Communications Specialist - ASPIRe - £60,778 - £68,422 p.a. + benefits

We are currently looking for a Communications Specialist - ASPIRe to join our Communications Function within the Communications & Engagement group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a fixed term contract, internal move, loan or temporary promotion basis until December 2027. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.

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 agency is made up of c.1600 staff working across two main centres and peripatetically across the UK and abroad.

The agency consists of Corporate, Strategy, Transformation, Communications & Engagement, Scientific Research & Innovation, Healthcare Quality & Access, Safety & Surveillance and Technology groups.

About the Division

The MHRA Communications and Engagement Function is a multi-award-winning team that has a consistent track-record of achievement and providing value for money. Our focus is to support the agency to deliver its business outcomes by putting patients and the public at the centre of all our work.

We are organised in the following teams: News and Media, Communications, Patient and Public Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Experience. This role is in our Communications team.

Role Purpose

• Lead the development and implementation of effective communications strategies to support delivery of the the ASPIRe project, which is focused on upgrading core infrastructure across the agency’s estate.
• Formulate strategic communications plans and deliver these plans through media, digital and direct marketing channels, providing clear leadership and direction to matrix communications teams and external suppliers.
• Develop, maintain and nurture key stakeholder relationships to support delivery against the programme’s objectives, milestones and benefits, including senior responsible owners, project / programme leadership and partners across government and industry.
• Ensure alignment of project / programme communications with the MHRA’s brand, strategic communications, and internal communications priorities, working closely with senior leaders and project / programme governance to provide advice and direction.
• Oversee the integration of stakeholder and partner insight into MHRA’s wider communications activities, engagement planning and decision-making, collaborating with and influencing internal teams to ensure a coherent and effective approach to digital transformation communications.

• Act as a lead communications specialist and develop and deliver communication strategies to identify and inform priority internal and external stakeholders about the project / programme in a managed way.
• Provide expert advice on communications and stakeholder engagement, giving high-quality strategic counsel to senior leaders across the agency, including project / programme leadership and senior responsible owners.
• Act as a project / programme manager for announcements linked to the communications and engagement strategy, ensuring the MHRA’s Communications and Engagement group support delivery of effective communications.
• Monitor and proactively establish mechanisms for engaging the agency’s priority stakeholders and wider publication of the work.
• Leverage communications opportunities identified through monitoring internal and external landscapes and feed insight into the programme’s communications planning.
• Lead development and delivery of content, creating key messages and maintaining core lines to take, in response to emerging and established priorities for the project / programme, that compels the engagement of internal and external stakeholders. This includes developing briefings, presentations, meeting materials and regular written updates.
• Proactively build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support effective delivery of programme’s objectives.

A relevant qualification along with membership of CIM, CIPR or other relevant professional body desirable.

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

The selection process:

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

• Online application form, including a personal statement of no more than 500 words demonstrating how you meet the person specification. 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.

Please submit an anonymised CV which sets out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role and a personal statement of no more than 500 words explaining your suitability and how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification.

If we receive a large number of applications, we will hold an initial sift on the lead criteria of:

• Communicating and Influencing - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral, with the ability to accurately and confidently communicate, influence and challenge staff and external contacts at all levels.
• Managing a Quality Service - Experience of maintaining multiple projects / programmes whilst ensuring all risks are mitigated. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.

Closing date: 17 September 2026

Shortlisting date: 23 September 2026

Interview date: 1-2 October 2026

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 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.

Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary and are responsible for ensuring they fully understand the financial implications of any potential move and the impact (if any) on their terms. If an individual is in any doubt, they should seek clarification before accepting a job offer.

Staff joining on promotion will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary, or the pay band minimum, whichever is the greater.

The individual will not retain any allowances paid by the former department/Agency, unless there are special circumstances, such as a reserved right to those allowances on transfer.

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

info@csc.gov.uk

Civil Service Commission

Room G/8

1 Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.