Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies - £76,000 p.a. + benefits

Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies – £76,000 p.a. + benefits

Join to apply for the Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies – £76,000 p.a. + benefits role at Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies – £76,000 p.a. + benefits

2 weeks ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies – £76,000 p.a. + benefits role at Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Job Summary
We are currently looking for a

Canary Wharf, London
Job Summary
We are currently looking for a Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies to join our Benefit Risk Evaluation I Team within the Safety & Surveillance 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. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
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 Safety and Surveillance (S&S) Group brings together into a single integrated structure, expertise on the safety of all medical products with enforcement capabilities. These functions are supported by the Agency’s data and evidence generating capabilities, complementing our signal generating abilities.
Against this background and the drive to improve treatment availability for patients, safety remains at the heart of all our decision making across the product life cycle. The central mission of the Safety & Surveillance portfolio is to protect the public by appropriately identifying, assessing and managing the risks associated with medical products. In every aspect of this work, we harness the best science, technology, information and professional practice to protect patients in new and impactful ways.
Job Description
What’s the role?
We are looking for an ambitious, forward-thinking leader to head the Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies team. The role will suit an experienced clinician, academic or regulatory specialist with expertise in pre-clinical assessment, toxicology, genomics or in vitro diagnostics, and an interest in protecting patient safety. This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic, cross-disciplinary group focused on the cutting-edge intersection of medicines, devices, and evolving therapeutic modalities.
The post holder will lead the integration of scientific, clinical, and technical expertise to deliver high-quality benefit-risk assessments and ensure effective matrix working across the Benefit-Risk Evaluation functions, the wider Safety and Surveillance Group, and Agency lifecycle group. The role is pivotal in ensuring timely and robust responses to potential safety concerns, directly informing evidence-based regulatory decisions that uphold public health and product performance standards.
In this role, you will lead critical activities related to:
Key responsibilities:

• Non-clinical toxicology: support for toxicological, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity assessments in the safety of medicines, including in silico modelling to enhance safety evaluations.
• Biological safety, and sterilisation and decontamination assessment: underpinning both post-market surveillance and clinical investigations for medical devices.
• Pharmacogenomics for pharmacovigilance: co-ordinate policy on the integration of pharmacogenomics with pharmacovigilance to support personalised medicine, ensuring our approach remains at the forefront of healthcare.
• Emerging technologies: lead policy on post-market surveillance and risk assessment of diagnostics, as well as emerging and advanced technologies such as nano-enabled medicines and devices, ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products), and synthetic biology products.

What’s the role?
We are looking for an ambitious, forward-thinking leader to head the Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies team. The role will suit an experienced clinician, academic or regulatory specialist with expertise in pre-clinical assessment, toxicology, genomics or in vitro diagnostics, and an interest in protecting patient safety. This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic, cross-disciplinary group focused on the cutting-edge intersection of medicines, devices, and evolving therapeutic modalities.
The post holder will lead the integration of scientific, clinical, and technical expertise to deliver high-quality benefit-risk assessments and ensure effective matrix working across the Benefit-Risk Evaluation functions, the wider Safety and Surveillance Group, and Agency lifecycle group. The role is pivotal in ensuring timely and robust responses to potential safety concerns, directly informing evidence-based regulatory decisions that uphold public health and product performance standards.
In this role, you will lead critical activities related to:
Key responsibilities:

• Non-clinical toxicology: support for toxicological, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity assessments in the safety of medicines, including in silico modelling to enhance safety evaluations.
• Biological safety, and sterilisation and decontamination assessment: underpinning both post-market surveillance and clinical investigations for medical devices.
• Pharmacogenomics for pharmacovigilance: co-ordinate policy on the integration of pharmacogenomics with pharmacovigilance to support personalised medicine, ensuring our approach remains at the forefront of healthcare.
• Emerging technologies: lead policy on post-market surveillance and risk assessment of diagnostics, as well as emerging and advanced technologies such as nano-enabled medicines and devices, ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products), and synthetic biology products.

Person specification
Who are we looking for?
Oursuccessful candidatewill have:

• Experience in pre-clinical assessment, toxicology, genomics or diagnostics; this is essential.
• Experience of working at a senior level, communicating effectively with a range of senior level stakeholders is essential.
• Experience of leading and/or managing diverse, multidisciplinary teams and work programmes to deliver results to tight deadlines.
• Expertise in the relevant clinical, scientific, academic or technical field, including evidence of up-to-date specialist level of knowledge and evidence of analysis of data and preparation of reports, scientific publications or reviews or manuscripts for regulatory submissions is essential.
• Delivering at Pace: Evidence of ability to work in a pressurised, target driven environment, delivering results on time within a range of deadlines maintaining high standards of quality.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact
Alongside your salary of £76,000, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £22,017 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-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 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

Selection process details
The selection process:
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates,find out more here.
Online application form , including questions based on theBehaviour, 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.
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 theBehaviour, 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: expertise in the relevant clinical, scientific, academic or technical field, including evidence of up-to-date specialist level of knowledge and evidence of analysis of data and preparation of reports, scientific publications or reviews or manuscripts for regulatory submissions is essential.
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 allowsufficienttime. 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 as soon as possible.

Closing date:13 July 2025
Shortlisting date: w/c 14 July 2025
Interview date:04-07 August 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
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 availablehere.
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
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 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.
Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointmenton the basis ofmerit 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 firstly contact Florentina Oyelami, Head of Talent Acquisition,
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Civil Service Commission
Room G/8
1Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• 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) (opens in a new window)
• 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
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.
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).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact

• Name : Shareen Doak
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

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 , 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 – – Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Other

• Industries

  Government Administration

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Head of Biosafety, Non-Clinical & Emerging Technologies – £76,000 p.a. + benefits” roles.

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 15 hours ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

Executive Director & Head, EMEA Client Relationship Management

London, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago

Regional Manager Opportunities- South East

South East, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 19 hours ago

Innovation Strategy and Policy Deputy Head

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Head of Channels and Engagement (Social Media)

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago

Hounslow, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

City Of London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.

#J-18808-Ljbffr