Business Relationship Manager
| Posting date: | 27 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £46,060 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 November 2025 |
| Location: | KT15 3LS |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 431044/1 |
Summary
You may not have heard of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), but have you ever:
- eaten meat, eggs, fish or honey
- drunk milk
- owned a pet or animal
- taken antibiotics
If you said yes to any of the above, you are directly affected by what the VMD does.
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 Business Relationship Manager will be responsible for managing and nurturing relationships between the VMD and Defra, plus various Defra ALBs and other government departments. This role requires a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills to ensure effective collaboration and demonstrate VMD’s alignment with Defra/government policies and objectives.
This role will be a key link for VMD with Defra and will directly support senior management with briefings, coordination of deliverables and enquiries.
Do you enjoy building strong relationships and working with a range of people from different disciplines, combining and sharing data to demonstrate delivery and policy positions? Then this could be the role for you.
As the Business Relationship Manager, you will serve as a bridge primarily between the VMD, core-Defra, and its ALBs. You must thrive in dynamic, cross-functional environments. You’ll act as a trusted liaison—ensuring effective collaboration, amplifying VMD’s policy positions, and demonstrating alignment with Defra’s wider delivery agenda.
- Relationship Management: You will be a key point of contact for Defra colleagues. You will develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.
- Strategic Planning: Work with senior management to develop and implement strategies that align with government policies and objectives.
- Advocacy: Represent the VMD in meetings with Defra colleagues, advocating for the organisation's interests and ensuring its voice is heard in delivery and policy discussions.
- Reporting: Prepare and present reports/briefings on VMD delivery activities to senior management, Defra colleagues and other stakeholders.
- Meeting/Event Coordination: Organise and participate in events, meetings, and conferences to represent and promote the VMD’s interests and build relationships with Defra colleagues and government officials.
- Potential line management of a small team.
- Comply with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security) standards, and GDPR and record management requirements.
- Act corporately – meeting, role-modelling, embedding, and championing the corporate objectives set by the VMD.
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