Programme Delivery Manager - £60,778 - £68,422 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Programme Delivery Manager to join our Business Operations Functionwithin the Safety & Surveillance Group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU.

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. Remote working is potentially available for some specific roles. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

The Safety and Surveillance (S&S) Group brings together into a single integrated structure expertise on the safety of all medical products with enforcement capabilities. These functions are supported by the Agency’s data and evidence generating capabilities, complementing our signal generating abilities.

Against this background and the drive to improve treatment availability for patients, safety remains at the heart of all our decision making across the product life cycle. The central mission of the Safety & Surveillance portfolio is to protect the public by appropriately identifying, assessing and managing the risks associated with medical products. In every aspect of this work, we harness the best science, technology, information and professional practice to protect patients in new and impactful ways.

Job description

Role Purpose

The Programme Delivery Manager will report to the Head of Group Business Operations within the Business Operations Team. The Business Operations Team is responsible for ensuring that S&S service provision supports the delivery of the Agency's strategy and Corporate Delivery Plan including meeting MHRA’s financial and performance targets and delivery objectives. The team is responsible for ensuring the effective running of the Group, including budget and performance management and works closely with the whole Group and the enabling centre of the Agency.

The Programme Delivery Manager role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Agency key programs including but not limited to the Strategic Data & Intelligence Capability (SDIC), Regulatory Reform and the Future of Safety. The post holder will possess leadership skills and programme management expertise to lead on the delivery of S&S contributions to these programs.

The post holder is responsible for supporting a portfolio of programme work activities for S&S from conceptual planning to post release operationalisation. Responsibilities include supporting the S&S Senior Management Team (SMT) by overseeing the delivery of their vision for the programme; managing dependencies of varying complexity and planning and feeding into different programmes and portfolios; removing blockers and managing risks, commercials, budgets and people.

Key Responsibilities

Programme and delivery management

• Lead on the planning and scheduling of activities to deliver on S&S contributions to major Agency ongoing programs (e.g. Strategic Data & Intelligence Capability (SDIC), Regulatory Reform, Future of Safety) and making sure these plans coincide with the macro level project and programme plans.
• Ensure all S&S contributions to key Agency ongoing major programs are captured and maintained through roadmaps and project Work with the S&S SMT, project teams and sponsors and other key stakeholders to deliver the highest possible value to S&S and ensure that projects are delivered to time and on budget and are operationalized with appropriate processes, procedures and guidance.

Adapt business processes

• Adapt organisational processes to maximise the opportunities provided by the new platforms being developed.
• Work with the operations team to add value and coach the organisation to adapt to new processes, guiding teams through the implementation of new processes and
• Contribute to the communicating of complex information to stakeholder groups, balancing priorities of the needs of the programme of work and business as usual activities.

Support the continuous improvement of products and services and responds to safety enquiries

• Oversee the continuous improvement of systems and services to enable continued quality services according to agreed parameters.
• Ensure safety requests by internal or external customers are triaged, and responded to, efficiently. Manage resource flexibly to create capacity to respond to requirements relating to safety issues.

People management

• Be a skilled team leader who can confidently communicate the value of projects being delivered to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Promote a performance management culture within the team, delivering high quality work to achieve business targets.
• Work closely with relevant colleagues in S&S and report to members of the S&S
• Encourage collaborative working amongst the team and participate in meetings to ensure the communication of progress on projects and activities across the Group.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Experience in optimising the delivery flow of teams, actively addressing the most complicated risks, issues and dependencies including where ownership exists outside the team or no clear ownership exists. Evidence of identifying innovative ways to unblock issues.
• A demonstrable record of being able to solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level, understanding the psychology of the team and can give example of having strong mediation skills. You can show experience of coaching the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community.
• Knowledge and/or experience of relevant regulations and procedures applicable to the safety of medicines and medical devices.

Qualifications

Degree/postgraduate qualification in a relevant scientific discipline, e.g., Pharmacy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or equivalent experience.

Degree/postgraduate qualification in management or business administration or equivalent experience.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Degree/postgraduate qualification in a relevant scientific discipline, e.g., Pharmacy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Degree/postgraduate qualification in management or business administration or equivalent experience.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,778, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £17,607 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 19 October 2026
• Sifting – From 20 October 2026
• Main panel interviews – From w/c 02 November 2026

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. Pre-sift Stage

An initial sift will be conducted on the experience question which has a word limit of 500 words. If you are assessed as not meeting the required level, you will not be progressed past this stage.

Question: "Please describe your experience of being able to solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level, understanding the psychology of the team and can give example of having strong mediation skills. You can show experience of coaching the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community." (maximum 500 words).

In your answer, please include:

• The context and objectives of the work
• Your specific role and actions taken
• How you engaged, influenced or collaborated with stakeholders
• The outcome, including any measurable impact or improvements delivered (e.g. efficiency, candidate experience, or compliance)

2. 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 1000 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.

3. 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.

Your interview will include:

• Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.

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

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

2065 - S_S Programme Delivery Manager Job Description NS Opens in new window (pdf, 177kB)