Details
Reference number
479041
Salary
£60,778
New entrants to the Civil Service will start their role on the salary band minimum of £60,778
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Contract type
Fixed term
Loan
Length of employment
Until December 2027
Business area
MHRA - Enablement Group - Communications and Engagement
Type of role
Communications / Marketing
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
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Location
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About the job
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Benefits
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Things you need to know
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Apply and further information
Location
South Mimms, Hertfordshire
About the job
Job summary
We are currently looking for a Communications Specialist - ASPIRe to join our Communications Function within the Communications & Engagement group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a fixed term contract, internal move, loan or temporary promotion basis until December 2027. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhances and improves the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.
The agency is made up of c.1600 staff working across two main centres and peripatetically across the UK and abroad.
The agency consists of Corporate, Strategy, Transformation, Communications & Engagement, Scientific Research & Innovation, Healthcare Quality & Access, Safety & Surveillance and Technology groups.
About the Division
The MHRA Communications and Engagement Function is a multi-award-winning team that has a consistent track-record of achievement and providing value for money. Our focus is to support the agency to deliver its business outcomes by putting patients and the public at the centre of all our work.
We are organised in the following teams: News and Media, Communications, Patient and Public Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Experience. This role is in our Communications team.
Role Purpose
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Lead the development and implementation of effective communications strategies to support delivery of the the ASPIRe project, which is focused on upgrading core infrastructure across the agencys estate.
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Formulate strategic communications plans and deliver these plans through media, digital and direct marketing channels, providing clear leadership and direction to matrix communications teams and external suppliers.
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Develop, maintain and nurture key stakeholder relationships to support delivery against the programmes objectives, milestones and benefits, including senior responsible owners, project / programme leadership and partners across government and industry.
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Ensure alignment of project / programme communications with the MHRAs brand, strategic communications, and internal communications priorities, working closely with senior leaders and project / programme governance to provide advice and direction.
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Oversee the integration of stakeholder and partner insight into MHRAs wider communications activities, engagement planning and decision-making, collaborating with and influencing internal teams to ensure a coherent and effective approach to digital transformation communications.
Job description
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Act as a lead communications specialist and develop and deliver communication strategies to identify and inform priority internal and external stakeholders about the project / programme in a managed way.
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Provide expert advice on communications and stakeholder engagement, giving high-quality strategic counsel to senior leaders across the agency, including project / programme leadership and senior responsible owners.
- Act as a project / programme manager for announcements linked to the communications and engagement strategy, ensuring the MHRAs Communications and Engagement group support delivery of effective communications.
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Monitor and proactively establish mechanisms for engaging the agencys priority stakeholders and wider publication of the work.
- Leverage communications opportunities identified through monitoring internal and external landscapes and feed insight into the programmes communications planning.
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Lead development and delivery of content, creating key messages and maintaining core lines to take, in response to emerging and established priorities for the project / programme, that compels the engagement of internal and external stakeholders. This includes developing briefings, presentations, meeting materials and regular written updates.
- Proactively build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support effective delivery of programmes objectives.
Person specification
Our successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
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Communicating and Influencing - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral, with the ability to accurately and confidently communicate, influence and challenge staff and external contacts at all levels. (lead criteria)
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Managing a Quality Service - Experience of maintaining multiple projects / programmes whilst ensuring all risks are mitigated. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions. (lead criteria)
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Demonstrable track record of developing communications and engagement strategies and delivering complex projects/programmes and campaigns using a range of communications tools and techniques.
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Excellent experience in engaging and mapping out key stakeholders to communicate key messages. Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations
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Proven experience of working well under pressure and at pace within a complex business and political environment
Qualifications
A relevant qualification along with membership of CIM, CIPR or other relevant professional body desirable.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Knowledge and understanding of the health or regulatory landscape is desirable
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 .
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.
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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
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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
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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
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Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
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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
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Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
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Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
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Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
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Eligibility to join Motoring , Boundless by CSMA
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Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
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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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
The selection process:
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
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Online application form, including a personal statement of no more than 500 words demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.
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Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.
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Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
Please submit an anonymised CV which sets out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role and a personal statement of no more than 500 words explaining your suitability and how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification.
If we receive a large number of applications, we will hold an initial sift on the lead criteria of:
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Communicating and Influencing - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral, with the ability to accurately and confidently communicate, influence and challenge staff and external contacts at all levels.
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Managing a Quality Service - Experience of maintaining multiple projects / programmes whilst ensuring all risks are mitigated. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.
Closing date: 17 September 2026
Shortlisting date: 23 September 2026
Interview date: 1-2 October 2026
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:
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Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
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Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
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Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
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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 applicants 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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.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 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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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
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Email : [email protected]
Recruitment team
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Email : [email protected]
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 [email protected], 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 - [email protected] - Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ