Head of Horizon Scanning and Business Intelligence
Head of Horizon Scanning and Business Intelligence
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Job Description
We are currently looking for aHead of Horizon Scanning and Business Intelligence to join our Innovation Acceleratorfunction within the Science Research & Innovation 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. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.We are open to requests for part-time job shares and flexible working. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.
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 8 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 12 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 Science Research and Innovation Group delivers public health impact world-leading research innovation and a unique proposition via its Science Strategy. It is divided into 6 sub-Groups Innovation Accelerator Clinical Investigations and Trials Research and Development Standards Lifecycle Control Testing and Quality Assurance and Health & Safety.
The Innovation Accelerator helps provide innovators access to MHRA scientific expertise and regulatory guidance helping developers of innovative products (medicines medical devices (including software) and blood components for transfusion) connect more dynamically with an enhanced advice and signposting service. It brings together the MHRA Innovation Office the Regulatory Advice Service for Regenerative Medicines (RASRM) Regulatory Science and horizon scanning. It also leads for MHRA on the delivery of the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) and Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP).
Whats the role
The role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation in the UK. This rolewill focus on leading on the development and delivery of the MHRAs cross-cutting horizon scanning function establishing a new function that can
Can systematically identify emerging innovations where there is likely to be market interest or opportunity for paradigm shift in healthcare maximising the use of internal insights alongside external sources of intelligence.
Can use these insights to determine the areas where MHRA will provide leadership and act with the agility needed to build the capacity capability and regulatory approaches to accelerate the development of these innovations as part of an end-to-end process.
Remain fully aligned with partners from across the UK system; delivering on its responsibility to ensure healthcare products available are safe and effective while convening other partners to deliver on shared commitments to accelerate innovation that encompasses pre-clinical development the regulatory pathway evidence generation and system readiness for adoption.
The successful candidate have a key role in developing the new approach refreshing processes systems and governance for identifying emerging trends and prioritizing areas to increase impact; moving from information sharing to create a more effective mechanism determining which are actionable trends when MHRA will act and in what capacity. The post holder will lead on developing and embedding a proactive market intelligence function in the Innovation Accelerator that provides information to on new technologies emerging innovations and innovators to proactively identify opportunities to develop and implement new policy aimed at streamlining regulatory pathways that accelerate the development of innovative products.
Key responsibilities:
Provide strategic leadership for the development and delivery of a new enhanced Horizon Scanning function that works Agency-wide to systematically identify emerging trends in healthcare product innovation where there is likely to be market interest or opportunity for paradigm shift in healthcare. This will include establishing new processes approaches and governanceto create a more effective mechanisms determining which are actionable trends to inform strategic decision making.
Lead work to ensure appropriate system and processes are in place to enable the team to capture insights and analyse internal data to identify signals/trends in an efficient way. Ensuring that the team is able to harness external sources of data and insight (e.g. external databases and market analysis) to augment internal intelligence working with external stakeholders such as the NIHR Innovation Observatory to establish a proactive market intelligence function in the Innovation Accelerator.
Lead on driving forward the work to enable cross-UK coordination of horizon scanning activities particularly with the horizon scanning leads in NHS England and NICE. This will include agreeing horizon scanning governance across all relevant organisations developing a UK-wide platform for sharing horizon scanning outputs and work plans and facilitating enhanced horizon scanning through collaboration with system partners to improve access for medicines and medical devices aligned to Life Sciences Sector Plan the NHS 10-year plans and equivalent plans across the UK.
Take a leading role in the evolution of the Innovation Accelerator as the team objective expand balancing its reactive and proactive work and ensuring the team continues to be highly regarded motivated and supported.
Whoare we looking for
Oursuccessful candidatewill have:
Demonstrable Behaviours of Seeing the Big Picture Leadership Working Together Changing and Improvingand Making Effective Decisions
Experience of horizon scanning and/or business intelligence particularly within innovation and research environment
Experience of strategic thinking skills with the ability to align delivery with broader system objectives and policy context
If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity pleaseclick here to read our Job Description and Person Specification!
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The selection process:
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidatesfind out more here.
Online application form including questions based on theBehaviour 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.
Presentation to be prepared as part of your interview with further information being supplied if you reach this stage.
Interview which can include questions based on theBehaviour Experience Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
In the instance that we receive a high number of applications we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of Seeing the Big Picture.
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 supporting statement provided. You can view the competencies 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 as soon as possible.
Closing date:03 August 2025
Shortlisting date: W/C 11 August 2025
Interview date:W/C 25 August 2025
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 questionsplease contact
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality information on whether you are able to apply is availablehere.
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 completebasic personnel security standard checks.
Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations and in some circumstances routine health surveillance. These roles include:
Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
Maintenance roles particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required.
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 applicants 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 eligibilityhere.
Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries please contact.
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointmenton the basis ofmerit 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 Florentina Oyelami Head of Talent Acquisition .
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:
Civil Service Commission
Room G/8
1Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
