About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and drive the UK’s overarching national security and international strategy, in line with the ambition set by the Integrated Review (IR2023). Working at the very centre of the national security community, you will have scope to deliver transformational change in the way government thinks and operates in a contested and volatile global environment. This is an exceptionally wide-ranging and stretching role. You will need to be comfortable engaging across the breadth of issues covered in IR2023, have strong strategy, policy, and delivery skills and demonstrate highly-effective political judgement.

See the following link to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-britain-in-a-competitive-age-the-integrated-review-of-security-defence-development-and-foreign-policy

Given the importance of change leadership to the role, you will also need excellent ‘soft’ skills, including the ability to inspire and coalesce others around a clear vision, to work collaboratively, and to build load- bearing relationships inside and outside government. You will need to build credibility with the most senior interlocutors: a large part of this role is being visible to and having the confidence of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Deputy National Security Advisors (DNSAs) and No10.

You will lead two teams within National Security Strategy Directorate which together span the full cycle of strategy development and implementation. You will need to set direction and empower your teams to deliver high-quality work, but will also need to be able to get into the detail to shape and drive thinking and action on some of the most complex and sensitive issues.

We want our people to thrive in Strategy Unit, and so we are looking for someone who can provide inspiring leadership. You will need to build, develop and maintain high-performing and inclusive teams, and embed a supportive, happy culture across Strategy Unit and NSS.

As well as your leadership within the Strategy Unit senior team, you will be active in the broader leadership of NSS – contributing to one of our corporate change strands, strengthening links across the organisation and role-modelling best practice and positive behaviours in everything you do.

Within NSS, Strategy Directorate is responsible for running the IR strategic cycle: the annual cycle of strategy development and implementation to ensure the UK is able to deliver the ambition set by IR2023. The unit is also responsible for national security strategic communications across government, for NSS corporate strategy and management, and for NSS culture. We are a friendly, supportive and inclusive unit that champions new ways of working and thinking, and is committed to role modelling best practice in both what we do and how we do it.

Job description

The existing postholder co-authored and ran the process for both IR2021 and IR2023, and it is likely that the new postholder will play a central role in delivering any future strategic reviews.

The postholder will lead two teams, which work closely together to develop and deliver the IR strategic cycle:

The Strategy & Implementation Team, which provides the secretariat for the National Security Committee (NSC) and National Security Council (Officials) (NSC(O)), runs the IR delivery and reporting system and leads cross-cutting NSS work, including the NSA’s parliamentary engagement. The team is leading a significant change programme across government to enable successful implementation of IR2023, which the postholder will need to shape and drive. This will involve working extensively across government, understanding the blockers to delivery and securing buy-in to change.

The Strategic Advantage Cell, which was established after IR2021 to maintain strategic thinking and foresight at the centre of government. The team plays an active role in the strategic cycle, running a programme of projects to advance thinking on key strategic questions for the UK – with a particular focus on emerging issues and on the big systemic challenges that were highlighted in IR2023. These projects range widely changing the dynamic of multilateral institutions to maintaining an overview of global power dynamics and the UK’s ability to influence them. The postholder will need to shape and lead the work programme, both empowering the team to deliver projects independently and personally leading thinking on some of the most sensitive and high-profile issues.

Responsibilities:

• Leadership of Strategy Unit and wider NSS, including on culture, diversity and inclusion.
• Develop and lead the Strategic Advantage Cell’s work programme, incubating new thinking on the highest priority issues for the Prime Minister, No10, the NSA and DNSAs, and working through NSC(O) and across government to translate this thinking into tangible impact. Personally lead thinking on the most complex and high-profile topics, and present it to senior fora, including NSC(O).
• Lead an active programme of external engagement, including with academia, think tanks and international partners, and disseminate the best external thinking across the relevant policy communities within government.
• Design and deliver a long-term change programme to enable successful implementation of IR2023, including an effective delivery and reporting system, regular evaluation through NSC(O), annual NSC stocktakes, and a capabilities programme under NSC(O (Capabilities).
• Oversee and strengthen governance of national security and foreign policy decision-making through NSC, its subcommittees and NSC(O), and improve join up between domestic and international policy-making across government.
• Develop and embed new ways of working between NSS, the Joint Data and Analysis Centre and the Joint Intelligence Organisation, with the aim of strengthening the use of all-source data, analysis and assessment across national security and foreign policy. Drive experimentation and innovation – e.g. of new analytical models to support policy-making
• Lead cross-cutting business for NSS, including parliamentary work, reporting against the Cabinet Office Outcome Delivery Plan, election preparation and other ad hoc requirements.
  

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post.

Essential Criteria:

• Inspiring leadership, including the ability to build, motivate and develop high-performing, inclusive and supportive teams and a commitment to playing an active role in motivating the unit to contribute to the corporate life of both Strategy Directorate and broader NSS.
• A track record of working in fast-paced, complex environments, setting direction and delivering effective processes in ambiguous or uncertain contexts, and of role-modelling positive behaviours even when under pressure.
• Experience of developing, implementing & leading strategy and policy across national security and/or international issues and of making links across the domestic and international policy communities, securing support across key stakeholders.
• An ability to lead long-term change across organisations: setting a clear vision and ways of working, translating this into action, and building broad networks of strong relationships that enable you to bring others with you.
• Evidence of understanding potential blockers to delivery, demonstrating effective judgement and decision making skills to build confidence and credibility with the most senior stakeholders.
• A strong ability to build and maintain relationships across a broad range of peers and senior stakeholders; use these to secure support for implementing new policies and influence others outside of departmental/organisational boundaries to drive change

Desirable:

• Experience leading programmes and complex projects through delivery systems across large scale organisations would be beneficial.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, Cabinet Office contributes £20,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55pm, Sunday 7th January 2023.

1.A CV (no longer than 1250 words) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have  provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2.A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

Failure to complete both sections of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

For candidates who need to reference sensitive material/experience and cannot submit their application via the usual online application channel, please contact Jo Warwick (jo.warwick@cabinetoffice.gov.uk) to find out more about submitting an application at an appropriate classification level. Please note you will still be required to submit a short application via CS Jobs with basic details and to note that you will be submitting an offline sensitive application in the CV/Personal Statement section.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do  not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select  'prefer not to say’. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via: 

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Shortlist

Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The timeline later in this advert indicates the date by which decision is expected to be made, and all longlisted and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview, in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. The interview will be a blended interview of both strength and behavioural questions.

You may also have the opportunity to speak to a member of the department or hiring Director to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. If you are required to prepare a presentation for the final interview you will be given the subject in advance.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Advert closing: 23:55pm, Sunday 7th January 2024.

Shortlist: Week commencing 15th January 2024.

Interview: From 25th January 2024.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, which would normally need 10 years’ UK residency in the past 10 years. You will also require further clearances once in-post. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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 at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.