Chief of Staff to Patient Safety Commissioner

We are currently looking for a Chief of Staff to the independent Patient Safety Commissioner. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key leadership role with extensive autonomy in the Independent Patient Safety Commissioner's office, which is hosted by the MHRA. 

Please note this opportunity is currently only available to those working within the Civil Service. Applications from non-Civil Servants will not be reviewed and will be rejected.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a fixed term contract until September 2028, secondments or loans will be considered. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU and some office attendance will be required in this office and in other locations set by the Commissioner. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.  

Who are we? 

The Office of the Patient Safety Commissioner (OPSC) is an independent Statutory Office, hosted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The Patient Safety Commissioner is accountable to Parliament and appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm, published in July 2020 by Baroness Cumberlege, recommended the establishment of a Patient Safety Commissioner to champion the patient voice and support and encourage the efforts of the healthcare system to improve patient safety around the use of medicines and medical devices. Our purpose is to listen to patients, amplify their voices and drive the system towards the safe use of medicines and medical devices.

What's the role?

We are looking for an exceptional leader who is deeply committed to improving patient safety and has experience working in a large, fast paced matrix environment where priorities often change and there is a significant amount of complexity.

 Key responsibilities: 

• Acting as Chief of Staff to the Patient Safety Commissioner on all aspects of her portfolio, providing constructive challenge to ensure robustness in plans and messaging while providing the Commissioner with oversight of relevant policy and Private Secretary support.

• Embedding the Patient Safety Principles, setting out how the Commissioner should operate but also how the healthcare system should listen to and involve patients.

• Manage a team of 3 people, ensuring the smooth running of corporate services in the OPSC, driving a high performing and supportive culture which develops the team while maintaining high morale.

• Acting as the primary link with DHSC sponsor team and MHRA hosting team, in addition to building and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders across the healthcare system, including DHSC policy, No.10, ministerial and permanent secretary offices, as well as parliamentarians and the private sector.

• Overseeing the implementation and evolution of the OPSC's strategy. Setting and communicating clear priorities, driving their delivery and tracking the effectiveness of the OPSC's actions while managing the unit's budget.

Who are we looking for? 

Our successful candidate will demonstrate the following.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish networks and reciprocal working relationships across Government, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), parliamentarians, patient groups, the wider health network and with the private sector.

• Significant experience of supporting senior leadership, with a focus on delivering strategic priorities and strong strategic judgement.

• Experience of managing and leading a small team to support a senior member of an organisation. Private office experience would be an advantage.

• Excellent communication skills, with a clear written and verbal communication style, with the ability to bring people on board communicating in an open, empathetic way and an ability to connect with audiences of varying degrees of knowledge.

• Experience of managing projects and handling sensitive issues and horizon scanning to identify and monitor any potential problems that may arise and to work with others to try and resolve these early on. Experience of working flexibly and at pace across diverse tasks with changing priorities.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification 

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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. All information that you provide will be anonymised and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your details when reviewing your application. Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.  

• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles. 

• A 5-minute presentation at the beginning of the interview, no slides or visual aids to be used.

In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of candidates demonstrating significant experience of supporting senior leadership, with a focus on delivering strategic priorities and strong strategic judgement.

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  as soon as possible. 

Closing date:  24th November 2025

Shortlisting date: from 25th November 2025

Interview date: during December 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  

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 

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,   

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:  

Civil Service Commission 

Room G/8 

1 Horse Guards Road 

London 

SW1A 2HQ