Data Scientist

We are currently looking for a Data Scientist to join our Scientific Data & Insight 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. 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. 

 

 

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 central mission of the Safety & Surveillance portfolio is to protect the public by appropriately identifying, assessing and managing the risks associated with medical products.

 

The group is responsible for delivering robust vigilance processes that can detect, monitor and evaluate safety signals across the product lifecycle. This includes the ability to evaluate the risk/benefit balance of signals of concern, and design effective risk mitigations, to communicate effectively to patients and the public and a healthcare system able to implement them. The Safety and Surveillance group brings together into a single integrated structure expertise on the safety of all medical products with enforcement capabilities. These functions are supported by the Agency’s data and evidence generating capabilities complementing our signal generating abilities delivered via the common vigilance platform SafetyConnect. 

 

What’s the role?

The Scientific Data and Insight function plays a key role in support of this mission. Its purpose is to develop and provide expertise to enhance the analytic capabilities of the Safety & Surveillance group. Activities include supporting the group with epidemiological expertise and assessments, identifying and addressing data gaps, and developing novel methods for pharmacovigilance. The division also engages in research, often in collaboration with external partners and academic institutions, regularly publishing papers in the scientific literature.

This role supports the Agency’s mission to protect public health by applying advanced data science and machine learning techniques to enhance vigilance and safety monitoring of medicines, vaccines, and medical devices.

The post holder will develop and implement innovative analytical approaches. They will collaborate across functions to solve complex data challenges, drawing on expertise from a range of scientific and regulatory disciplines.

Strong communication skills are essential, as the role requires translating complex analyses into clear, actionable insights for colleagues across the Safety and Surveillance Group and the wider Agency.

 

Key responsibilities: 

• Apply data science and machine learning approaches to large and complex datasets using programming languages such as Python, R, or Julia to generate actionable insights and robust evidence.
• Communicate approaches and results clearly and effectively to a wide range of stakeholders, including using data visualisation methods.
• Work cross-functionally to enable the delivery of innovative evidence-generation and collaborate with external partners to enable data-driven discovery in medical product safety.
• Apply analytical methods to patient data collated through vigilance systems to support assessment of the safety of medicines and medical devices and advise on the refinement of AI tools for data processing.

 

 

Who are we looking for? 

 Our successful candidate will have: 

• A PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Machine Learning, Computer Science or a similar quantitative discipline or demonstrable equivalent professional experience
• Strong experience of using machine learning or data science to analyse and model large datasets.
• Experience of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary data science teams and delivering results in a timely way.
• Demonstrable technical knowledge and skills in at least one of the following domains: statistics / mathematical statistics, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, Bayesian inference.

 

 

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. 
• Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being provided when you reach this stage. 
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles. 

If we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criterion of candidates having demonstrable technical knowledge and skills in at least one of the following domains: mathematical modelling and simulations, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, Bayesian inference.

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: 29 June 2025

Shortlisting date: from 30 June 2025

Interview date: 10th July 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.

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 

 

 

 

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.