About the job

Job summary

We are currently looking for two Partnerships Policy Advisors to join our International and Policy teams within the Partnerships group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.  

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.

We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 4 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 8 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

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 Partnerships Group is responsible for shaping the policy to guide the MHRA’s operations, for developing the national, international, and commercial partnerships that the MHRA will need to be successful; and for transforming and modernised the legal regime for medicines and medical devices which underpins all our work. 

We are working on issues that are at the heart of public health – fast, safe access to medicines and medical devices, working with industry and NHS and other health ALBs; tackling global health threats such as COVID19 and possible future pandemics, and AMR; supporting the future of the life sciences industry in the UK.  We do all this while ensuring the voice of patients is at the heart of our work.

Job description

What’s the role?

The aim of these roles, based either within the International or Policy Teams within the Partnerships Group, supports a holistic approach integrating partnering, policy, and regulatory reform activities, including through an international lens.

These roles will be key in providing links between teams and across the Agency and with external stakeholders, as key points of contact, and knowledge that will help shape the support that Partnerships provides to maintain an adaptive and agile approach to our role in the heath and care system, and our international influence, in addition to the way the Agency is accountable to the UK Parliament.

Whilst some key responsibilities will be influenced by the role appointed to, there will be great opportunities to tackle priority projects across the group, subject to work needs, and in line with personal interests and development.

Key responsibilities: 

 

• Coordinating the UK’s approach to international forums for medicines and medical devices, including building a strategic approach to UK membership to optimise outcomes in line with UK priorities through supporting UK membership of working groups, leading on, or contributing to advice and briefings for senior agency staff, dealing with queries and issues, supporting implementation of international standards and guidelines, and attending international meetings as the MHRA representative.

 

• Assist with the shaping of MHRA Policy and driving change across the Agency. We are currently working to ensure the swift, safe access to medicines for people in the UK; for ensuring the delivery of the Life Sciences Vision; defining the MHRA’s role in tackling global health security threats, such as AMR; contributing to Net Zero through medicines and medical devices environmental sustainability.

 

• Leading on elements of the MHRA’s regulatory reform work for medicines and medical devices. Working closely with technical colleagues across the agency, the Department for Health and Social Care, and lawyers to formulate new policy, inform drafting of new guidance and legislation, and respond to issues raised by external stakeholders, and support new legislation through the parliamentary process.

 

• Supporting the agency response to key public health challenges or emergencies, providing clear accurate advice on, and addressing regulatory and legal issues as they arise. Working with colleagues across the MHRA to develop new policies, prepare options and provide advice to Ministers and senior MHRA leaders, ensuring there is clarity around what is required and quality assuring work.

Person specification

The successful candidate will have experience in either civil service or other organisations which give understanding of working in public sector, in a regulatory environment, and be able to provide evidence of displaying these Civil Service behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

 

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 £34,841, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £9,407 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 and Experience 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.
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Strengths Success Profiles.

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 competency-based answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description.

 

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: 02/04/2024

Shortlisting date: W/C 08/04/2024

Interview date: W/C 15/04/2024

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

 

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk 

 

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 Mira Mepa, Head of Recruitment and Operations, Mira.Mepa@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.