JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a Committee Advisor to join our Governance, Committee Services Function within the Enablement 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. 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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our Committee Services Team. The successful candidate will take responsibility for leading and managing a range of independent advisory committees, ensuring their smooth and effective operation. Working closely with the Chair of each committee and the wider Committee Services Team, you will oversee the scheduling, preparation, and support of Committees, Advisory Groups, and Working Groups. The role will also involve liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure meetings are conducted efficiently, deliver meaningful outcomes, and comply with organisational policies and governance standards. This role is integral to upholding high standards of governance and supporting the organisation’s policy objectives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the code of conduct and practices for advisory committees, including their application in ensuring effective governance and compliance with organisational policies.
• Demonstrable professional experience in a team-oriented, and collaborative office environment. This includes working directly with a range of stakeholders to gather evidence and information, with clear examples of successfully contributing to organisational outcomes.
• Proven experience of working in and managing a busy team demonstrating effective management and delegation skills
• Excellent IT skills – use of MS Office and interest in learning new packages.
  If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
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SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

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.

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.

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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with Chairs and all expert committee members, serving as the primary liaison between external experts to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of meetings, in compliance with the Human Medicines Regulations.
• Ensuring consistency in the organisation of committee meetings by actively collaborating and working closely with other team members across the organisation.
• Ensuring the timely management, production, and storage of agendas and minutes for all committee meetings.
• Ensuring the processing of committee fees and expenses is accurate and aligned with established policies.
• Managing the collection and oversight of Declarations of Interest in accordance with relevant policies and codes of practice.
• Overseeing the appointment of new members in collaboration with the scientific secretariat, Chairs, Manager, and Appointments Advisor.
• Identifying areas for improvement, streamlining processes, and ensuring consistency while contributing to the development of policies and procedures that support the effective operation of committees.
• Contributing to the production of annual reports for Advisory Bodies and MHRA committees.
• Drafting responses to Parliamentary Questions, Private Office correspondence, and Freedom of Information requests, ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Collecting and monitoring business metrics to assess team performance, recognising the team’s role in maintaining public confidence in the Agency’s activities.
• Providing advice and mentorship to staff, supporting individual development and fostering a team capable of delivering innovative and creative solutions to challenges.