Head of National Partnerships - £70,011 p.a. + benefits

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London. 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 Partnerships Group takes responsibility for the development of the MHRA’s national and international partnerships, leading on policy development and the development of the underpinning legal regime for medicines and medical devices.
The Group focuses on areas which are of central importance to the Agency’s future, contributing to the NHS and priority public health objectives; delivering the Government’s Life Sciences Vision and Innovation Strategy; and ensuring continued global leadership through the development of new international partnerships. These, and the other transformational regulatory proposals which are being developed across the Agency, will require legislation to be updated, and potentially, to be reformed into a new legal regime., The aim of this role is to ensure that the MHRA is aligned within the UK healthcare ecosystem to deliver and develop its objectives and wider public health and government outcomes, such as the safe and timely access to medicines and medical devices and the reduction of adverse events relating to these, and to make the UK an attractive place for industry to develop and launch new products.
The postholder will take the lead responsibility for developing the MHRA’s relationships with the national ecosystem, and for representation in a range of partnerships. The postholder will be able to interface with senior representatives across the sector, and with colleagues across MHRA to ensure both that the national partnerships we hold support delivery on MHRA priorities, and that the MHRA, through collaborative working, is integrated into the UK healthcare ecosystem to ensure joined up working., + Delivery and development of the Partnerships Strategy across the UK, developing and convening networks and bilateral relationships in support of the MHRA’s priorities including patient access to medicines and medical devices, working closely with the International team.
+ Establish new partnerships externally, and successfully manage these relationships on an ongoing basis. Partner with government and other public health sector teams, industry, and clinical academics as well as the surrounding environment across the UK
+ Foster greater information sharing with public sector health partners to streamline processes and share key data to advance patient access to safe, effective, and high-quality treatments.
+ Maintain UK wide collaboration supporting heath system alignment for promoting patient access and expanding this approach across the UK Research and Innovation sector, enhancing regulatory decision making and planning., We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
+ Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour 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.
+ Supporting statement of no more than 1000 words that describes how your career experience makes you suitable for this role. Please submit the supporting statement with your application in pdf format, and remove any identifying information.
+ Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Strengths Success Profiles.
+ Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied if you reach this stage.
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 answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description.
Use of AI in Job Applications
Applicants must ensure that anything submitted is factually accurate and truthful. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own., + 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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Our successful candidate will have substantial experience of interacting with the life sciences sector, preferably including the research, innovation and/or safety and surveillance stages, and will be able to demonstrate the following Behaviours from the person specification:
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Communicating and Influencing, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £70,011, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £18,902 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
+ 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 the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
+ Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
+ On-going learning and development