Partnerships Policy Advisor

We are currently looking for three Partnerships Policy Advisors to join our Partnerships group.

 

These are full-time opportunities, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London. 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 or flexible working. Please discuss this with the hiring 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 Partnerships Group has responsibility for shaping the policy to guide the MHRA’s operations, driving priority policy development, transforming the legal regime for medicines and medical devices which underpins all of our work and developing of the MHRA’s national and international partnerships to ensure UK patients have the fastest possible access to safe, effective, medicines and medical devices. We focus 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 Arms-length bodies (ALBs); and supporting the future of the life sciences industry in the UK. We do all this while ensuring patients are at the heart of our work.

What’s the role?

We are recruiting three HEO Policy Advisor roles, two in the Regulatory Reform Team and one in the International Partnerships . Please specify in your application if you have a preference for one of the roles.

Regulatory Reform team

The Regulatory Reform team leads the MHRA’s legislative changes to modernise and improve the regulatory regime for UK medicines and medical devices, our relationship with Europe and how our regulatory regime interacts with EU legislation. 

We have recently delivered reform of the UK Clinical Trials legislation, introduced a new regulatory framework for innovative manufacturing of medicines and we are currently setting the next set of priorities for the Agency’s regulatory reform. You will play a vital role in progressing these priorities, working with experts across the Agency to develop and implement regulatory policy on high profile issues which have a tangible impact on public health, patients, and the life sciences industry.

Key responsibilities:

• Support Regulatory Reform Initiatives: Manage elements of the MHRA’s regulatory reform work for medicines and medical devices. Working closely with technical colleagues across the agency, DHSC and lawyers to develop and refine new policy, and inform drafting of new legislation. 

• Enabling Regulatory Development: Convene groups of technical experts, providing secretariat support, bringing colleagues from across the agency together to solve arising issues or develop new regulatory approaches. 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Prepare consultations and understand stakeholder views to inform proposals for regulatory reform to ensure they will deliver for stakeholders including patients, life sciences industry and research community. 

• Policy Development: Communicate complex regulatory policy and draft concise recommendations, advice and briefings on regulatory reform proposals, to support senior leaders and Ministers in key decision making.

 

International Partnerships team

The aim of this role is to ensure that work within the Partnerships Group supports a holistic approach integrating partnering, policy, and regulatory reform activities through an international lens. There will be real emphasis on delivering together, cross-Group working, and international communication and influencing. 

This role 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. There will be great opportunities to support collaboration with experts across MHRA and other global regulators and tackle high profile issues which have an impact on public health, patients, and industry.

Key responsibilities:

• Coordinating the UK’s approach to international forums for medicines, including building a strategic approach to UK membership to optimise outcomes in line with UK priorities, delivering advice and briefings for senior agency staff, supporting implementation of international standards and guidelines. 

• Lead on a broad range of incoming and outgoing ad hoc international queries and issues from external stakeholders, ministerial offices, and international partners. 

• Acting as lead contact and expert on key international bilateral partners for the MHRA, including building relationships with international colleagues, supporting the development and delivery of cooperative work plans, and supporting cross-government briefing and health policy decisions for that partner. 

• Assist with the shaping of MHRA Policy and driving change across the Agency through identifying international opportunities for collaboration. 

Who are we looking for? 

 

Our successful candidate will have:

 

• Experience in a relevant area in the civil service or other organisations, which give understanding of working in public sector

• Demonstrable Behaviours of Working Together, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, and Seeing the Big Picture

• Previous experience of working in health, life sciences or the regulation environment is desirable.

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 

 

The selection process: 

 

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. 

 

 

In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of Working Together. 

 

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 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 careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. 

  

Closing date: 24 August 2025

Shortlisting date: 27 August 2025

Interview date: 03 September 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 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.

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 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 Florentina Oyelami, Head of Talent Acquisition – Florentina.Oyelami@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 

About Us

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 agency is made up of c.1300 staff working across two main centres and peripatetically across the UK and abroad.

The agency consists of Corporate, Digital & Technology, Enablement, Healthcare Quality & Access, Partnerships, Safety & Surveillance and Scientific Research & Innovation.