Good Laboratory

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) & Laboratories Inspector – MHRA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is recruiting 3 Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) & Laboratories Inspectors to join its Standards & Compliance Team within the Health Quality and Access group.

This is a Grade 7, permanent, full-time position that can be worked remotely from anywhere in the UK. The role involves occasional travel to MHRA locations in London and South Mimms, Hertfordshire, as well as extensive UK travel and some overseas inspection work.

Salary

• £57,028 per year for new entrants based nationally
• £60,778 per year for new entrants based in London
• Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Staff joining on promotion may receive up to a 10% increase in current basic salary, or the pay-band minimum, whichever is greater

Job Details

• Employer: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• Role: Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) & Laboratories Inspector
• Grade: Grade 7
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, flexible working
• Vacancies: 3
• Location: Remote working, anywhere in the UK
• Reference: 483225
• Closing date: 12 October 2026 at 11:55pm

About the Role

The successful candidates will join the GLP & Laboratories Inspection team and help reduce risks to patients, the public and the environment by inspecting organisations and assessing compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

The role involves planning, conducting and reporting inspections across a range of laboratory and regulatory areas. Depending on technical expertise, this may include inspections involving:

• Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) sample analysis
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) quality-control testing
• Pharmaceutical laboratories and facilities
• Other regulated laboratory environments

Inspectors will also review compliance reports, assess inspection findings, contribute to risk-based inspection programmes and work with other regulatory agencies.

Key Responsibilities

The role will include:

• Organising, conducting and reporting routine and triggered inspections.
• Assessing regulatory compliance at laboratories and other relevant facilities.
• Reviewing compliance reports and identifying risk ratings for inspected sites.
• Participating in joint inspections with other regulatory agencies.
• Working with MHRA teams, external regulators and other stakeholders.
• Providing regulatory advice and participating in meetings, presentations and MHRA events.
• Contributing technical knowledge to inspection strategies.
• Supporting improvements to MHRA services and processes.
• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge relevant to the Inspectorate.
• Working independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Undertaking extensive UK travel and some overseas travel.

Overseas travel is expected to average a maximum of 4–6 trips per year, depending on the technical area.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must have:

• Significant experience in a relevant regulated laboratory discipline.
• Experience that could include working in a GLP test facility, GCP sample analysis laboratory, GMP quality-control laboratory or a similar regulated environment.
• Good verbal and numerical reasoning skills.
• The ability to analyse and interpret written and numerical information.

Qualifications

A degree in a relevant science, medical or engineering discipline is required.

Examples include:

• Pharmacy
• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Medicine
• Engineering

Technical Skills

Applicants should also demonstrate:

• IT literacy, including Microsoft Office skills.
• The ability to produce focused, detailed reports independently.
• The ability to resolve critical issues and deliver effective presentations.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• The ability to analyse issues, make sound decisions and take appropriate action.
• The ability to influence stakeholders and take responsibility for results.
• The ability to work independently as well as effectively within a team.

Civil Service Behaviours

Candidates will be assessed against:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

The application specifically requests evidence for Making Effective Decisions and Communicating and Influencing.

Remote Working

This is a home-based role that can be worked anywhere in the UK.

However, applicants should be aware that the position cannot be worked from overseas. Occasional travel is required to MHRA locations, including 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London and South Mimms, Hertfordshire, as well as inspection travel throughout the UK and some overseas travel.

Benefits

The MHRA/Civil Service package includes:

• 25 days’ annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days with service
• 8 bank holidays
• 1 day of privilege leave
• 37-hour working week for full-time staff
• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
• Flexible working
• Occupational sick pay
• Interest-free season ticket or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services
• Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Staff clubs and other employee benefits
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

Application & Selection Process

The recruitment process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Applicants may be assessed through:

• Online application form
• Behaviour, experience and technical questions
• An anonymised CV
• A 500-word personal statement demonstrating significant relevant regulated-laboratory experience
• Online verbal and numerical reasoning tests
• Technical and scenario interview
• Assessment centre

If there is a high volume of applications, the initial sift will focus on the relevant science/medical/engineering degree and significant experience in a regulated laboratory discipline.

Key Dates

• Closing date: 12 October 2026
• Shortlisting: From 13 October 2026
• Interviews: 26–28 October 2026
• Assessment centre: 26 November 2026

Sponsorship & Eligibility

The advert states that candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements and Civil Service nationality rules.

It does not explicitly state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available for this vacancy, so applicants who require sponsorship should verify their eligibility and immigration position directly with the MHRA before applying.

The role is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals and certain EU/EEA/Swiss, Turkish and other applicants with qualifying UK work rights, subject to the Civil Service nationality rules.

Security & Other Checks

Successful applicants will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks, which may include:

• Basic criminal record/security checks
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks
• Internal Fraud Database checks
• Other role-specific checks

Certain MHRA roles may also require vaccinations or occupational health surveillance depending on the work involved.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official Civil Service Jobs vacancy.

Reference: 483225