About the job

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for the Head of Divisional Business and Performance in our Digital and Technology group.

This is a full- time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU/South Mimms, Hertfordshire.

 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. We are currently operating a hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 40% of contracted hours working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. This may rise to 60% during the year.  Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

Other working patterns may be available. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

 

Who are we? 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.  

The Digital and Technology Group (D&T) lies at the heart of the Agency and is responsible for making sure that our scientists, inspectors, and all of our staff have the tools and data they need to deliver the very best services they can to improve outcomes for patients and the general public. The Group was essential in the race to approve COIVD vaccines in 2020 and in supporting the UK to set up its own medicines and devices approvals systems after BREXIT. The work we do matters!

The Divisional Business Office (DBO) sits within the Strategy & Architecture team and is responsible for ensuring that D&T service provision supports the delivery of the Agency's strategy and Corporate Delivery Plan including meeting MHRA’s financial and performance targets and delivery objectives. The team is responsible for ensuring the effective running of the Group, including budget and performance management and works closely with the whole Group and the enabling centre of the Agency.

Job description

The role leads a small team that is responsible for supporting the Chief Digital and Technology Officer and the D&T Senior Leadership team to manage the Division effectively through delivering a wide range of business and financial management activities. The nature of the role at the centre of D&T means that you will also be a visible leader across the whole of the Group.

The role is critical in co-ordinating activity across the Group and in working with the central enabling Divisions within the Agency to ensure delivery of corporate requirements. This requires the development of strong working relationships with colleagues across the Group and across the wider Agency.

Person specification

The successful candidate will have a track record of providing strategic advice to senior leaders within a complex organisation, providing constructive challenge and successfully influencing decisions using data and strategic insight to deliver wider objectives.

You will have a strong understanding of financial management, both at a strategic level, ensuring that funding is available to support priority initiatives and deliver organisational objectives, as well as understanding detailed financial processes such as raising purchase orders, receipting, and invoicing.

You will also have a developed understanding of risk and issue management and will be able to coach others in how to identify, mitigate and management risks.

You will be a great networker, with a track record of building relationships with individuals from different professions across the Agency.

Above all you will be a proactive self-starter, able to scan the horizon and develop a work programme for yourself and your team, in order to support the delivery of the D&T’s plans and objectives. 

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification! 

 

Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,011, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £18,902 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here. 

 

-          Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application. Please complete the ‘Work Experience’ section of the application fully, providing details of your previous roles, clearly describing your achievements and key responsibilities.

 

-          Presentation, shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation for the interview aligned to the criteria marked with ‘P’ in the person specification. More information to be given if you reach this stage

 

-          Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths criteria, marked with ‘I’ in the person specification

Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the answers provided - ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description. 

Use of AI in Applications

Applicants must ensure that anything submitted is factually accurate and truthful. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

 

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. 

  

Closing date: 28 July 2024

Shortlisting date: W/C 29 July 2024

Interview date: 13 – 14 August 2024

 

Candidates will be contacted within a week of the sift and the interviews completed to inform them of the outcome.

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here. 

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Any move to the MHRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should firstly contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.

 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk 

 

info@csc.gov.uk 

Civil Service Commission 

Room G/8 

1 Horse Guards Road 

London 

SW1A 2HQ 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.