People Business Partner

Job summary

We are currently looking for a People Business Partner to join our Business Partnering Function within the People Team.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU but will require occasional travel to South Mimms, Hertfordshire and possibly Leeds. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

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 People Team aims to be a trusted strategic partner that helps drive the delivery of the Agency’s strategic priorities. The Agency’s strategy sets out how we will modernise regulation, strengthen trust, improve performance and continue protecting patients while supporting innovation and growth. We have a highly skilled workforce, with deep scientific expertise and a strong commitment to public service. Over the next five years, we will build on this foundation by continuing to attract, develop and retain talented people, and by strengthening leadership, workforce planning and the internal services which support our people. We will invest in the skills, data, tools and support our colleagues need to respond to scientific advances, maintain high standards and deliver for patients and the public

Job description

Role Purpose

The post holder will develop, deliver and maintain a business focussed People Business Partnering service that meets the strategic and tactical needs of individual business areas and the Agency as a whole. They will liaise as appropriate with others in the People team who have a specialist focus and/or provide more operational support. There are four People Business Partner roles overseen by a Head of People Business Partnering and each is aligned with one or more Chief Officers within the Agency. This post has line management responsibility for an Assistant People Business Partner and will provide guidance and support to People Advisors within the team.

The post holder will work in partnership with People Team colleagues to contribute to the development and implementation of the People plan in line with Agency strategy and other supporting business plans. The post holder will contribute to the overall management of the People function and deputise as appropriate for other senior colleagues.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Excellent knowledge of employment law and best practice with proven ability to apply it in practice

• Proven track record of leading, managing and handling the people aspects of organisational development and delivering major change programmes.

• Expert knowledge and experience of complex employee relations case work

• Proven track record of leading policy and practice development across a People team and liaising with recognised trade unions.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• •CIPD qualification Level 5 or above or equivalent experience
• •Evidence of continuing professional development

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,905, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £18,223 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 five months full pay and five 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 (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change)

• Closing date – 24.11.26 at 23:55
• Sifting – from 25.11.26
• Main panel interviews – from 08.12.26 (MS Teams)

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?

Pre-sift Stage

An initial sift will be conducted on the question which has a word limit of 250 words. If you are assessed as not meeting the required level, you will not be progressed past this stage.

Question: "Please describe a time when you have partnered a Senior Leader to resolve a complex workforce challenge" (maximum 250 words)

Sift Stage

The main sift, where we'll read and score the rest of your application. This may involve a large number of applications, please bear with us as this can take some time.

• Anonymised CV which sets out your career history, previous experience and skills, highlighting specific responsibilities that are relevant for this role.
  
  
• Personal statement: Write a 750 word personal statement where you demonstrate how you meet the skills required for this role, providing examples to evidence your level of skill. In your personal statement we are looking for evidence of how you meet the role criteria and person specification. Your personal statement should aim to make use of the full wordcount and show how you meet the above criteria. Please give clear and specific examples of what you have done personally and the impact it has had.
  
  
• 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.

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

Leading policy and practice development across People Team and liaising with recognised trade unions, in particular where there was resistance to the proposal.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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

Attachments

G7 - 1297 - People Business Partner - JD updated 09.11.26 (002) (NS) Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)