Mechanical Craftsperson -  £35,379 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Mechanical Craftsperson to join our Infrastructure and LaboratoryServicesFunctionwithin the Corporate Group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based on-site 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 particularly 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. 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 engineering and infrastructure systems supporting the complex buildings, 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 programme

Job description

Role Purpose

The post will be responsible for providing a mechanical service to ensure that 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 and is part of the Maintenance Team supporting the SMS.

The precise duties required by the post will vary with the needs of the division and the strategic objectives of the Institute, but the main responsibilities will include the day to day operation of Steam Boilers, steam raising plant and steam distribution system. Offering technical advice, support, assistance and resolution for mechanical problems across the SMS and in particular in the CL 3 & 4 containment Laboratories and CBRM, to ensure that safe working practices are maintained.

In addition, this post will be expected to support and work as part of the wider Operations Team to ensure that the SMS is operational 24 hours a day.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out day to day maintenance of the mechanical areas of the SMS to ensure that the Engineering systems are supporting the relevant Divisions in delivering the Agency’s strategic objectives and work within the Health and Safety requirements and ISO 9001 Quality Management System.

• Co-ordinating and completing the planned preventative maintenance programme for the mechanical and engineering plant and equipment, ensuring contractors are appropriately briefed and supervised

• Investigate and respond to faults, breakdowns and unscheduled tasks as they occur, on a priority basis and propose solutions as to how the fault can be rectified so that the SMS continues to function safely

• Support the team 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.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Successful completion of a registered engineering apprenticeship with at least NVQ Level 2 or BTEC in mechanical engineering.
• Significant experience in a maintenance or building services environment working to a planned preventative maintenance schedule.
• Ability to investigate problems, identify solutions and implement, calling on external expertise as required to ensure that the site continues to function 24 hours a day safely and in line with the relevant electrical regulations.
• Experience in and the ability to gather and analyse information, and to identify and report clearly.
• Practical knowledge and experience working on a range of engineering equipment, for example AHUs, BMS, steam boilers and plant, compressors, pumps and water treatment plant.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Successful completion of a registered engineering apprenticeship with at least NVQ Level 2 or BTEC in mechanical engineering.Experience and qualifications in Steam Plant Maintenance, air handling, compressors, pump and water treatment.
• Experience of pressure regimes in containment laboratories such as CL3, CL4, or clean rooms.
• Understand the relevance of regulations including: PUWER PSSR LOLER COSHH Manual Handling

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,379, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £10,249 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 six months full pay and six months half pay after five years’ service.
• 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Key dates

• Closing date – 30 October 2026 at 23:55
• Sifting – from 02 November 2026
• Main panel interviews – From w/c 16 November 2026 (Interviews will be held in person at South Mimms, Hertfordshire).

Communications will be electronic via email therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.

We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.

What will the process look like?

1. Sift Stage

• Anonymised CV which sets out your career history, previous experience and skills, highlighting specific responsibilities that are relevant for this role.
• 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.

The panel will look at your application and are looking for evidence of the stated points. We may raise the benchmark score required if we receive a high number of applications.

2. Main Panel Interview

Successful candidates from the sift stage will be invited to attend an interview. We use a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will be assessing Behaviours and Experience.

At interview, we will be asking questions relating to the following:

• Behaviours, as listed in the person specification
• Experience, as listed in the person specification
• Strengths

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.

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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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

Attachments

2032 - JD_EO_Mechanical craftsperson V2 NS Opens in new window (pdf, 244kB)