Mechanical Craftsperson - £33,677 p.a. + benefits

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; Potters Bar; On-site; GBP 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A government regulatory body in Potters Bar seeks a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer to ensure safe operations and maintenance of engineering systems. The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar setting, focusing on compliance with safety regulations and technical problem-solving for critical equipment. This role offers competitive salary and benefits, including Civil Service pension contributions.

Benefits

Annual leave of 25 days plus bank holidays

Occupational sick pay scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in a Maintenance or Building Services environment.
• Knowledge of control systems and engineering equipment.
• Ability to maintain and fault-find on a range of equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operate steam boilers and steam distribution systems.
• Conduct planned preventive maintenance on mechanical systems.
• Investigate faults and propose solutions.

Skills

Mechanical maintenance

Problem-solving

Technical advice

Safety compliance

Project management

Education

Registered engineering apprenticeship (NVQ Level 2 or BTEC)

Tools

Steam boilers

Air handling systems

Building management systems

Job description

Infrastructure and Laboratory Services (ILS)

Infrastructure and Laboratory Services (ILS) are part of the Corporate group and provide engineering and specialist staff to deliver a safe working environment for staff and in particular our specialist scientific facilities. They support the Agency work by having clear funded maintenance programmes to 'patch and mend' and money to invest in unique scientific facilities and a centralised support process to, where appropriate, deliver efficiencies, savings and value for money.

Function

• Facilities & Laboratory Services – day to day running & support of sites, laboratories and other specialised facilities, security, catering, cleaning, waste and 10SC Liaison for 10th Floor
• Engineering – Management of engineering and infrastructure systems supporting the complex buildings, adhering to critical health and safety requirements and responding to alarms 24/7
• Specialist Project & Programme Management – of the Capital programme by providing Project Management / project engineering as required for: building alterations, lab refurbs including high containment, acquisition, installation and commissioning of new plant, equipment and digital IT and special programmes, The post will be responsible for providing a mechanical service to ensure that the South Mimms Site (SMS) consisting of general and containment laboratories, production filling area, cold rooms and offices functions in compliance with the relevant legalisation and is part of the Maintenance Team supporting the SMS.

Responsibilities

The precise duties required by the post will vary with the needs of the division and the strategic objectives of the Institute, but the main responsibilities will include the day to day operation of Steam Boilers, steam raising plant and steam distribution system. Offering technical advice, support, assistance and resolution for mechanical problems across the SMS and in particular in the CL 3 & 4 containment Laboratories and CBRM, to ensure that safe working practices are maintained.

• Carry out day-to-day maintenance of the mechanical areas of the SMS to ensure that the Engineering systems are supporting the relevant Divisions in delivering the Agency's strategic objectives and work within the Health and Safety requirements and ISO 9001 Quality Management System. This work includes reactive and Planned Preventative Maintenance.
• Co‑ordinating and completing the planned preventative maintenance program for the mechanical and engineering plant and equipment, ensuring contractors are appropriately briefed and supervised.
• Investigate and respond to faults, breakdowns and unscheduled tasks as they occur, on a priority basis and propose solutions as to how the fault can be rectified so that the SMS continues to function safely.
• Support the team with out‑of‑hours cover, on a rota basis and under guidance be able to make informed decisions and instigate and / or carry out the necessary actions to ensure that the equipment, stored items and site remains safe.
• Work as part of the wider Operations Team to ensure that the SMS is operational 24 hours a day.

Application Process

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.

• Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical 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.
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
• 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 competency‑based answers provided – ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the competencies 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.

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact [e-mail] as soon as possible.

Closing date: 30 November 2025

Shortlisting date: From 01 December 2025

Interview date: w/c 08 December 2025

Candidates will be contacted within a week of the sift and the interviews completed to inform them of the outcome.

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact [e-mail]

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.

Vaccination 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.

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 applicant's 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.

Eligibility

• 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

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).

Qualifications & Experience Criteria

• Successful completion of a registered engineering apprenticeship with at least NVQ Level 2 or BTEC in heating and ventilation, or equivalent.
• Significant experience in a Maintenance or Building Services environment working to a planned preventative maintenance schedule. Ability to investigate problems, identify solutions and implement, calling on external expertise as required to ensure that the site continues to function 24 hours a day safely and in line with the relevant electrical regulations.
• Proven experience in and the ability to gather and analyse information, and to identify and report clearly on pertinent issues.
• Practical knowledge and experience working on control systems and a range of engineering equipment.
• Practical experience of maintaining and fault‑finding on a range of equipment and infrastructure supporting containment laboratories or equivalent. This may include items such as:
  • Air handling systems supplying containment laboratories
  • Clean rooms
  • Building management systems
  • Pressure Systems – Steam Boilers and distribution, Compressed air.
  • Autoclaves
  • Plate Heat Exchangers
  • Drainage systems
  • Pumps and water treatment plant including RO water, softeners.
  • Microbiological Safety Cabinets/Fume hoods
• Installation and maintenance of a range of mechanical services in a relevant environment.
• Working on a range of mechanical systems including working to and updating of associated documentation (Risk assessments, SOPs).

Technical Criteria

• Successful completion of a registered engineering apprenticeship with at least NVQ Level 2 or BTEC an engineering discipline.
• Steam Plant Maintenance qualification would be beneficial.
• Must be able to carry out work in accordance with current regulations and contribute to risk assessments & method statements for work within own field of experience.
• Understand the relevance of regulations including:
  • PUWER
  • PSSR
  • LOLER
  • COSHH
  • Manual Handling

Strengths Criteria

• Decisive.
• Discipline.
• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,677, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £9,756 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‑ratio 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 ratio 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 the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA).
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs.
• On‑going learning and development.