Craftsperson Plumber - £34,183 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Craftsperson Plumber to join our Infrastructure and LaboratoryServices Function within the Corporate group.

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

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, particularly in our specialist scientific facilities.

ILS support the Agency work by having clear funded programmes to maintain the infrastructure, facilities and equipment as well as money to invest in unique scientific facilities and a centralised support process to, where appropriate, deliver efficiencies, savings and value for money. The Division has three departments:

• 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 engineeringly complex buildings and infrastructure, 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 Craftsperson Plumber is responsible for the provision of all plumbing requirements and other mechanical services on the South Mimms Site (SMS), consisting of general and containment laboratories, production filling area, cold rooms and offices functions in compliance with the relevant legalisation. Responsible for undertaking all Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) tasks, ensuring plumbing equipment and structures are safe and practical for the purpose required. In addition, this post is responsible for responding to issues and unscheduled tasks / faults as they occur, on a priority basis, to ensure the continued operation of the site 24/7

Key responsibilities:

• To provide plumbing and other mechanical maintenance, ensuring the equipment / facilities are fit for purpose at all times for use by Science, Research & Innovation (S,R&I).

• Accountable for co-ordinating and completing the PPM for plumbing and other mechanical plant and equipment.

• Responsible for supervising, briefing and liaising with external contractors, ensuring they adhere to site rules and safe work protocols.

• Responsible for investigating and responding to faults, breakdowns and unscheduled tasks as they occur, on a priority basis. Analysing the situation and proposing / agreeing solutions as to how faults can be rectified to keep the site operating safely 24/7.

• To provide the Infrastructure and Laboratory Services teams with out of hours cover, on a rota basis and under guidance 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.

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will have the following:

• Understanding and in-depth knowledge of building services or maintenance planned preventative maintenance processes and procedures within a science based, medical or laboratory environment.

• Well documented knowledge and experience in the maintenance of plumbing and mechanical equipment, likely to be achieved by substantial experience working in a similar role.

• Successful completion of a registered engineering apprenticeship with at least NVQ Level 2 or BTEC in plumbing or equivalent.

• Good plumbing skills, knowledge and experience of working in accordance with current regulations to include contributing to risk assessments & method statements.

Person specification

Method of assessment: A=Application, I=Interview

Behaviour Criteria:

• Changing and improving (I)

• Working Together (I)

• Managing a Quality Service (A, I)

• Making Effective Decisions (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Understanding and in-depth knowledge of building services or maintenance planned preventative maintenance processes and procedures within a science based, medical or laboratory environment.

• Well documented knowledge and experience in the maintenance of plumbing and mechanical equipment, likely to be achieved by substantial experience working in a similar role.

Technical Criteria:

• Successful completion of a registered engineering apprenticeship with at least NVQ Level 2 or BTEC in plumbing or equivalent.

• Good plumbing skills, knowledge and experience of working in accordance with current regulations to include contributing to risk assessments & method statements.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please readour 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 £34,183, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £9,902 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
• Privilege Leave: 1 day
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP's Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Eligibility to join Motoring , Boundless by CSMA
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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.

In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of holding an NVQ Level 2 or higher plumbing qualification and demonstrable experience in plumbing maintenance and repair.

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.

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: 08 May 2026

Shortlisting date: 13 May 2026

Interview date: 20 May 2026 (interviews will be on site at our Science Campus in South Mimms)

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.

Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary and are responsible for ensuring they fully understand the financial implications of any potential move and the impact (if any) on their terms. If an individual is in any doubt, they should seek clarification before accepting a job offer.

Staff joining on promotion will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary, or the pay band minimum, whichever is the greater.

The individual will not retain any allowances paid by the former department/Agency, unless there are special circumstances, such as a reserved right to those allowances on transfer.

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 careers@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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : The Recruitment Team
• Email : careers@mhra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Careers@mhra.gov.uk

Further information

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 contact the Resourcing Team at Careers@mhra.gov.uk, in the first instance. 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