Principal Policy Specialist

MHRA; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent regulatory body in the UK is seeking a Principal Policy Specialist to drive international partnerships and policy development within their organization. The role involves managing a team, delivering high-quality advice to senior officials, and ensuring effective collaboration. Candidates should have substantial policy experience and skills in leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-agency collaboration. This full-time position offers a hybrid working model with time split between onsite and remote work.

Qualifications

• Substantial policy experience in the civil service or other organizations with public sector understanding.
• Project or program management experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Drive change and improvement on the Access strategy.
• Line manage a core team, ensuring clear priorities.
• Provide high-quality advice and briefing to CEO.
• Drive cross-Agency working to implement changes.

Skills

Leadership

Delivering at pace

Working together

Seeing the big picture

Substantial policy experience

Job description

This vacancy is open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non‑departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

We are currently looking for a Principal Policy Specialist to join our International Function within the Partnerships group.

This is a full‑time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU.

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 has responsibility for shaping the policy to guide the MHRA’s operations, driving priority policy development, transforming the legal regime for medicines and medical devices which underpins all of our work and developing the MHRA’s national and international partnerships to ensure UK patients have the fastest possible access to safe, effective medicines and medical devices.

The Group focuses on issues that are at the heart of public health – fast, safe access to medicines and medical devices, working with industry and NHS and other health arms‑length bodies (ALBs); and supporting the future of the life sciences industry in the UK. We do all this while ensuring patients are at the heart of our work.

The International Partnerships Team is responsible for the Agency’s multi and bilateral work, including international forums such as the Access Consortium.

What’s the role?

The postholder will be responsible for driving change and improvement and delivering on the Access strategy, working closely with internal experts to implement necessary changes. The postholder will also need to proactively network with the Coordinators representing the other four members to seek out and deliver on opportunities for innovation within Access.

Key responsibilities

• Act as country lead for Canada, Singapore, Switzerland and Australia, developing an expertise on those countries and their overall operations, developing a network of contacts, leading on senior and Ministerial briefings and taking forward actions and projects arising from meetings.
• Line manage a core team delivering the programme of work, ensuring clear priorities and best use of resources across a high‑performing team.
• Provide high‑quality advice and briefing to CEO and senior policy officials on communicating complex issues into concise options and recommendations, to enable key decision making.
• Drive cross‑Agency working and strategy groups to develop, refine and implement changes required to MHRA’s operational model.

Who are we looking for?

• Leadership
• Delivering at pace
• Working together
• Seeing the big picture
• Substantial policy experience

Person Specification

Method of assessment: A=Application, T=Test, I=Interview, P=Presentation

Behaviour Criteria

• Seeing the Big Picture (A, I)
• Communicating and Influencing (A, I)
• Working Together (A, I)
• Leadership (A, I)
• Delivering at Pace (A, I)

Experience Criteria

• Essential: Substantial policy experience in the civil service or other organisations which give understanding of working in public sector. (A, I)
• Desirable: Project or programme management experience. (A)

Strengths Criteria

• Adaptable (I)
• Catalyst (I)

Selection 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.

In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of Communicating and Influencing.

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.

Legal and Medical

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.

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 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 have 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.

Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact [e-mail].

Contact

To apply or for more information, please read our Job Description and Person Specification or contact [e-mail].

Closing date: 11th January 2026

Shortlisting date: from 12th January 2026

Interview date: from 19th January 2026