Head of Specialists Projects & Programme Management - £75,585 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Head of Specialists Projects & Programme Management to join our Infrastructure and Laboratories Services Function within the group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based on site 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 Division and provide engineering and specialist staff to deliver a safe working environment for staff and in particular our specialist scientific facilities. They support the Agency work by having clear funded maintenance programmes to ‘patch and mend’ and money to invest in unique scientific facilities and a centralised support process to, where appropriate, deliver efficiencies, savings and value for money.

Job description

What’s the role?

The post holder will lead a multi-disciplinary team responsible for the effective delivery of Engineering and Maintenance Projects for the South Mimms Site.

The post holder responsible for leading Capital Maintenance and Decarbonisation of works across the South Mimms Site as required including associated business change activities. They have primary responsibility for successful delivery of the required outcomes and benefits, including the establishment of appropriate governance and assurance, monitoring progress, managing risks and issues and ensuring the business readiness for change.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide clear and focused leadership for the Project and Programme Team to deliver the of the Site Capital Maintenance and Decarbonisation Programmes for the Estates Infrastructure in line with the Agency Delivery plan including regular reporting to the relevant Management Oversight Group / Committee and ensure governance and assurance requirements are met and Stakeholder requirements and expectations are met and managed

• Working with Head of Engineering and other Stakeholders develop the short and medium term capital replacement programme for South Mimms Site Plant and Equipment to ensure that the various facilities are fit for purpose, meet the scientific and Site Statutory Compliance Obligations, HSE requirements and other standards and directives so the site is a safe place for staff to work and supports the scientific requirements.

• To identify initiate, manage and deliver projects across the South Mimms Site and wider Agency (where appropriate), ensuring clear communication and contract management is in place to allow successful project delivery within a matrix management structure on time and to budget.

• To be part of the ILS SLT (Senior Leadership Team) manage the Project and Programmes Team and other formal management tasks

Person specification

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience of leading complex Engineering projects ideally Air Handling, Steam Distribution Systems and Containment of Clean room Laboratories

• Expert knowledge and extensive experience in leading and managing engineering projects to ensure compliance with Facility Statutory Obligations including PSSR, LOELR and ACDP

• A relevant technical/engineering degree or extensive experience in leadership and management of complex facilities and estates.

• Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, and the credibility and ability to build excellent relationships and networks with key stakeholders across organisational boundaries

• A strong and inclusive corporate and team leader, experience in the management of engineering and scientific staff, confident in both people leadership and strategy development in an operational context, with the gravitas to earn the respect of stakeholders

• Stakeholder management and engagement: Systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and interests.

• Project Leadership and Governance including RAID logs

Person Specification:

Method of assessment: A=Application, I=Interview, P=Presentation

Ability Criteria:

• Report writing and presentation skills (P)

Behaviour Criteria:

• Working Together (A, I)

• Communicating and Influencing (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Lead and delivery of complex Engineering Programmes and Projects (A, I)

• Extensive experience of leading complex Engineering projects ideally Air Handling, Steam Distribution Systems and Containment of Clean room Laboratories (A, I)

• A strong and inclusive corporate and team leader, experience in the management of engineering and scientific staff, confident in both people leadership and strategy development in an operational context, with the gravitas to earn the respect of stakeholders (A, I)

• Stakeholder management and engagement: Systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and interests. (A, I)

• Project Leadership and Governance including RAID logs (A, I)

Technical Criteria:

• A relevant technical/engineering background (A)

• Expert knowledge and extensive experience in leading and managing engineering projects to ensure compliance with Facility Statutory Obligations including PSSR, LOELR and ACDP (A, I)

• A relevant technical/engineering degree or extensive experience in leadership and management of complex facilities and estates. (A)

• Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, and the credibility and ability to build excellent relationships and networks with key stakeholders across organisational boundaries (A, I)

Strengths Criteria

• Problem Solver (I)

• Inclusive (I)

• Challenger (I)

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,585, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £21,896 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 the Civil Service Motoring Association (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

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.

• 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 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: Substantial relevant technical/engineering background

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: 19 January 2026

Shortlisting date: 23 January 2026

Interview date: 11 February 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.

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

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 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