Executive Director of Science & Research Group - £100,000-£162,500 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for an Executive Director of Science & Research Group to join our Science and Research group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire with a requirement for national and international travel.

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.

Who are we?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plays a unique role in safeguarding public health, accelerating access to innovation, and through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

The Science and Research Group at our Science Campus in South Mimms in Hertfordshire has an international reputation for assuring the safety of biological medicines and diagnostics, including as a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Standardisation and Evaluation of Biologicals, of Poliovirus Research and Surveillance, a WHO National Control Laboratory, and a WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratory for Influenza. The Science campus hosts the UK Stem Cell bank and is designated a CEPI Centralised Laboratory.

The Group delivers evidence to support regulatory decision making. The role of the regulatory Research & Development, provision of biological measurement standards and the evaluation of biologicals is for national and international assurance of the quality and safety of biological medicines throughout the regulatory pathways, and into clinical use.

What’s the role?

To provide effective scientific leadership to the MHRA Science Campus leading mission critical work across the statutory functions to deliver appropriate outcomes.

Job description

Key responsibilities:

Scientific Leadership

• Provide effective scientific leadership to the MHRA Science Campus, determining the balance of work across the statutory functions of mission-led R&D, Biological Measurement and Standardisation and biological medicines Control testing, and ensuring appropriate outcomes are achieved
• To deliver mission-critical regulatory Research and Development in support of biological standardisation and measurement and maintaining the position the Agency has as a leader in the field of biological Regulatory Science
• To ensure the design, production and delivery of biological reference materials to global laboratories to underpin the harmonisation of biological measurement and assure the quality and safety of biological medicines
• To be responsible for the delivery of independent control testing of biological medicines through the UK’s Official Medicine’s Control Laboratory
• Collaborate with senior scientists across the health system, particularly within UKHSA, to ensure that work is appropriately aligned to ensure efficient and effective outcomes with avoidance of duplication of activity
• Collaborate with international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO), setting and maintaining the direction for scientific delivery of activities through WHO designated laboratories for the Standardisation and Evaluation of Biologicals, Poliovirus research and surveillance and the Influenza Essential Regulatory Laboratory
• Foster and develop strategic partnerships with national and international establishments to advance and strengthen the agency’s regulatory science profile
• Review and approve all external applications for grant and research contract funding, ensuring that they contribute to our public health mission
• Co-lead the CERSI programme with CPO
• Contribute to the development of the MHRA Science Strategy

Campus Leadership

• Ensure that the Science Campus maintains compliance with regulatory standards of health and safety, and be the Agency H&S Champion
• Ensure that the essential quality systems (currently ISO 9001, ISO 17025, ISO 17034, ISO 13485) are met such that statutory functions are delivered in compliance with requirements from UK and International regulators and accreditation bodies
• Ensure that the Science Campus meets the regulatory standards relevant to our work, such as work authorised by the Human Tissue Authority including the UK Stem Cell Bank and Human embryonic stem cells, as License Holder
• As holder of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Certificate of Designation, ensure that the Science campus meets the requirement of the Home Office Animals in Science Regulation Unit and our obligations as signatories to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK

Resilience

• Working with the Chief Financial Officer (responsible for Infrastructure and Laboratory services) to ensure that the site has suitable and sufficient business continuity plans and facilities suitable and compliant with regulations to deliver the regulatory science
• Take a leading role in pandemic preparedness planning working closely with colleagues in DHSC and UKHSA, as well as global partners such as the WHO and CEPI
• Workforce planning to ensure delivery of statutory functions of mission-led R&D, Standards delivery and medicines control testing, and supporting compliance and governance activities specific to a biological laboratory complex

Advice

• Provide scientific advice to the CMSO, CEO, the DHSC and ministers

Commercial

• Develop a commercial strategy for paid services operating from the site, for example the UK Stem Cell Bank, biological reference materials and control testing
• Ensure that appropriate charging strategies are in place for commercial products

Leadership and Management

• Provide visible leadership to the Science Campus and be the head of profession for the MHRA scientific community Inspire colleagues to engage fully with the agency’s vision and strategic goals. Actively promote the reputation of the agency internally and externally
• Manage people and resources in accordance with MHRA policies
• Contribute to the management of the MHRA, attending the Executive Committee and the Board (as required) and contributing to corporate decision making
• Create a sense of purpose for colleagues through highlighting connections between our work and the impact on patients and the public
• Contribute to the development of a cross-agency Joint Scientific Advice service that will include staff from the Science Campus and providing support for its ongoing work

Person specification

• An international scientific profile with proven experience of collaboration with medicines regulators, the pharmaceutical industry and academia. Broad engagement with UK, European and global groups to support development of vaccine manufacturing guidance and innovative medicines regulation.
• Respected scientist with a strong internationally recognised profile representing the R&D, Standards and medicines Control strategic functions of the MHRA, assuring the credibility to be head of profession for the MHRA scientific workforce, evidenced by scientific outputs, an extensive publication record, and experience in scientific representation on committees.
• Excellent analytical skills to evaluate scientific proposals
• A skilled communicator, with the ability to present complex scientific data to experts as well as the ability to explain scientific concepts to non-scientific audiences
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating large laboratory-based expert scientific teams, and laboratory science-associated teams, mentoring staff and supporting career development
• Strong track record of collaborating in scientific fora both nationally and internationally
• A deep knowledge and practical experience of H&S, specialist facilities (including high biocontainment and bio-secure), animal facilities, standards manufacturing, and compliance standards required for the delivery of R&D, Standards and Control functions of the MHRA

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Candidate Pack!

Please note: The candidate pack 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

Qualifications

PhD in a Biological Science Discipline

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £28,970 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 a statement of suitability, of no more than 1,250 words demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.
• Assessment, further information will be supplied when you reach this stage.
• 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 the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

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 statement of suitability provided. You can view the criteria for this role in the candidate pack.

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: 18th May 2026

Shortlisting date: from 8th June 2026

Assessments: from 22nd June 2026

Interview date: from 21st July 2026

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 Resourcing 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