Deputy Director Scientific Data & Insight - £76,000-£86,000 p.a. + benefits
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 4th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are currently looking for a Deputy Director Scientific Data & Insight to join our Scientific Data & Insight function within the Safety and 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.
To deliver effectively on our central mission of protecting public health, we need robust vigilance processes that are able to quickly detect, monitor and evaluate safety signals across the product lifecycle, the ability to critically evaluate the benefit/risk balance of signals of concern and design effective risk mitigations, to communicate effectively to patients and the public and a healthcare system able to implement them. The Safety and Surveillance 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 delivered via the common vigilance platform SafetyConnect.
Job description
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.
In support of this mission, the Scientific Data & Insight function is responsible for developing expertise in house to deliver evidence to underpin these new approaches. Quality and speed of regulatory decision making is dependent on having access to high-quality, representative data in a timely fashion but also being able to access and analyse in house data and information in the most effective way.
The post holder will lead on the development of innovative approaches to support more definitive and timely regulatory decisions with the scale, scope and volume of healthcare and related data, which is available, including increasingly from the patients themselves. The post holder will have responsibility for addressing data needs for both medicines and devices as well as considering how to better link new data sources to support a holistic view of any safety signal and be responsible for defining when and where the regulatory system can have confidence in the evidence derived from real world data sources. Key aspects of the role include leadership and delivery of the MHRA’s Data Strategy, which sets out our vision for data and real-world evidence, and engagement with our Centres of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation.
To support this the post holder will develop routes to access data which is challenging and will be required to work collaboratively across continents and sectors to ensure co-ordination rather than duplication. The post holder will also have the responsibility for supporting data needs across the medical product life cycle including novel access approaches and is also increasingly recognised that new analytical approaches such as AI and Machine learning are an equal partner in data science going forward. Extensive collaborative working with our Digital & Technology Group will be an important element of the role.
Working collaboratively across the UK and international health data ecosystem will be a key requirement to maximise regulatory access to data but also influence the strategic developments in the health data space for both devices and medicines.
A critical aspect of this work will include the exploration and application of new analytical methodologies including AI and machine learning methods such as natural language processing, large language models and computer modelling and simulation approaches. Hence developing and strengthening capacity and capability in data science within MHRA is a key strategic objective to ensure we are best placed to address the future evidence generation needs for both medicines and devices.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide inspirational, effective and consistent leadership to drive increased capability and capacity in data resources for both medicines and devices, from implementation through to completion and evaluation
- Proactively engage with other national and international bodies to maximise opportunities for use of real-world data in regulatory decisions
- Represent the MHRA nationally and internationally including membership of a range of national strategic boards and steering groups, proactively shaping and influencing national developments
- Work interactively across the Safety and Surveillance groups to improve analytical capabilities of existing data resources
- Support the development of a regulatory framework for software enabled medical devices, other artificial intelligence approaches and digital health products
- Provide strategic and technical leadership in AI and ML approaches in the context of medical product regulation
- Work with the Director of CPRD to maximise opportunities to leverage this valuable resource
- Support evidence generation needs across the medical product life cycle such as new innovative access mechanisms
- Leadership and coordination of the delivery plan of the MHRA data strategy to ensure the strategic objectives are achieved
- Coordinating horizon scanning on innovation and developing capacity to support innovators and anticipate and respond to future regulatory challenges
- Managing expenditure budgets and responding to press office, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), patient and public enquiries where necessary
- Provide effective leadership and management to the Scientific Data and Insight team, to develop staff in line with the Agency’s people and HR strategies and build and inclusive culture of high and continuous performance.
- Working collaboratively with the Senior leadership team of S&S to support delivery of the strategic objectives of the group
- Working in partnership with other Groups in the Agency, to identify, develop and deliver cross-Agency activities such as supporting Innovation, advice-giving and other activities to be identified including developing and agreeing suitable resourcing plans.
- Where necessary, identifying and developing grant proposals to seek external funding for specific projects.
- Contribute proactively to the Agency’s plans to continuously improve patient and public involvement in its work across all parts of the regulatory journey.
Person specification
- A strong and inclusive corporate and team leader, experience in the management of professional qualified staff, confident in both people leadership and policy development in an operational context, with the gravitas to earn the respect of stakeholders.
- Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, and the credibility and ability to build excellent relationships and networks with key stakeholders across organisational boundaries
- Demonstrable track record of AI/ML research
- Knowledge and understanding of working in a regulatory environment would be an advantage but is not essential.
- Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline e.g. data science, computer science, medical engineering, toxicology, medical physics, biomaterials or healthcare professional qualification or equivalent qualifications or equivalent experience
- A sound understanding and ability to oversee the development of databases and data visualisation solutions
- Knowledge of health data and epidemiological methods is desirable but not essential.
If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
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Benefits
- 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 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
Things you need to know
Selection process details
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
- Online application form, including a statement of suitability, attached as a PDF of no more than 2 A4 pages at Arial size 11pt font demonstrating how you meet the person specification. 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.Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.
- 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.
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 statement of suitability provided. You can view the criteria 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 careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.
Closing date: 4th October 2024
Shortlisting date: week commencing 14th October 2024
Interview date: week commencing 21st October 2024
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 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.
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 Mira Mepa, Head of Recruitment and Operations, Mira.Mepa@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
Civil Service Commission
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Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : The Resourcing Team
- Email : careers@mhra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Careers@mhra.gov.uk
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