Head of machine learning - benefits

Canary Wharf, London

Job Summary

We are currently looking for a Head of Machine Learning to join our Scientific Data and Insight Team within the Safety and Surveillance group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a 2 Year fixed term contract/internal move or temporary promotion basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. 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.

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 central mission of the Safety & Surveillance portfolio is to protect the public by appropriately identifying, assessing and managing the risks associated with medical products. 

 

The group is responsible for delivering robust vigilance processes that can detect, monitor and evaluate safety signals across the product lifecycle. This includes the ability to evaluate the risk/benefit balance of signals of concern, and design effective risk mitigations, to communicate effectively to patients and the public and a healthcare system able to implement them. The Safety and Surveillance group brings together into a single integrated structure expertise on the safety of all medical products with enforcement capabilities. These functions are supported by the Agency’s data and evidence generating capabilities complementing our signal generating abilities delivered via the common vigilance platform SafetyConnect.

Job Description

What’s the role?

The Scientific Data and Insight function plays a key role in support of this mission. Its purpose is to develop and provide expertise to enhance the analytic capabilities of the Safety & Surveillance group. Activities include supporting the group with epidemiological expertise and assessments, identifying and addressing data gaps, and developing novel methods for pharmacovigilance. The division also engages in research, often in collaboration with external partners and academic institutions, and regularly publishes papers in the scientific literature.

This role supports the Agency’s mission to protect public health by exploring novel and innovative analytical approaches to the safety of medicines and medical devices. The post holder will conduct applied research into novel machine learning/AI based approaches to pharmacovigilance, or innovative ways to monitor the safety of medical devices.

This role would suit an established applied scientist with a proven track record of publications ideally in AI applied to health data. Willingness to work with colleagues from other disciplines is a must, as is a strong interest in public health-data. While the role will include some team management, the post-holder should be willing to do hands-on research themselves.

There is an expectation that the postholder will publish their results in the scientific literature.

Key responsibilities:  

• Conceive, lead and conduct original and practically relevant research into machine learning applied to drug safety.  
• Design, develop, deploy, and evaluate machine learning solutions using software such as Python, R or Julia. 
• Provide professional leadership to a team of data scientists, ensure their continuing development, provide visible leadership, and achieve performance which aligns with the strategic goals of the Agency.
• Maintain knowledge of the state of the art in machine learning and AI and provide thought leadership to the function and the wider organisation in this area.
  
  

What’s the role?

The Scientific Data and Insight function plays a key role in support of this mission. Its purpose is to develop and provide expertise to enhance the analytic capabilities of the Safety & Surveillance group. Activities include supporting the group with epidemiological expertise and assessments, identifying and addressing data gaps, and developing novel methods for pharmacovigilance. The division also engages in research, often in collaboration with external partners and academic institutions, and regularly publishes papers in the scientific literature.

This role supports the Agency’s mission to protect public health by exploring novel and innovative analytical approaches to the safety of medicines and medical devices. The post holder will conduct applied research into novel machine learning/AI based approaches to pharmacovigilance, or innovative ways to monitor the safety of medical devices.

This role would suit an established applied scientist with a proven track record of publications ideally in AI applied to health data. Willingness to work with colleagues from other disciplines is a must, as is a strong interest in public health-data. While the role will include some team management, the post-holder should be willing to do hands-on research themselves.

There is an expectation that the postholder will publish their results in the scientific literature.

Key responsibilities:  

• Conceive, lead and conduct original and practically relevant research into machine learning applied to drug safety.  
• Design, develop, deploy, and evaluate machine learning solutions using software such as Python, R or Julia. 
• Provide professional leadership to a team of data scientists, ensure their continuing development, provide visible leadership, and achieve performance which aligns with the strategic goals of the Agency.
• Maintain knowledge of the state of the art in machine learning and AI and provide thought leadership to the function and the wider organisation in this area.
  
  

Person specification

Who are we looking for? 

Our successful candidate will have: 

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or closely related fields.
• Extensive experience in the design, development, deployment, and evaluation of data science solutions and in the analysis and/or modelling of large, complex datasets using high-performance scientific computing.
• Understanding of or strong interest in healthcare and/or biomedical data and its applications
• Experience of supervision and/or line management of data scientists.
• Experience of developing grant applications
  
  

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]  

Alongside your salary of £73,324, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £21,241 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 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 the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development
  
  

Selection process details

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. 
  
  

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 [email protected] as soon as possible.  

Closing date: 29 July 2025

Shortlisting date: 01 August 2025

Interview date: 08 August 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 [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.

Role

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.

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, you should firstly contact Florentina Oyelami, Head of Talent Acquisition, [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 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• 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.

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).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Dominique Chu
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Further information

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 contact the Resourcing Team at [email protected], in the first instance. 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