Senior Service Designer - £56,353 p.a. + benefits

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. We are currently operating a hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 40% of contracted hours working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. This may rise to 60% during the year. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, some roles will need to be on site more regularly., This role will work with senior product owners and programme directors to develop design concepts and leading service design activities across multiple or highly complex services.
You’ll work in an environment following Agile principles, with multi-disciplinary teams including business analysts, user researchers, product managers, delivery managers and developers. On a day-to-day basis, you will work on designing, prototyping and building of new digital services, that are user-centred and accessible. You will also work closely and collaboratively with product managers to look at how to enhance and improve existing services.
You will lead the design of services on complex programmes and support the wider organisational objectives and strategic priorities. You will need to think holistically about the big picture whilst also being comfortable working on the detail.
You will also guide, support and lead other designers who are part of the core UCD team, providing expert insight into how to select the correct methods, assess the best options for the agency and how to prioritise tasks against the agency needs., We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates.
+ 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 complete the ‘Work Experience’ section of the application fully, providing details of your previous roles, clearly describing your achievements and key responsibilities.
+ Presentation, shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation for the interview aligned to the criteria marked with ‘P’ in the person specification. More information to be given if you reach this stage.
+ Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths criteria, marked with ‘I’ in the person specification.
In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of “Detailed understanding of, and significant experience of service design activities and working in an agile environment.”
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 answers provided - ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description.
Use of AI in 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, orneed assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk
Closing Date: 3 November 2024
Shortlisting: 4 – 8 November
Interview Date: 18 – 22 November
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., + 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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The successful candidate will have significant experience of leading service design activities within an agile environment. You will be comfortable co-ordinating customers, colleagues and stakeholders; getting hands on with research and data to deliver insights; and creating artefacts that will help the Agency understand how to deliver great services and business benefits.
You will be experienced in overseeing user-centred design activities, mentoring others and providing strategic guidance and have a track record of advocating for people and user needs in all aspects of design work, and of UCD and service design.
You will be a skilled communicator, able to explain and influence a wide range of different stakeholders, in order to build trust and mutual understanding and agreement., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

If you have had a COVID-19 vaccine or have ever taken a medicine, or used a medical device, then you have already come into contact with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Our vision, One Agency - Delivering for Patients, underpins all that we do as we set out on an ambitious roadmap for change to become a truly world-leading, enabling regulator that protects public health through excellence in regulation and science. 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 Digital and Technology Group (DTG) lies at the heart of the Agency and is responsible for delivering an optimised IT infrastructure and maximising the secure use of data to enable our scientists, inspectors, and the rest of the organisation to deliver world class services which can improve outcomes for patients and the general public. The Group was essential in the race to approve COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and in supporting the UK to set up its own medicines and devices approvals systems following our exit from the EU. The work we do matters!
The Digital & Service Design group (D&SDG) provides a number of services through its practice-based model including user-research, service design, business analysis, change management and product management. D&SDG owns the customer experience for the division and is building its in-house capabilities around Digital Product Management and User Centred Design.

Alongside your salary of £56,353, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £16,325 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ 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
+ 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