Regional Deputy Director of US Partnerships

Job summary

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK's sovereign regulator for medicines, including biological medicines, medical devices and blood products. At the heart of its purpose is protecting public health, ensuring that medical products available to patients are safe and effective while enabling innovation to reach patients appropriately.

Today, that mission is increasingly international. Science and life sciences innovation do not stop at national borders, and neither can effective regulation. New medicines, technologies and ways of developing them are moving rapidly, making strong relationships between regulators, governments, researchers and industry more important than ever.

For the MHRA, international partnerships are therefore not simply about exchanging information. They are about building the relationships and connections that allow regulators to respond intelligently to innovation, learn from one another and create opportunities to work together where doing so can deliver better outcomes for patients.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a genuinely influential international role at an important moment for the MHRA and for UK life sciences. Our ambition is not simply to have a presence in the United States, but to build relationships that make a real difference: to patients, to innovation and to the UK's position as a global life sciences leader.

The relationship between the UK and US is central to that ambition. Through the MHRA–FDA Pioneer Programme, we have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with one of the world's most important regulatory authorities, strengthen scientific and regulatory collaboration and create new connections across two of the world's leading life sciences ecosystems.

Job description

We are looking for a Regional Deputy Director of US Partnerships to join our International Partnerships Team within the Innovation & Compliance Group. The International Partnerships Team is responsible for shaping policy to guide the MHRA’s operations, for developing the global partnerships that the MHRA needs to be successful.

The role will serve as MHRA’s dedicated Liaison Officer to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the MHRA-FDA Pioneer Programme. This role represents a significant milestone in UK–US regulatory collaboration, building on the UK-US pharmaceutical partnership.

As MHRA’s senior representative in the United States, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening one of the Agency’s most important international relationships. Working at the heart of global regulatory policy, you will help advance collaboration in innovative medicines, medical devices, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, while supporting our shared commitment to protecting public health and fostering innovation.

The MHRA-FDA Pioneer Programme formalises the longstanding partnership between the MHRA and FDA through dedicated liaison officer roles in both organisations. The programme is designed to strengthen scientific collaboration, support regulatory innovation and increase the exchange of expertise, while fully preserving the independent decision-making responsibilities of each regulator.

The programme will help both organisations respond more effectively to emerging regulatory challenges, support resilient supply chains, strengthen clinical research oversight and accelerate collaboration in areas such as rare diseases, real-world evidence and innovative healthcare technologies.

The successful candidate will maintain strong links with the MHRA in the UK and benefit from ongoing support, throughout their deployment. The experience and skills gained will bring significant value back into the Agency.

Person specification

Please refer to candidate pack for full details

Key responsibilities

Senior Representation and Advocacy. Representing MHRA’s position as a global regulatory leader at senior-level meetings, international forums, and science diplomacy events. Act as MHRA’s senior representative with the FDA and in relevant international fora.

Strategic Partnership Management. Develop and maintain a strong, trusted relationship between the MHRA and FDA. Support long-term strategic engagement between both agencies and wider stakeholders.

Programme and Project Leadership. Lead the delivery of high-profile bilateral initiatives, including joint inspections, reliance projects and regulatory policy collaborations. Ensure programmes are delivered to a high standard, on time and with measurable impact.

Coordination, Intelligence and Policy Delivery

• Oversee effective communication and information sharing between the MHRA and FDA.
• Provide strategic regulatory intelligence and insights from MHRA leadership.
• Deliver high-quality briefings, policy advice and recommendations to ministers and senior officials.

Leadership. Motivate others, use judgement to take decisions in real time. Actively promote the reputation of the MHRA with pride, both internally and externally

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working within the life sciences, pharmaceutical, MedTech, BioTech or related sectors.
• Proven senior leader with a strong track record of delivering high-impact, fast-paced and complex programmes and driving strategic outcomes across international organisational boundaries.
• Highly developed strategy skills with the ability to align international collaboration, policy and partnerships with wider UK Government priorities, economic growth, public health and international objectives.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills, with a proven ability to develop trusted and influential networks across government, industry and international partners, fostering strong collaboration and long-term partnerships.
• Proven international diplomacy skills, with experience navigating complex political, cultural and organisational environments and managing high-profile domestic and international engagements.
• Strong judgement and decision-making, with the ability to operate confidently with a high degree of autonomy and resilience.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of developing and delivering international policy, partnerships or diplomacy

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £24,914 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).

Continuous investment in Career Development

Whatever your role, MHRA takes your career and development seriously, and wants to enable you to build a successful career with MHRA. It is crucial that MHRA employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews complemented by a supporting learning and development offer tailored to your needs.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At MHRA we have pro-active staff networks that are focussed on supporting employees in making MHRA a great place to work where our people truly can flourish.

Pension

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package. A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution of 28.97% to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit Civil Service Pension Scheme for more details.

Civil Services pension arrangements will apply. Full details can be found on the Civil Service Pensions website at: https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/

Reward & Recognition

You will be eligible to earn a non-pensionable, non-consolidated performance-related award, subject to annual performance in role.

Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance

25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays. This will be complemented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.

If you are an existing Senior Civil Servant (SCS) your current annual leave entitlement may be carried over.

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

Henrietta High Executive Recruitment is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on this appointment.

The closing date for applications is 23:55 Sunday 1 November 2026

Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to complete the online equal opportunities monitoring form* and submit your application, providing the documents outlined below:

• You will be asked to respond YES / NO to the following questions as part of your application. If you do not answer the questions your application may not be considered;
  • Do you have experience of working within the life sciences, pharmaceutical, MedTech, BioTech or related sectors.
  • Are you willing and able to relocate to Washington, DC for the duration of the appointment?
  • Are you willing and able to undertake the travel required by the role, including travel within the US and between the US and UK?
  • This role is subject national security clearance and the securing of an A-2 visa. Are you content to proceed with the required security checks to support this requirement.
• A two-page CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;

• A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1200 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria listed in the person specification.

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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 2 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 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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

Candidate Pack SCS1 Regional Director of US Partnerships V5 Opens in new window (docx, 2144kB)