About the job

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Senior Mechanical Craftsperson to join our Infrastructure & Laboratory Services function within the Corporate group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based onsite in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.  

In addition to the base salary, this role attracts an annual Market Pay Supplement of £3,277.00 and an on call allowance that is 4.5% of the base salary.

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.  

Infrastructure and Laboratory Services (I&LS) are part of the Corporate group and provide engineering and specialist staff to deliver a safe working environment for staff and in particular our specialist scientific facilities.  They support the Agency work by having clear funded maintenance programmes to ‘patch and mend’ and money to invest in unique scientific facilities and a centralised support process to, where appropriate, deliver efficiencies, savings and value for money. 

The Function has three teams:

• Facilities & Laboratory Services – day to day running & support of sites, laboratories and other specialised facilities, security, catering, cleaning, waste and 10SC Liaison for 10th Floor
• Engineering – Management of engineering and infrastructure systems supporting the complex buildings, adhering to critical health and safety requirements and responding to alarms 24/7
• Specialist Project & Programme Management – of the Capital programme by providing Project Management / project engineering as required for: building alterations, lab refurbs including high containment, acquisition, installation and commissioning of new plant, equipment and digital IT and special programmes

 

Job description

What’s the role?

The postholder will be responsible for providing a mechanical service to ensure that the South Mimms site, consisting of general and containment laboratories, production filling area, cold rooms and offices, functions in compliance with the relevant legalisation.

 

The precise duties of this role will vary with the needs of the division and the strategic objectives of the Institute, but the main responsibilities will include the day to day technical advice, support, assistance and resolution for mechanical problems across the SMS and in particular in the CL 3 & 4 Laboratories and CBRM to ensure that safe working practices are maintained. 

In addition, this post will be expected to support and work as part of the wider Operations Team to ensure that the South Mimms site is operational 24 hours a days and provide supervision to contractors and apprentices as required.

Key responsibilities: 

 

• Carry out mechanical work to support the specialist areas of the SMS to ensure that the Engineering systems are supporting the relevant Divisions in delivering the Agency’s strategic objectives.
• Co-ordinate and complete the planned preventative maintenance programme for the specialist plant and equipment making sure the correct maintenance routines are set up and adhered to.
• Investigate and respond to faults, and unscheduled tasks as they occur, on a priority basis and propose solutions as to how the fault can be rectified so that the SMS continues to function safely

• Provide out of hours cover, on a rota basis and be able to make informed decisions and instigate and / or carry out the necessary actions to ensure that the equipment, stored items and site remains safe.

• Provide support in replacing and upgrading the mechanical systems to ensure they are fit for purpose and when necessary either lead Project Teams or be part of Project Teams to deliver the required outputs either lead Project Teams or be part of Project Teams to deliver the required outputs

 

Person specification

Our successful candidate will have:

 

• A recognised engineering qualification – example qualifications are listed in the person specification
• Demonstrable mechanical engineering knowledge and skills enabling autonomous and efficient work to a high standard.
• Significant experience in a Maintenance or Building Services environment within a quality management system and working with mechanical systems supporting planned preventative maintenance schedule.

They will also be able to demonstrate the following Civil Service Behaviours:

-          Delivering at Pace Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance

-          Working Together Encourage joined up team work within own team and across other groups. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another.

 

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, 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.
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical 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 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 Job 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: 12 July 2024

Shortlisting date: 17 July 2024

Interview date: 25 July 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.