Senior Criminal Enforcement Officers - £42,410 - £51,666 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for x2 Senior Criminal Enforcement Officers to join our Investigation and Disruption Function within the Safety & Surveillance group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role is a home-based role but will require occasional travel to 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU or 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.

The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) is a unique law enforcement function within the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Our mission is to protect UK citizens by preventing, disrupting, and prosecuting those persons involved in the criminal supply of illegal and counterfeit medicines and medical devices.

We are a well-established, team of experienced law enforcement professionals many of whom have backgrounds in agencies including Regional Organised Crime Units, National Crime Agency, and Police Services across the UK.

The work of the CEU sits firmly within the serious and organised crime arena. As criminal networks become increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to profit from illicit medicines and medical devices, we continue to evolve our capabilities to stay ahead of the threat.

The CEU offers a rare opportunity to make a real national and international impact as part of a specialist law enforcement team at the forefront of criminal enforcement of medicrime.

The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) is a dedicated law enforcement function within the MHRA, leading interventions to tackle the most serious criminal threats to the public from the illegal sale and supply of medicines and medical devices. This is an omnicompetent role. You could be involved in a variety of activities, including investigation, covert operations, intelligence collection, tackling cybercrime or delivering innovative interventions to criminal threats as outlined in the attached Job description.

Job description

What’s the role?

We are currently looking to fill vacancies within the Criminal Enforcement Unit and are especially keen to hear from candidates with significant experience in investigating serious and complex crime. The MHRA conducts work to identify, tackle and where appropriate prosecute those responsible for criminal offending. Our activities are generated through an intelligence-led approach, focusing on the key threats to the UK and managing risk to patients.

Key responsibilities:

• Delivering, directly influencing the delivery of, and contributing to the delivery of impactful strategic and/or tactical criminal threat reduction interventions.

• Leading complex investigations, intelligence operations, initiatives, or projects (in keeping with allocated functional area) ensuring these are carried out thoroughly, efficiently and in accordance with MHRA policy, relevant legislation and good practice.

• Delivering allocated capabilities to the highest professional standards, actively encouraging, supporting and participating in a culture of continuous improvement, and modelling civil service and corporate values and behaviours.

• Leading, managing, supervising or participating in multi-functional/multi-disciplinary teams to develop and deliver the Unit’s threat reduction outcomes. This may include task-specific teams, cross-functional teams, small project delivery teams and teams comprised of direct reports

• Leading and supporting criminal justice interventions, gathering evidence and preparing and submitting case files and other documentation to reduce, remove or disrupt identified threats

• Devising, leading, coordinating, supporting and delivering innovative non-criminal justice interventions under the PREVENT and PROTECT response strands to bring about high-quality strategic threat reduction outcomes.

• Maintaining the integrity and reputation of CEU operational activity by managing the security and accuracy of intelligence, evidence and information, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and a duty of care as required and appropriately managing other operational risk.

• Lead, own and deliver projects or portfolio responsibilities as directed to improve and enhance the operational effectiveness of the CEU and the wider Agency.

Person specification

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will have the following:

• The investigation of serious and complex crime.

• Case file preparation and the prosecution of offenders.

• Providing advice on legislation and technical options to disrupt criminality.

• Working collaboratively with stakeholders to reduce criminal threats.

• Contributing to the 4P strategic response framework to criminal threats.

Method of assessment: A=Application, I=Interview

Behaviour Criteria:

• Working Together (A, I)

• Changing and Improving (A, I)

• Managing a Quality Service (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

The requirement is for significant recent experience in one or more of the following areas (A, I):

• Conducting complex criminal investigations
• Conducting all-source intelligence assessment, including the use of structured analytical techniques.
• Collecting and developing all-source intelligence on strategic and tactical threats, including from human intelligence sources.
• Delivering internet intelligence and investigation and OSINT collection capabilities
• Supervising and quality assuring the delivery of multiple operational and business support capabilities
• Applying the 4P strategic response framework to identify and deliver innovative non-criminal justice interventions.

Technical Criteria:

The requirement is for one or more of the following (A, I):

• Formal accreditation under the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) 2 (investigator) or evidence substantial experience of investigating complex crime, or demonstrable competence to ‘practitioner’ level against core GCFP professional standards.

• Recognised recent formal training in intelligence assessment and analysis (GIAT or equivalent) or demonstrable competence to ‘highly proficient’ against the PHIA professional development framework

• Recognised recent formal training as a CHIS controller or demonstrable competence sufficient to perform the statutory duties under s29(5)(b) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and a proven ability to write well-focused, penetrating reports fully independently, that articulate complex matters clearly and concisely in a way that aids comprehension.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!

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Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,410, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £12,286 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 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

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.

• 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: evidence of your formal accreditation under the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) 2 (investigator), or evidence substantial experience of investigating complex crime, or demonstrable competence to ‘practitioner’ level against core GCFP professional standards.

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: 05 May 2026

Shortlisting date: 15 May 2026

Interview date: 03 June 2026

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.

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.

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 careers@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