Deputy Director, National and International Partnerships

This vacancy is open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners rules.

We are currently looking for aDeputy Director National and International Partnerships to join ourPartnerships ExecutiveFunction within the Partnerships group. Please note that we need candidate to be available to start within 4 weeks of interview.

This is a full-time opportunity on a 6-month fixed term contractbasis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 4PU.

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites. We are open to requests for flexible working. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

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 Partnerships Group is responsible for shaping policy to guide the MHRAs operations for developing the national and international partnerships that the MHRA needs to be successful; and for transforming and modernising the legal regime for medicines and medical devices which underpins all of the MHRAs 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 other health Arms Length Bodies; tackling public health regulatory issues as they arise; and supporting the future of the life sciences industry in the UK. We do all this while ensuring that patient safety and public health impact is at the heart of our work.

The Partnership Group is organised into four main teams:

• National Partnerships: ensures our accountability to the UK Devolved Governments manages our overall relationship with the pharmaceutical and MedTech industries and maximises MHRA impact through collaboration and alignment with other health bodies in the UK including Health Technology Assessment bodies (such as NICE in England) across the UK the Health Research Authority and the UK Health Security Agency to achieve seamless pathways to safe speedy medical product access.

• International Partnerships: responsible for MHRAs strategic engagement with other medical product regulators globally and for our active participation in international enable us to have the relationships we need to share information for patient safety and product access to respond to emerging issues and to develop best-practice harmonised regulatory frameworks - to support our core business and have maximum impact addition we are developing the MHRA model for providing expert support to strengthen regulatory systems globally particularly in low and low/middle income countries.

• Policy: drives Agency policy development on cross-cutting areas and ensures consistency and high quality of the Agencys core policy activities. The team has a strong reactive cross-Agency role. Critically the policy team are responsive to emerging policy issues problem solving and leading high profile regulatory policy development. Current examples include offering Government advice on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

• Regulatory Reform: leads legislative change within MHRA across the Human Medicines Regulations Medical Devices Regulation and the Clinical Trials Regulations. We are currently working to review our underpinning legislative structures seeking a range of primary powers through forthcoming NHS legislation and prioritising urgently needed new Statutory Instruments to ensure we keep pace with developments in medicines technology (including on personalised medicines). This team also leads MHRA work on our relationship with Europe including understanding complex legislative interactions and impact on Northern Ireland and building new understanding with partners in Europe

Whats the role

• We are now recruiting a Deputy Director to lead our work on National and International Partnerships.

• The new postholder will work with the high-performing team leaders to deliver high profile projects which are a priority for the new CEO. These span a broad range of activity from establishing increased collaboration and hubs with the UK Devolved Governments developing and implementing a new International strategy and working with international regulators to drive forward the Access Consortium a work-sharing collaboration between five globally leading regulators to be a first-choice regulator for companies.

• The MHRA offers the opportunity to develop experience in world-class regulatory policy working with expert colleagues and overcoming new challenges every day.

Key responsibilities:

• Senior leadership of the Partnerships group ensuring a happy productive team who deliver high quality work and have significant personal development opportunities with a strong focus on building capability performance and wellbeing.

• Contribution to the overall Agency leadership through the Senior Leadership Forum and other corporate meetings

• Line management of 3 G6 members of staff and around 15 staff members.

• Strong corporate and business management. We expect that each DD will take a lead on a specific corporate role such as finance or people development working with our Business Development lead.

Who are we looking for

Oursuccessful candidatewill demonstrate the following.

The successful candidate will have significant senior team leadership experience substantial policy experience in the civil service including successful delivery of high-profile projects and high-quality written work for senior Executive and Ministers.

It is a requirement that the candidate is able to travel internationally for up to a week at a time including long-haul. This is likely to be around 2 times per year.

Person Specification:

Method of assessment:AApplication TTest IInterview PPresentation

Behaviour Criteria:

• Seeing the Big Picture (I P)
• Communicating and influencing (A P)
• Changing and improving (A I)
• Leadership (A I)
• Delivering at Pace (A I)

Experience Criteria:

Essential

• Substantial policy experience in the civil service and a strong understanding of public sector and government working with experience of working with Ministers or senior officials. An understanding of how Government works and enabling teams to deliver high profile projects and deliver high quality written work for senior Executive and Ministers. (AI)

• Significant senior team leadership experience. You will have proven ability as an empowering leader with experience of developing and motivating high-performing teams with a focus on supporting wellbeing and inclusion. You will be experienced in leading teams confidently through uncertainty and ambiguity setting a clear direction. (AI)

• Ability to travel internationally for up to a week at a time including long-haul. This is likely to be up to 2-3 times per year. There are a range of opportunities to be split between Interim Director the post holder and the policy team leads. (AI)

Desirable

• Health policy experience (A)

• Industry experience in the life sciences or health sector (A)

• International experience through collaboration in international forums (A)

Strengths Criteria

Inclusive (I)

Resilient (I)

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity please 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 when 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 ofcandidates demonstrating substantial policy experience in the civil service and a strong understanding of public sector and government working with experience of working with Ministers or senior officials. An understanding of how Government works and enabling teams to deliver high profile projects and deliver high quality written work for senior Executive and Ministers.

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 allowsufficienttime. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description.

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process please contact as soon as possible.

Closing date: 1^st December 2025

Shortlisting date: from 5^th December 2025

Interview date:16^th December 2025

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.

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 OyelamiHead of Talent Acquisition.

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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