Associate Signal Assessor

We are currently looking for an Associate Signal Assessor to join our Patient Safety Monitoring Function within the Safety & Surveillance 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. 

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 new Safety and Surveillance Group brings together a cohesive team of devices and medicines safety expertise. The dual functions of our data and evidence sourcing complementing our signal generation capabilities allows the Group to have patient safety as the main priority.

The Patient Safety Monitoring Function is responsible for developing and delivering a world class vigilance system to detect and monitor safety signals for medicines, medical devices, vaccines and blood products.

What’s the role? 

The Adverse Incident & Signal Analysis team is responsible for the capture of adverse incidents for Medicines and Devices. Vigilance signal detection and assessment processes are undertaken for medicines and devices to ensure safety issues and risks to public health are identified and evaluated. Additional activities for this role include responding to enquiries from stakeholders and provision of adverse incident data to stakeholders and project specific work. The successful applicants will work flexibly across the range of healthcare products.

Key responsibilities: 

• Classification and follow-up of adverse incident reports to ensure the accuracy, quality and timely production of vigilance incident cases.  

• Vigilance signal detection and evaluation and attendance at review meetings.  

• Provide clear, reliable and timely scientific, regulatory advice and data for FOI requests and all types of queries. 

• To be involved in vigilance additional role work and projects including NHS data review, liaison with our Yellow Card Centres, improvement of electronic incident submission with website and app maintenance and enhancements, vigilance terminology maintenance and engagement with manufacturers.  

Who are we looking for? 

Our successful candidate will have the following: 

• Able to work on own initiative and work effectively as part of a team, demonstrating good organisational skills.  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

• Proven ability to produce work to high standards of quality within a pressurised time frame. 

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data and make appropriate recommendations under pressure, putting forward own viewpoints when discussing scientific issues. 

• A University degree or equivalent qualification in disciplines such as: pharmacy, medicine, nursing, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, biological sciences, engineering or other appropriate life science. 

Person Specification: 

Method of assessment: A=Application, I=Interview

Behaviour Criteria:

• Communicating and Influencing (A, I)

• Delivering at Pace (A, I)

• Working Together (A, I)

• Developing Self and Others (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Substantive experience of producing work to high standards of quality within a pressurised time frame; effective use of organisational, multi-tasking skills and prioritising skills to meet tight deadlines. (A, I)

• Analysing and interpreting complex data and making appropriate recommendations under pressure. (A, I)

• Experience of putting forward own viewpoints when discussing scientific issues and liaising with both internal and external stakeholders. (A, I)

Technical Criteria:

• A University degree or equivalent qualification in disciplines such as: pharmacy, medicine, nursing, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, biological sciences, engineering or other appropriate life science.  (A)

• An understanding of the use of information systems involved in the reporting of adverse incidents and signal management to support business processes including sharing information externally with stakeholders.  (A)

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 careers@mhra.gov.uk 

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.

• 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 having a university degree or equivalent qualification in disciplines such as: pharmacy, medicine, nursing, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, biological sciences, engineering or other appropriate life science.

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 careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. 

Closing date: 12 May 2026

Shortlisting date: w/c 11 May or 18 May 2026 

Interview date: w/c 08 June or w/c 15 June 2026 

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.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.

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 careers@mhra.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 careers@mhra.gov.uk   

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

info@csc.gov.uk 

Civil Service Commission 

Room G/8 

1 Horse Guards Road 

London 

SW1A 2HQ 

About Us

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 agency is made up of c.1300 staff working across two main centres and peripatetically across the UK and abroad.

The agency consists of Corporate, Digital & Technology, Enablement, Healthcare Quality & Access, Partnerships, Safety & Surveillance and Scientific Research & Innovation.