Divisional Business Manager - Leeds: £42,410-£47,916; London: £46,160-£51,666 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Divisional Business Manager to join our Executive Function within the Digital and Technology Group .

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, or 7/8 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP.

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. Remote working is potentially available for some specific roles. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

Job description

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 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!

Its centre of excellence is also responsible for delivering a broad portfolio of change initiatives, both to transform the Agency’s legacy technologies and to deliver innovative new solutions, designed around our customers’ needs. DTG works in a holistic way to combine digital and technology change, data and information management, project delivery, business process, product management and cultural change to maximise out impact and ensure sustainability.

We plan to be at the heart of one of the most digitally advanced medical regulators in the world and we need people who can help us deliver that ambition. DTG is a great place to build your career and we are committed to enabling our people to do the best work of their lives.

Person specification

Role Purpose

The role is part of the Divisional Business team that will act as a trusted business partner to the Chief Digital and Technology Officer and SLT, providing assurance, insight and challenge on operational performance, governance, resourcing and delivery risk. This role operates with considerable autonomy and requires sound judgement to balance competing priorities, manage risk and influence senior leaders across DTG

As Divisional Business Manager, you will ensure coherent governance across DTG and its leadership, supporting strategic business operations in business planning, resourcing, and finance. You will own and maintain the DTG governance map, SLT tracker, FOIs, and ensure compliance with the DTG interim GDaD framework. You will also support on recruitment planning and future growth strategies for DTG business.

The role is critical in partnering and leading business activity across the Group and in working with the central enabling operating groups within the Agency to ensure delivery of corporate requirements. This requires the development of strong working relationships with colleagues across the Group and across the wider Agency. The role holder is accountable for providing assurance to DTG Senior Leadership Team on the effectiveness of business operations and governance across the Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small team of 2 HEOs, setting clear priorities, managing performance, allocating resources, and ensuring delivery against DTG and corporate objectives.
• Ensure coherent governance across DTG and its leadership and lead the development and establishment of a framework of management information and operational performance metrics focused on delivering the group outcomes in line with MHRA strategies.
• Play a key role in strategic business operations, including business planning, resourcing, financial planning and governance to ensure the group can provide to the business it’s agreed programme of record with agreed settlements.
• Ensure compliance with the DTG GDaD capability framework, owning procedures, writing policy and supporting continual assessment of individuals in digital and data roles.
• Plan and Implement recruitment within DTG, including future workforce planning and DTG resource initiatives within DTG allocated budget.
• Own and assure delivery of corporate responsibilities across DTG operations, intervening where performance, compliance or prioritisation risks emerge. Interpret, advise and apply MHRA and wider government policy, providing advice and challenge to senior leaders to enable compliant, proportionate and timely decision-making.
• Champion best practice in business operations, supporting the Head of Strategic Business Operations and collaborating across teams.
• You will identify new projects to support and manage business improvement from project initiation to tracking key deliverables and milestones against agreed timelines until project closure.

Qualifications

A degree (in relevant field e.g. business or management related- desirable) or equivalent experience.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A degree (in relevant field e.g. business or management related- desirable) or equivalent experience.
• Project Management qualification or equivalent experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,410, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes

£12,286 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 six months full pay and six months half pay after five years’ service.
• 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 0300 123 6666
• 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 Motoring , Boundless by CSMA
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Key dates (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change)

• Closing date – 6 October 2026 at 23:55
• Sifting – from 9 October 2026
• Main panel interviews – from 19 October 2026

Communications will be electronic via email therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.

We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.

What will the process look like?

1. Sift Stage

The main sift, where we'll read and score the rest of your application. This may involve a large number of applications, please bear with us as this can take some time.

• Anonymised CV which sets out your career history, previous experience and skills, highlighting specific responsibilities that are relevant for this role.
• 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.

The panel will look at your application and are looking for evidence of the stated points. We may raise the benchmark score required if we receive a high number of applications.

2. Main Panel Interview

Successful candidates from the sift stage will be invited to attend an interview. We use a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will be assessing Behaviours and Experience.

At interview, we will be asking questions relating to the following:

• Behaviours, as listed in the person specification
• Experience, as listed in the person specification
• Strengths, as listed in the person specification

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

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

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 S