Regional Deputy Director of US Partnerships

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK's sovereign regulator for medicines, including biological medicines, medical devices and blood products. At the heart of its purpose is protecting public health, ensuring that medical products available to patients are safe and effective while enabling innovation to reach patients appropriately.

Today, that mission is increasingly international. Science and life sciences innovation do not stop at national borders, and neither can effective regulation. New medicines, technologies and ways of developing them are moving rapidly, making strong relationships between regulators, governments, researchers and industry more important than ever.

For the MHRA, international partnerships are therefore not simply about exchanging information. They are about building the relationships and connections that allow regulators to respond intelligently to innovation, learn from one another and create opportunities to work together where doing so can deliver better outcomes for patients.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a genuinely influential international role at an important moment for the MHRA and for UK life sciences. Our ambition is not simply to have a presence in the United States, but to build relationships that make a real difference: to patients, to innovation and to the UK's position as a global life sciences leader.

The relationship between the UK and US is central to that ambition. Through the MHRA–FDA Pioneer Programme, we have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with one of the world's most important regulatory authorities, strengthen scientific and regulatory collaboration and create new connections across two of the world's leading life sciences ecosystems.

We are looking for a Regional Deputy Director of US Partnerships to join our International Partnerships Team within the Innovation & Compliance Group. The International Partnerships Team is responsible for shaping policy to guide the MHRA’s operations, for developing the global partnerships that the MHRA needs to be successful.

The role will serve as MHRA’s dedicated Liaison Officer to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the MHRA-FDA Pioneer Programme. This role represents a significant milestone in UK–US regulatory collaboration, building on the UK-US pharmaceutical partnership.

As MHRA’s senior representative in the United States, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening one of the Agency’s most important international relationships. Working at the heart of global regulatory policy, you will help advance collaboration in innovative medicines, medical devices, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, while supporting our shared commitment to protecting public health and fostering innovation.

The MHRA-FDA Pioneer Programme formalises the longstanding partnership between the MHRA and FDA through dedicated liaison officer roles in both organisations. The programme is designed to strengthen scientific collaboration, support regulatory innovation and increase the exchange of expertise, while fully preserving the independent decision-making responsibilities of each regulator.

The programme will help both organisations respond more effectively to emerging regulatory challenges, support resilient supply chains, strengthen clinical research oversight and accelerate collaboration in areas such as rare diseases, real-world evidence and innovative healthcare technologies.

The successful candidate will maintain strong links with the MHRA in the UK and benefit from ongoing support, throughout their deployment. The experience and skills gained will bring significant value back into the Agency.

Open to UK nationals only.

Henrietta High Executive Recruitment is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on this appointment.

The closing date for applications is 23:55 Sunday 1 November 2026

Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to complete the online equal opportunities monitoring form* and submit your application, providing the documents outlined below:

• You will be asked to respond YES / NO to the following questions as part of your application. If you do not answer the questions your application may not be considered; Do you have experience of working within the life sciences, pharmaceutical, MedTech, BioTech or related sectors.
• Are you willing and able to relocate to Washington, DC for the duration of the appointment?
• Are you willing and able to undertake the travel required by the role, including travel within the US and between the US and UK?
• This role is subject national security clearance and the securing of an A-2 visa. Are you content to proceed with the required security checks to support this requirement.
• A two-page CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
• A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1200 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria listed in the person specification.

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

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