clinical PET center, serving over 8,000 patients and research participants annually from South-East London and beyond. It is an integral part of both King's College London's School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences and Guy's & St Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust. Our PET Center relies heavily on the PERL facility for the supply of radiopharmaceuticals and this is likely to become increasingly important when the new Total Body PET scanner is installed later this year.

Comprising two GMP clean rooms, a QC laboratory, and an R&D laboratory with a total of 24 hot cells, the PERL facility is equipped with a PETtrace high-energy cyclotron and various dispensing units, calibrators, and analysis equipment. It operates under a “Specials” manufacturing license, currently producing [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and [11C]methionine routinely, with ongoing development of additional radiotracers. We anticipate the availability of two more radiotracers for routine and research use by the end of 2024, with plans to expand the portfolio by two to three radiotracers annually.  

The ideal candidate must possess expert knowledge in relevant regulatory governance areas, particularly Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), as well as Health and Safety, Environmental Safety, and Radiation Protection Regulations (IRR2017 and IR(ME)R). This expertise will ensure adherence to these regulations within the PERL facility. 

The role entails managing radiochemists within PERL to ensure timely, safe, and efficient completion of production duties. Emphasis will be placed on compliance with GMP regulations, development of new procedures and radio tracers, and streamlining processes while maintaining safety standards. This includes supporting the installation and validation of new production equipment. 

The successful candidate will be an integral part of the PERL senior team, collaborating with the PERL Operations Manager, PET Service Manager, and other senior members to ensure smooth project and daily production operations. Reporting to the PET Operational Manager, they may also deputize at senior meetings when necessary. 

The Production Manager role demands strong prioritization and organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously and direct the radiochemist team in producing routine radiopharmaceuticals and developing new radiotracers. 

Additionally, the post holder will contribute to education and training initiatives for PERL staff, researchers, and students from the School. 

This position requires on-site presence at St Thomas’ Hospital and flexibility to meet service needs. It is a full-time role (35 hours per week) with an indefinite contract offered.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1.      PhD in Chemistry, Pharmacy or related discipline or equivalent experience 

2.      Knowledge of PET and/or SPECT radiotracer synthesis  

3.      Knowledge of Ionising Radiation protection regulations 

4.      Knowledge of and proven record in adhering to the principles of GLP and GMP and experience of production to GMP standards  

5.      Ability to draft documents e.g. SOPs. 

6.      Radiochemistry research laboratory experience 

7.      Practical experience with the production of PET radiopharmaceuticals and associated techniques including experience with automated synthesis equipment. 

8.      Experience with a range of radionuclides

Desirable criteria

1.      Excellent verbal & written communication skills.  

2.      Ability to work on own initiative and in a multi-disciplinary team. 

3.      Able to handle several projects at once and prioritise. 

4.      Ability to act on personal initiative and take responsibility for own work and ensuring projects are completed. 

5.      Supervisory experience 

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.