Details
Reference number
431146
Salary
£36,395
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
MHRA - Corporate Group
Type of role
Environment and Sustainability
Estates
Health and Safety
Operational Delivery
Property
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
South Mimms, Hertfordshire
About the job
Job summary
We are currently looking for a Microbiologist to join our Infrastructure and Laboratory Services within the Corporate group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. This role will be based onsite at our Science Campus in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
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.
Infrastructure and Laboratory Services (I&LS) are part of the Corporate Division and provide engineering and specialist staff to deliver a safe working environment for staff, particularly in our specialist scientific facilities.
The I&LS support the Agency work by having clear funded programmes to maintain the infrastructure, facilities and equipment as well as money to invest in unique scientific facilities and a centralised support process to, where appropriate, deliver efficiencies, savings and value for money. The Division has three departments:
* Facilities & Laboratory Services – day to day running & support of sites, laboratories and other specialised facilities, security, catering, cleaning, waste and 10SC liaison for 10th Floor .
* Engineering – Management of engineeringly complex buildings and infrastructure, adhering to critical health and safety requirements and responding to alarms 24/7.
* Specialist Project & Programme Management – of the Capital programme by providing Project Management / project engineering as required for: building alterations, lab refurbs including high containment, acquisition, installation and commissioning of new plant, equipment and digital IT and special programmes.
Job description
What's the role?
The post holder is responsible for providing a microbiology service. The post holder is managed, not supervised and will largely work on their own initiative.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for environmental monitoring and sterility testing of UKSCB, CBRM, Virology and other clean rooms on the South Mimms Site (SMS), analysing results and producing reports to support the work and Quality Assurance in these areas. In addition, this post is responsible for site wide validation of fumigation techniques, clean room and containment management and is the Agency deputy legionella responsible person. The role holder will also act as the functions safety champion.
Key responsibilities:
* Provision of the microbiology service provided to the scientific and other divisions, including weekly environmental monitoring of clean rooms up to a GMP standard.
* Maintain good relationships with internal customers and supply companies through good communications, ensuring the microbiology service meets customer specifications and complies with the various QMS and best practice.
* Delivering a high-quality customer focused service in microbiology, fumigation, legionella and validation to enable the Institute staff to deliver their statutory scientific functions
* Day to day management of the sites Legionella control in accordance with L8, managing the contract, authorising laboratory results, issuing prohibition notices on water outlets and arranging remedial works.
Person specification
Who are we looking for?
Our successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:
* A microbiology Degree or other professional qualification in a discipline relevant to the role.
*
o environmental monitoring of clean rooms
* sterility testing and testing of non-sterile products in line with European Pharmacopoeia methods
* method validation.
* Have demonstrable practical experience of fumigation techniques, particularly in relation to formaldehyde fumigation for decontamination
* Experience and/or Knowledge of Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8
If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification
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Benefits
Alongside your salary of £36,395, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £10,543 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
* 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
Things you need to know
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.
* 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:Extensive technical experience and expert knowledge in:
* environmental monitoring of clean rooms
* sterility testing and testing of non-sterile products in line with European Pharmacopoeia methods
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 as soon as possible.
Closing date: 21 October 2025
Shortlisting date: From 22 October 2025
Interview date: 05 November 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
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.
Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact
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,
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:
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.
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
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 : The Resourcing Team
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: - - Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ