Senior Scientist

This vacancy is open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

We are currently looking for a Senior Scientist to join our Standards Lifecycle Team within the Science and Research Group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based at South Mimms, Hertfordshire. 

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.

The Science and Research Group delivers public health impact through 4 sub-Groups: Research and Development, Standards Lifecycle, Control Testing and Quality Assurance and Health & Safety.

Standards Lifecycle produces the MHRA biological reference materials. Marketed using the NIBSC brand, the Agency is a global leader in the standardisation and control of biological medicines and related diagnostic tests and is responsible for developing and producing over 90% of the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Standards in use around the world to assure the quality of these important products. The function is responsible for the WHO and other categories of Reference Materials and develops them from research and prototype materials through to completed validated products including manufacture and distribution.

What’s the role?

The primary purpose of the role is to lead and deliver prioritised standardisation projects relating to bacterial vaccines and infectious diseases, including the delivery of projects to establish new reference materials as well as projects that will ensure existing reference materials are replaced, maintaining continuity of International Units where applicable. The role will lead standardisation projects and will use their experience and knowledge of biological standardisation (in the field of bacterial vaccines and infectious disease) to support other team members with delivery of standards projects. The role will liaise with colleagues across the Agency to provide scientific expertise related to biological standardisation and analytical methods where appropriate and will manage relationships with external stakeholders, including collaborative study participants and the World Health Organisation (WHO), to ensure that standardisation projects are progressed and delivered to agreed timelines. 

Key responsibilities:

• Lead projects, in compliance with relevant quality management systems, to develop and characterise (via large multi-laboratory collaborative studies) biological reference materials that support standardisation of assays used to evaluate bacterial vaccines/antigens or the response to immunisation

• Analyse and interpret complex data sets, keeping accurate records, to build evidence and inform design of future studies; actively communicate findings through written reports, scientific publications and delivery of scientific presentations in relevant fora 

• Monitor performance of established reference materials via a combination of routine use, ongoing stability assessment and review of feedback from internal and/or external users of materials provided by the Agency

• Engage with national and international external stakeholders, including other National Control Laboratories, WHO, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare, academic institutes or contract testing clients as required to further standardisation objectives, deliver expert services, training and/or scientific or technical advice as required

Who are we looking for?

• Ability to encourage joined up teamwork within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders

• Experience with performance and standardisation of assays used to evaluate or quantify vaccines/antigens, bacteria or the response to immunisation

• Experience of successfully delivering multi-stakeholder projects to establish new or replacement standards consisting of one or more of the following types of material: protein antigens, toxin/toxoids, polysaccharide antigens, antisera, monoclonal antibodies, whole cell standards, nucleic acid standards

• Good understanding of the principles of biological standardisation and its application to a range of assay models

• Well-developed technical skills in one or more of: immunological assays, mammalian or bacterial cell culture, recombinant protein production and purification, neutralisation or bactericidal assays, molecular biology techniques

Person Specification: 

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

Behaviour Criteria:

• Working Together (A, I)

• Communicating and Influencing (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Experience with performance and standardisation of assays used to evaluate or quantify vaccines/antigens, bacteria or the response to immunisation (A, I)

• Experience of successfully delivering multi-stakeholder projects to establish new or replacement standards consisting of one or more of the following types of material: protein antigens, toxin/toxoids, polysaccharide antigens, antisera, monoclonal antibodies, whole cell standards, nucleic acid standards (A, I)

• Experience of analysing and interpreting complex data sets (A, I)

• Experience of working under a quality management system (A, I)

• Experience with handling hard-to-grow aerobic and anaerobic bacteria is desirable (A, I)

• Practical experience with animal models of potency or immunogenicity is desirable (A, I)

Technical Criteria:

• A BSc or higher degree in a relevant scientific discipline combined with relevant post-graduate laboratory experience (A, I)

• Well-developed technical skills in one or more of: immunological assays, mammalian or bacterial cell culture, recombinant protein production and purification, neutralisation or bactericidal assays, molecular biology techniques (A, I)

• Good understanding of the principles of biological standardisation, with broad knowledge of the development and application of bacterial vaccine standards for the quality control and regulation of biological medicines (A, I)

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 [email protected] 

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. Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.

• 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 of Experience with performance and standardisation of assays used to evaluate or quantify vaccines/antigens, bacteria or the response to immunisation.

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

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 [email protected] as soon as possible. 

Closing date: 7^th August 2026

Shortlisting date: from 11^th August 2026

Interview date: from 17^th August 2026

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact [email protected] 

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 [email protected].

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, in the first instance, you should contact the MHRA Recruitment Team at [email protected].   

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

[email protected] 

Civil Service Commission 

Room G/8 

1 Horse Guards Road 

London 

SW1A 2HQ