About this role
Details
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Business area
VMD Regulatory Affairs Team
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
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About the job
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Benefits
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Things you need to know
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Apply and further information
You will be expected to be in the office or working away from home for at least 60% of your time.
To meet the necessary security requirements for the VMD location, you must have been a resident in the UK for the past three years.
About the job
Job summary
About the VMD
The VMD is the regulatory and policy lead responsible for issues concerning the authorisation, use, and manufacture of veterinary medicines in the UK.
Our aim is to protect public health, animal health, and the environment, and promote animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and effectiveness of veterinary medicines.
Find out more at: About us - Veterinary Medicines Directorate - GOV.UK
About the**Job
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is the UK regulatory body responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of veterinary medicines, and for overseeing regulatory compliance across the sector.
The role will sit within the Regulatory Operations Team in the Regulatory Affairs Section, forming part of the Authorisations Division, which is led by the deputy CEO.
As a Higher Executive Officer, you will be responsible for leading key operational areas, including Product Defects and Borderline Products. You will also be responsible for the planning, management, and co-ordination of VMDs annual veterinary medicines test exercise.
This is a fast-paced role that requires strong organisation skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities. You will be expected to work proactively, solve problems, and adapt quickly to changing demands, while ensuring continuity of delivery.
The role requires effective communication and collaboration across internal teams and stakeholders, as well as the ability to take ownership of workstreams.
Job description
Your main responsibilities include
Management and Coordination of Product Defects
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Managing the Rapid Alert mailbox
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Tracking defects from start to finish
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Supporting assessors to complete their actions on time and facilitate resolution discussion
- Liaising with pharmaceutical companies, providing advice and guidance
- Ensuring information is captured accurately on the database and shared with companies in a timely manner and according to published standards
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Supporting the Product Defect Coordinators by drafting letters, reviewing content, issuing, and monitoring recall progress
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Deputising for the Product Defect Coordinator at meetings and present updates on defects
Borderline Products
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Lead on managing applications for advice on whether a product is considered a medicine or not use judgement and interpretative ability to support assessors
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Liaise with assessors at the VMD to ensure they provide the advice necessary
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Develop a robust process to improve how this work area is delivered develop options, and provide constructive ideas and solutions
- Liaise with applicants, keep them up to date with progress, providing advice and guidance
Coordination of VMDs annual veterinary medicine emergency response test exercise:
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Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of an annual exercise, liaising with colleagues across the VMD to ensure an effective operational response to a test emerging threat.
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Evaluate the outcomes of the annual exercise and identify any necessary process improvements to ensure timely and transparent decision-making.
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Maintain awareness of emerging issues that may trigger the VMDs emergency response, including critical medicine shortages, emerging disease threats, and broader supply chain risks
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Communicate with teams across VMD, collating responses and providing feedback.
Additional requirements will be to
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Comply with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security) standards, and GDPR and Information Management requirements.
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Act corporately meeting, role-modelling, embedding, and championing the corporate objectives set by the VMD.
Person specification
We require someone that has experience
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Of working in a regulatory or regulated environment.
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Of working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
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Of acting corporately.
We require someone that
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Understands the importance of medicines meeting established standards of quality
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Is proactive at trouble shooting issues
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Is able to work with a wide range of stakeholders internally and externally with good communication skills
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Has sounds analytical skills and good judgement to inform decision making
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Is proficient in the use of Microsoft Office packages, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and has the ability to learn in-house packages quickly
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £38,795, Veterinary Medicines Directorate contributes £11,238 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .
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Learning and development tailored to your role
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An environment with flexible working options
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A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
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A Civil Service pension is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the UK public sector, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
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Free onsite parking
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Free eyesight test
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Onsite gym
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Access to a prayer room
A work-life balance is key for us all. We offer flexible working as well as health, well-being and discount schemes. The annual leave package starts at 25 days per year and increases to 30 days over five years. We offer generous maternity, paternity, shared, and adoption leave.
This gives you a flavour of whats available, but there is so much more we could mention see Civil Service Employee Benefits , Civil Service Careers for further information.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Further information about success profiles with guidance on how to complete your application form is available here - About the application process , Civil Service Careers
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your experience and will be asked to complete:
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A CV. This should include your job history, qualifications, skills and experience.
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A 750-word personal statement: "Referring to the 'Job Description' and 'Person specification' sections of the job advert, please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples."
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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