Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Communications Specialist - ASPIRe - £60,778 - £68,422 p.a. + benefits
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South Mimms, Hertfordshire
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
- 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 agency’s estate.
- 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.
- Develop, maintain and nurture key stakeholder relationships to support delivery against the programme’s objectives, milestones and benefits, including senior responsible owners, project / programme leadership and partners across government and industry.
- Ensure alignment of project / programme communications with the MHRA’s brand, strategic communications, and internal communications priorities, working closely with senior leaders and project / programme governance to provide advice and direction.
- Oversee the integration of stakeholder and partner insight into MHRA’s 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
- 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.
- 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 MHRA’s Communications and Engagement group support delivery of effective communications.
- Monitor and proactively establish mechanisms for engaging the agency’s priority stakeholders and wider publication of the work.
- Leverage communications opportunities identified through monitoring internal and external landscapes and feed insight into the programme’s communications planning.
- 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 programme’s objectives.
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Person specification
Our successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
- 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)
- Managing a Quality Service - Experience of maintaining multiple projects / programmes whilst ensuring all risks are mitigated. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions. (lead criteria)
- Demonstrable track record of developing communications and engagement strategies and delivering complex projects/programmes and campaigns using a range of communications tools and techniques.
- 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
- 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
Salary and 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).
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.
Benefits
- 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
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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, Experience and Technical skills.
The Selection Process
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
- 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.
- Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.
- 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:
- 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.
- Managing a Quality Service - Experience of maintaining multiple projects / programmes whilst ensuring all risks are mitigated. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.
Closing and Interview Dates
- Closing date: 17 September 2026
- Shortlisting date: 23 September 2026
- Interview date: 1-2 October 2026
Immigration and Nationality Requirements
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.
Role Specific Requirements
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
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