Specialist Project and Contract Support Officer

We are currently looking for a Specialist Project & Contract Support Officer to join our Infrastructure and Laboratory Services within the Corporate group. This is a full-time opportunity, on a 23-month fixed term contract/internal move/secondment/loan or temporary promotion 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 Group and provide engineering and specialist staff to deliver a safe working environment for staff, particularly in our specialist scientific facilities. ILS 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 What’s the role? The post holder covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of the South Mimms Site Capital and Revenue Programme and enables the smooth running of the programme by supporting the Project Managers/Team Managers and Portfolio Leads through the operation of project management processes, contract management and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf. Key responsibilities: Planning and Scheduling – Ensure systems are in place to enable effective planning and scheduling. Monitoring & Reporting – Manage project controls, reporting to the Project Manager or Team Manager about the project status. Develop project and contract performance reports. Administration – Ensure organisational tasks are carried out efficiently. Provide secriatriat support for the Portfolio Board Meetings Manage compliance of the project / contract with Departmental Security, Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Business Continuity and Business Planning. Financial Control – Co-ordinate and manage project and contract spend and contribute to the compilation of budgets. Contribute to the project business case. Who are we looking for? Our successful candidate will have the following: Qualifications and certifications (or relevant experience) in project co-ordination and or delivery, such as: Working with Agile PRINCE2 Practitioner APM Project Management Qualification Contract Management qualification Working knowledge of using MS Office tools in a project environment including Word, PowerPoint & Excel. Experience in all aspects of project support i.e. scheduling, risk & issue management, change control and governance. Effective stakeholder engagement experience to identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders. Experience to evaluate and promote best practices and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice. Good experience in organisation and management of project work. Person Specification: Method of assessment: A=Application, I=Interview Behaviour Criteria: Working Together (I) Communicating and Influencing (I) Delivering at Pace (I) Experience Criteria: Experience in all aspects of project support i.e. scheduling, risk & issue management, change control and governance. (A, I) Effective stakeholder engagement experience to identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders. (A) Experience to evaluate and promote best practices and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice (A) Good experience in organization and management of project work. (A, I) Technical Criteria: Qualifications and certifications or relevant experience in project co-ordination and or delivery (A): Working with Agile PRINCE2 Practitioner APM Project Management Qualification Contract Management qualification Working knowledge of using MS Office tools in a project environment including Word, PowerPoint & Excel. Strengths Criteria: Relationship Builder (I) Improver (I) Adaptable (I) 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: Qualifications, or relevant experience in project co-ordination and or project delivery. 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: 04 January 2026 Shortlisting date: 05 January 2026 Interview date: 14 and 16 January 2026 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 Oyelami, 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