Private Secretary

We are currently looking for a Private Secretary to join our Governance/Executive Office Function within the Enablement Group.

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

This is a full-time opportunity, on an FTC basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.  

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.

We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly. 

Who Are We?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.  

The Private Office sits within the Enablement Group at the MHRA and plays a key role in supporting the Agency’s senior leadership. It works closely with internal governance teams to enable the smooth operation of the Agency by supporting the Board, Executive Committee, and other expert and independent bodies. The team also contributes to corporate governance, risk management, and assurance, ensuring the Agency operates with transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The Private Office plays a central role in supporting the Chief Executive in leading the Agency. It manages high-level correspondence, prepares for meetings, coordinates briefings, and ensures clear and effective communication between the CEO and both internal and external stakeholders. By enabling timely, accurate, and strategically aligned information flow, the Private Office underpins effective leadership and decision-making at the highest level.

As a small, high-performing team, the Private Office also ensures professional, high-quality engagement with key stakeholders including ministers, MPs, industry leaders, and the public. Operating at the heart of the Agency, it is a fast-paced and dynamic environment, responding to shifting priorities and working closely with senior colleagues across the organisation.

What’S The Role?

This role is central to supporting the Chief Executive in leading the Agency effectively, helping to drive strategic priorities and enable high-quality, timely decision-making. Operating at the heart of the Executive Office, the postholder will work closely with senior leaders and governance structures during a pivotal period of organisational transformation. It’s a fast-paced, high-profile role that offers significant autonomy and a unique opportunity to shape the direction of the Agency as it continues its journey as a standalone regulator.

The successful candidate will be highly motivated, solutions-focused, and confident in operating with a high level of independence in a high-profile environment. The role spans a wide range of responsibilities, including proactive engagement with senior officials on corporate management and development, as well as involvement in critical regulatory matters.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the evolution of the Private Office at a time of strategic change, offering strong potential for personal and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide critical support to the CEO, including progressing strategic priorities, delivering on behalf of the CEO, and ensuring high-quality inputs from across the Agency.
• Support key governance committees, such as the Executive Committee and Agency Board, by setting agendas, resolving issues, and ensuring effective decision-making aligned to public health outcomes.
• Lead on specific strategic projects on behalf of the CEO, such as cross-Agency initiatives, conferences, stakeholder engagement, and international collaborations.
• Contribute to the development of governance structures, helping to shape new arrangements that improve accountability and align with the Agency’s new operating model as a standalone regulator.

Our successful candidate will demonstrate the following;

• Strong strategic judgement awareness, with the ability to understand complex organisational dynamics and align work with CEO and Agency priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, incisive, and high-quality advice to senior stakeholders at pace.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset, capable of working with minimal supervision, managing competing priorities, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting senior leadership, ideally within a governance, policy, or regulatory setting, with a confident approach to managing stakeholders and sensitive issues.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, with a willingness to lead process development, introduce new ways of working, and help shape the evolving Executive Office function.

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

Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk 

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. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application. 
• Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.  
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles. 

In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of candidates having experience of working in a Private Office or the office of the CEO/Chair, understanding the importance of effective governance to ensure the Agency can meet its obligations.

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 careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. 

• Closing date: 16th October 2025
• Shortlisting date: from 17th October 2025
• Interview date: from 23rd October 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 careers@mhra.gov.uk 

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.

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 careers@mhra.gov.uk.

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, Florentina.Oyelami@mhra.gov.uk.  

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk 

Info@Csc.Gov.Uk

Civil Service Commission

Room G/8

1 Horse Guards Road 

London

Sw1a 2hq

About Us

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

The agency is made up of c.1300 staff working across two main centres and peripatetically across the UK and abroad.

The agency consists of Corporate, Digital & Technology, Enablement, Healthcare Quality & Access, Partnerships, Safety & Surveillance and Scientific Research & Innovation.