Communications Specialist: AI Commission

We are currently looking for a Communications Specialist: AI Commission to join our Communications and Engagement Function within the Enablement Group. Please note this opportunity is currently only available to those working within the Civil Service. Applications from non-Civil Servants may not be reviewed and may be rejected. This is a full-time opportunity, on a 9-month fixed term contract 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. We are open to requests for flexible working. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment. 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 MHRA Communications and Engagement Function is a multi-award-winning team that has a consistent track-record of achievement and providing value for money. Our focus is to support the agency to deliver its business outcomes by putting patients and the public at the centre of all our work. We are organised in the following teams: News and Media, Communications, Patient and Public Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Experience. This role is in our Communications team, responsible for external affairs, strategic communications, and planning, insight and evaluation. 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. To help achieve the agency’s mission and the UK government plans for the NHS to become the most AI-enabled healthcare system in the world, we have launched a bold new National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, which will be responsible for advising the MHRA on a world-leading framework for the regulation of AI products, making Great Britain the fastest and safest place to regulate AI and software in the world. This role will enable delivery of the comprehensive communications and engagement strategy in support of the National AI Commission. This is a fixed term opportunity to join the MHRA Communications and Engagement team supporting the Commission until summer 2026. What’s the role? Lead the development and implementation of effective communications strategies to strengthen the MHRA’s new National AI Commission external profile and reputation among key external audiences, including government, industry, professional bodies and the wider health and life sciences community. Develop, maintain and nurture key stakeholder relationships to support delivery against the Commission’s core mission, policy, regulatory priorities and operational objectives, extending to support for the Commissioners and working group members. Ensure alignment of external engagement with the MHRA’s brand and strategic communications priorities as overseeing the direction and taking advice from the Commission. Oversee the integration of stakeholder and partner insight into MHRA’s wider communications activities, engagement planning and decision-making, and cooperate with and influence the broader internal stakeholder teams in this regard. Key responsibilities: Act as a lead communications specialist and develop and deliver communication strategies to identify and inform priority external stakeholders about the work of the National AI Commission in a managed way. Provide expert advice on external affairs and stakeholder engagement in relation to the Commission, giving high-quality strategic counsel to senior leaders across the agency, Commissioners and Working Group members. Act as a project manager for announcements and projects linked to the National AI Commission communications and engagement strategy, ensuring the MHRA’s Comms and Engagement group support delivery of effective external communications. Monitor and proactively establish mechanisms for engaging the agency’s priority stakeholders and wider public on the work of the National AI Commission, managing correspondence and briefing requests. Leverage communications opportunities identified through monitoring of the external landscape and feed insight into the National AI Commission’s communications planning Lead development and delivery of content, creating key messages and maintaining core scripts, in response to emerging and established priorities for the National AI Commission, that compels the engagement of external stakeholders in our work, in the form of written content for publication, correspondence, speeches and briefings for senior internal stakeholders and Government ministers. Proactively build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of National AI Mission objectives. Who are we looking for? Our successful candidate will demonstrate the following. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral, with the ability to accurately and confidently communicate, influence and challenge staff and external contacts at all levels. Experience of maintaining multiple projects whilst ensuring all risks are mitigated. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions. Demonstrable track record of developing communications and engagement strategies and delivering complex programmes and campaigns using a range of communications tools and techniques. Excellent experience in engaging and mapping out key stakeholders to communicate key messages. Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations. Proven experience of working well under pressure and at pace within a complex business and political environment. 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 a statement of suitability (to be answered in the Application Question section), of no more than 750 words demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. All information that you provide will be anonymised and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your details when reviewing your application. Please ensure you do not include any personal identifying information on your supporting information. 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. In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of candidates demonstrating the following. Demonstrable track record of developing communications and engagement strategies and delivering complex programmes and campaigns using a range of communications tools and techniques. Proven experience of working well under pressure and at pace within a complex business and political environment. 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 careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. Closing date: 28th November 2025 Shortlisting date: from 1st December 2025 Interview date: from 6th December 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 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. 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 Florentina Oleylami, Head of Talent Acquisition, Florentina.Oyelami@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