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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

The selection process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates. 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. 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.

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 25th November 2025. Interview date During December 2025.

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.

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.