Description We are currently looking for a Deputy Director – Communications t o join our award-winning Communications and Engagement team. We are the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). We 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. MHRA Communications and Engagement 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 have two Deputy Director – Communications roles, and the postholders work closely together with each having different lead areas of responsibility. This role leads our strategic communications; planning, insight and evaluation; and external affairs work. This is a senior leadership role with high visibility and influence across the agency, providing strategic advice, leading high-profile, agency-wide cross cutting communications and stakeholder engagement projects to improve operational effectiveness and public and patient safety, working with senior stakeholders internally and externally. What’s the role? The role will lead strategic communications; planning, insight and evaluation; and external affairs, overseeing the development, delivery, evaluation and continuous improvement of all aspects of strategic communication and external affairs, in support of our public health mission. The role will advise senior leaders on high-profile communications and engagement issues, many of which are confidential, sensitive and involve understanding of complex issues, development of communications strategies and approaches, and engagement with senior external stakeholders. Key responsibilities: Lead colleagues and teams responsible for strategic communications; planning, insight and evaluation; and external affairs, ensuring high quality service provision through providing clear strategic direction and priorities, and contribute to the leadership of the Communications and Engagement Group and the wider agency. Provide effective leadership, direction and support, creating an agile, inclusive work environment that encourages collaboration, and supports professional development. Lead and oversee the delivery, continuous improvement and evaluation of strategic communications and external affairs programmes, delivering agreed outcomes and behaviour change and working with colleagues across the agency to deliver our communications and reputation strategy in an integrated and co-ordinated way. You will influence throughout the organisation, supporting our organisational commitment to be outward-focused and respond to audience need. 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. Advise senior leaders on high-profile, confidential and sensitive communication and external affairs issues, many of which involve understanding of complex issues, development of engagement strategies and approaches, and engagement with senior external stakeholders, embedding an external affairs approach and individually building and maintaining excellent stakeholder relationships. Build and maintain excellent working relationships with diverse groups of people, with the ability to quickly establish credibility and work effectively with other teams and senior colleagues both from inside and outside an expert organisation. Who are we looking for? Our successful candidate will: Managing a Quality Service - A confident self starter, who can operate independently and manage conflicting priorities while delivering to deadline but can also operate flexibly as part of a team and encourages feedback and the views of others. Leadership - Strong team leader, working closely with colleagues and team members to deliver organisational objectives. Self motivated, with a strong sense of personal accountability, ensuring tasks, projects and issues are appropriately dealt with to their successful delivery or conclusion. Working Together - Advanced diplomatic skills, able to handle challenging circumstances or relationships, talented at establishing and sustaining productive stakeholder relationships. Strong senior leadership and management skills, able to demonstrate significant experience of leading multi-functional strategic communications or external affairs units in a complex organisation, including motivating and developing staff, and managing their performance. Senior level experience of developing communication and external affairs strategies, and delivering complex communication and external affairs campaigns and programmes using a range of tools and techniques, drawing on an understanding of customer and business insight and your own emotions and those of others to demonstrate empathy. Senior level project management skills, with the ability to lead engagement projects involving cross-organisational and external team members. Including ability to anticipate potential risks, handle any unanticipated problems and develop and communicate solutions to achieve successful resolution whilst delivering a high standard of customer service. 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 careersmhra.gov.uk This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. There will be an expectation that there will be a requirement to travel to our site in South Mimms. 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. 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 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. To be held on 9 th January 2025 Candidates who are invited to interview will be required to attend an engagement exercise with existing senior management team (SMT) members of the Communications and Engagement Group. To be held on 7 th January 2025 A fireside chat will be available and offered to candidates who have been invited to interview with the Director of Communications and Engagement. To be held on 6 th /7 th /8 th January 2025 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 allow sufficient time. 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 careersmhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. Closing date: 15 th December 2024 Shortlisting date: week commencing 16 th December 2024 Interview date: 9 th January 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 careersmhra.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 careersmhra.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.Mepamhra.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk infocsc.gov.uk Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ