Deputy Director, Project Delivery

We are currently looking for a Deputy Director, Project Delivery to join our Authorisation Lifecycle Function within the Healthcare, Quality & Access group. This is a full‑time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PI. There may be a requirement to travel nationally and internationally with overnight stays as needed.

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.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhances and improves the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research. The objective of the Healthcare Quality and Access portfolio is to drive quality and critically appraise benefits and risks to inform robust decisions on healthcare access, including accelerated access pathways. It does this by bringing together a fusion of our capabilities across both medicines and medical devices to enable licensing and market access, as well as ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.

This role leads on the delivery of a digitally enabled change programme designed to update and modernise all our regulatory processes, to ensure they are fit for purpose and efficient. The programme will use the best emerging technologies to enable our highly skilled workforce to make prompt and risk‑proportionate decisions about the safety and efficacy of medicines and medical devices. The programme of work is part of our wider ambition to make the MHRA the regulator of choice internationally, bringing innovative medicines and medical devices (including AI) to UK patients first and supporting the growth and development of the UK Life Sciences industry.

Key responsibilities:

• Successful delivery and operational implementation of the programme deliverables across MHRA business as usual functions.
• Day‑to‑day management and leadership of the project and the project team which is representative of each of the operations business areas, working with the appropriate expertise across each business area to provide effective leadership and management controls.
• Work collaboratively with the SRO and Programme Director to manage senior stakeholders.

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• One of the qualifications or accreditations listed in the person specification, or suitable experience in project delivery.
• Literate in Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) practices and capable of effectively engaging with technical staff, suppliers and stakeholders to define the best approach to service design and delivery of the roadmap.
• Experience of service redesign.
• Leadership – Proven experience of leading and implementing complex projects, managing multi‑disciplinary teams, delivering digital services at pace that enables users to adopt new ways of working along with evidence of behavioural and cultural change.
• Understanding of project delivery governance including service assessments, spend controls, and accessibility, security and data protection requirements.

Person Specification:

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

Behaviour Criteria:

• Leadership – Proven experience of leading and implementing complex projects, managing multi‑disciplinary teams, delivering digital services at pace that enables users to adopt new ways of working along with evidence of behavioural and cultural change. (I, P)
• Seeing the Bigger Picture – Ability to create a compelling vision and purpose in delivering programme outcomes with credibility, clarity and impact across various internal and external stakeholders, aligning programme outcomes with operational needs and strategic outcomes. (I, P)
• Making Effective Decisions – Ability to build a consensus across a large and often diverse group of stakeholders and develop strategic relationships with internal and external suppliers managing risk to deliver successful programme outcomes on time and to budget. (A, I)
• Communicating and Influencing – Strong stakeholder management, ability to engage, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, building effective partnerships across technical, policy and operational areas to deliver programme outcomes successfully and safely. (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Experience of service redesign (P)
• Understanding of project delivery governance including service assessments, spend controls, and accessibility, security and data protection requirements (A)
• Experience of managing delivery risks and issues, proactive approach to dependency management, prioritisation and problem‑solving to unblock and find solutions to issues. (I)

Technical Criteria:

• One or more of the following qualifications/accreditation or a suitable experience in project delivery: (A)
• PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Agile Project Management Practitioner
• APM Chartered Project Professional
• Major Projects Leadership Academy
• Project Leadership Programme
• Leading and Managing Project Workstreams

In‑depth knowledge of the regulatory environment in which the Agency works, with particular experience in complex data usage. (A, I)

Literate Technology (DDaT) practices and capable of effectively engaging with technical staff, suppliers and stakeholders to define the best approach to service design and delivery of the roadmap(s). (A)

Strengths Criteria:

• Motivator (I)

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!

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The selection process:

• 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.
• 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 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 (Experience) of candidates demonstrating the understanding of project delivery governance including service assessments, spend controls, and accessibility, security and data protection requirements. 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.

Use of AI in Job Applications

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Closing date: 8th February 2026

Shortlisting date: 13th February 2026

Interview date: week commencing 23rd February 2026

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.

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.

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 careers@mhra.gov.uk.

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 firstly contact careers@mhra.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.