Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Senior Scientist - £46,160 p.a. + benefits
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Job Summary
We are currently looking for a Senior Scientist to join our Research and Development Function within the Science and Research Group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a fixed term contract basis until the 31st May 2029. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.
About Us
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 Science and Research group delivers public health impact through world-leading research and innovation to support clinical trials and availability of novel medicines. It comprises 6 sub-Groups: Innovation Accelerator, Clinical Investigations and Trials, Research and Development, Standards Lifecycle, Control Testing and Quality Assurance and Health & Safety.
Research and Development (R&D) delivers an internationally leading programme that supports development of and access to novel biological medicines, biological standards, diagnostics, vaccines, biotherapeutics and advanced therapy medicinal products.
Job Description
Role Purpose
This is a fixed term position (ending on 31st May 2029), funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global organisation that supports the development of new and innovative vaccines against emerging infectious viral diseases.
To strengthen pandemic preparedness, CEPI is funding Agility 2.0, a research project in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which aims at evaluating immunological and pathological properties of (re)emerging viral threats through the production of new viral isolates, pseudotyped viruses and the development of neutralisation assays and ex vivo and in vivo models. The MHRA is primarily leading the activities on pseudotyped viruses with the objective to generate a panel of high-quality tools aligned with CEPI’s priority. Research activities will focus on improving production procedures to maximise yield and characterisation methods to ensure quality, generating and sourcing key samples to develop and control neutralisation assays, as well as evaluating alignment with data generated from live neutralisation assays using common reference reagents.
The post holder will be responsible to manage the programme on the MHRA side, ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner, actively participate and report progress during regular meetings with UKHSA, CEPI and relevant stakeholders, engage with project management leadership on the direction and future activities, and promote Agility 2.0 at national and international conferences. The post holder will also be in charge to plan, coordinate, perform and analyse lab activities with the support of the team lead, and will have line managerial responsibility of one scientist.
Key Responsibilities And Results Areas
- Managing scientific projects in line with CEPI’s objectives and completing deliverables in a timely manner.
- Reporting progress to CEPI, UKHSA and stakeholders during regular meetings through clear and detailed presentations of objectives, methods and results, aligned with deliverables.
- Proactively engaging with CEPI, UKHSA and stakeholders to help design the development of the project and define future scope of activities, in collaboration with the team lead.
- Monitoring and evaluating the evolving global landscape of viral pathogens, outbreak epidemiology and vaccine development programmes aligned with CEPI's priority pathogen list.
- Designing, performing and analysing lab activities to meet the project deliverables, focusing on the production and characterisation of new pseudotyped viruses, the generation and sourcing of relevant reagents and the development of serological assays.
- Line managing and supervising lab activities of a scientist supporting Agility 2.0.
- Increasing international awareness of the project through presentations at national and international conferences, and networking activities.
- Actively seeking external funding in collaboration with the team lead.
- Working flexibly with the wider team, providing support across all areas as required by line manager and/or Head of team to meet the needs of the business.
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Person Specification
Experience
- Experience in managing scientific projects, reporting progress to stakeholders with degrees of seniority, delivering outcomes in a timely fashion and actively contributing to decision-making conversations on project development and evolution of activity scope. Line managing experience is desirable.
Qualifications
- A PhD in Virology, or a closely related discipline, supplemented by postgraduate research experience in virology, or equivalent professional experience in the field of virology.
Technical Skills
- Demonstrable expertise in molecular and cellular virology techniques, including cell culture, viral propagation and characterisation, pseudotyped virus production, infection and neutralisation methods, ELISA, DNA manipulation techniques, qPCR and (desirable) next-generation sequencing (NGS). Experience in the production, purification, and characterisation of recombinant proteins would be advantageous.
- Excellent analytical skills, with the proven ability to generate, record, analyse, interpret and communicate complex information to internal and external collaborators and stakeholders, in a detailed-focused and precise manner.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £46,160, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £13,372 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides here.
- 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 six months full pay and six months half pay after five years’ service.
- Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
- Civil Service Pension Scheme
- 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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Application Process
- Closing date: 16 October 2026 at 23:55
- Sifting: from 22 October 2026
- Main panel interviews: from 2 November 2026
Communications will be electronic via email therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.
We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Pre-sift Stage
An initial sift will be conducted on the technical criteria of A PhD in Virology, or a closely related discipline, supplemented by postgraduate research experience in virology, or equivalent professional experience in the field of virology. If you are assessed as not meeting the required level, you will not be progressed past this stage.
Main Panel Interview
Successful candidates from the sift stage will be invited to attend an interview. We use a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will be assessing Behaviours and Experience.
Your Interview Will Include:
- Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.
At interview, we will be asking questions relating to the following:
- Behaviours, as listed in the person specification
- Experience, as listed in the person specification
- Strengths
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.
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 baseline personnel security standard checks.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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
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