Head of Innovative Products - £81,000 p.a. + benefits

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A government health agency in the UK is seeking a Head of Innovative Products to lead the strategy for innovative healthcare product regulation. This full-time role at a Canary Wharf location involves significant leadership, requiring a Degree in Medicine and expertise in regulatory matters. The successful candidate will shape strategies, provide expert guidance, and navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare innovation. This position offers a competitive salary totaling £81,000 with additional pension contributions and a flexible working model.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Occupational sick pay

Flexible working options

Access to Civil Service Benevolent Fund

Qualifications

• Degree in Medicine with relevant postgraduate qualifications.
• Broad scientific and regulatory experience.
• Leadership experience with influence on strategy.
• Understanding of organisational objectives.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for innovative product regulation.
• Develop and deliver new functions to address healthcare trends.
• Advise external stakeholders with valuable insights.
• Grow knowledge to help developers navigate regulations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Communication with senior leaders

Knowledge of regulations

Education

Degree in Medicine

Postgraduate qualifications in specialist area

Job description

Overview

We are currently looking for a Head of Innovative Products to join our Innovation Accelerator and Regulatory Science Function within the Science, Research and Innovation group. This is a full‑time permanent role based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4PU. The role can only be worked in the UK.

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites. We are working with a flexible, hybrid model that requires a minimum of 8 days per month onsite, which can flex up to 12 days per month depending on business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to drive forward the development of cross‑cutting strategy, policy and guidance, working with other MHRA technical experts as part of MHRA’s wider innovation mission; make decisions on the case for change through use of evidence and provide advice and briefings to senior leaders on various matters related to the regulation of innovative healthcare products. This will include developing regulatory pathways that optimise the development of new innovative products and technologies.
• Enable the development and delivery of a new enhanced function within the IA that works agency‑wide to respond to emerging trends in healthcare product innovation where there is likely to be market interest or opportunity for a paradigm shift in healthcare, and ensure the Innovation Accelerator and Regulatory Science function delivers the right information at the right time to queries and requests, both internally and externally, supporting the ILAP and IDAP ambitions.
• Develop and grow the knowledge base to support developers of novel innovations in navigating the regulatory system, appreciating stakeholder views (industry, academia, patients).
• Provide expert advice to external stakeholders, ensuring the advice adds value beyond publicly available information, and signpost to MHRA services that generate new and ongoing business.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Medicine with relevant postgraduate qualification(s) within specialist area(s). Registered with the General Medical Council.
• Broad and expert scientific and regulatory experience that can support the ambitions of the Innovation Accelerator.
• Leadership experience – create and engage others around a shared vision, remain visible and approachable to all colleagues and stakeholders, influence strategy and culture, and promote the organisation’s reputation.
• Understanding of how the role fits with and supports organisational objectives; ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders.
• Strong change‑management skills – seek opportunities to innovate, encourage initiative, recognise ideas, encourage measured risk‑taking and drive improvement.

Technical Criteria

• Sound knowledge of relevant regulations applicable to the area.

Candidate Requirements & Checks

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check, animal rights and pro‑life activism checks, and a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Health & Safety Requirements

• 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.

Nationalities

• 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 with 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

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, embrace diversity and promote equal opportunities, run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities, and offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants at risk of redundancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. See the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Benefits

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry, rising by one day per completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days; plus 8 bank holidays.
• Privilege Leave: 1 day.
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full‑time staff.
• Occupational Sick Pay: One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month per completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay.
• Mobility clause, Civil Service Pension Scheme, flexible working.
• Interest‑free season ticket loan or bike loan, Employee Assistance Services, access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association, clubs and ongoing learning and development.

Salary & Other Information

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £23,465 towards your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency enhances and improves the health of millions every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices. The Science, Research and Innovation Group delivers public health impact and world‑leading research and innovation.

How to Apply

Submit an online application with a statement of suitability (no more than 1500 words) demonstrating how you meet the person specification. All application questions must be completed in full; the application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Ensure all supporting information is anonymised and that your details are not visible to Hiring Managers.

The interview will involve preparing a presentation and may include questions based on behavioural, experience, technical and strengths success profiles. In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, an initial sift based on the lead criteria will be conducted. Successful interview candidates will be subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). Candidates who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences within the preceding five years are not eligible to apply. Applicants who have resigned or otherwise left employment prior to a dismissal for fraud or dishonesty, and for whom employment was continued, will be refused employment.