About the job

Job summary

The National Security Secretariat (NSS) keeps the UK safe, secure and prosperous by bringing together the UK’s national security community, providing high-quality support to the Prime Minister and the National Security Council and maintaining centre-to-centre relationships internationally. Working within the wider Cabinet Secretariat and led by the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser (NSA), we assist the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the development, coordination and implementation of its highest priority objectives.

Our overarching strategy is set out here, which describes the Government’s vision for the UK’s role in the world over the next decade, and the action we will take to 2025.

The NSS value professional and personal development for all of our staff and recognise that a continued focus on learning and development (L&D) will enable us to grow our capability. We are also committed to fostering a culture which welcomes new ideas and fresh perspectives, and supporting diversity and inclusion, including through flexible patterns and ways of working.

We can offer stretching and engaging work to enhance career development and gain highly transferable skills. We expect our staff to rise to new challenges, demonstrating the agility required to respond to urgent and changing events, and to work collaboratively to achieve results both within NSS and across government. A role with the NSS is a real opportunity to impact the lives of our citizens and make a difference every day.

About the Investment Security Unit

The Investment Security Unit leads the Government's screening of acquisitions of or investment into UK companies; assessing the risks investments or the transfer of assets could present to the UK's national security. Newly formed and 2 years into the delivery of the new National Security and Investment Act, the Unit is at the heart of the Government’s response to changes in the global economy and the balance of power, as it coordinates cross-government responses to protect our capabilities and critical national infrastructure.

The Unit is an exciting and diverse place to work, with teams delivering a range of operational, policy, analytical and international activity. We report directly to the Deputy Prime Minister and there is huge interest in this policy area from the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet. We are a welcoming and inclusive team, actively seek a broad range of skills and perspectives to enable working across the breadth of national security, economic and international policy and we strongly encourage applications from individuals from under-represented groups.

Job description

The Risk Identification and Review team is responsible for leading the cross-Whitehall and intelligence community review of the national security implications of individual investments, identifying risks and supporting ministerial decision-making on real-world economic security risks. You will join the team as one of four deputy heads.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

You will be expected to lead and represent your team’s work across the ISU and wider Whitehall, managing a team of SEO and HEOs, who will be responsible for overseeing individual investment security cases. You will be expected to provide guidance and constructive challenge to them to ensure they can deliver, while ensuring you deploy your team effectively to meet priorities and deliver a mix of time-sensitive casework and the development of operational policy.

You will report to the Head of Risk Identification and Review. However, there will be opportunity to support wider work across the ISU. Previous role holders have provided support to the development of new policy such as the development of non-statutory market guidance, international engagement with 5EYES partners or managing judicial reviews.

Advice and Analysis

You will lead a team that is responsible for reviewing whether cases should be called in under the Act for further scrutiny. The post holder, alongside other Grade 7s, will manage the process for high volumes of investment screening under NSI, motivating a diverse team to develop outstanding advice for ministers.

The post-holder will be at the forefront of jurisdictional analysis, risk appraisal and policy development. 

Potential to work flexibly across areas within the directorate, including on stakeholder engagement, monitoring compliance and enforcement work.

Engagement and working with others

You will lead discussions across Whitehall and the intelligence agencies and gather the necessary expertise to review different risks. You will engage directly with businesses, helping them to navigate the regime. You will regularly provide advice to the Secretary of State. .

Oversee operational policy and process

You will ensure your team meets all statutory requirements under the Act including managing their work and that of other departments to meet statutory time frames. You will play a key role in managing the overall NSI regime to ensure that the ISU provides outstanding advice to ministers and a smooth and efficient service for business. You will also support the management of the overall system, by leading continuous improvement work, stakeholder management and governance, where required.

Person specification

Essential:

• The ability to analyse complex information from a range of sources, craft an argument and present it in concise and clear advice. You should be experienced in drafting and verbally briefing ministers in support of decisions.
• Experience of engaging with a range of stakeholders with competing interests. You will need to work with the security, domestic, international and economic policy departments to represent their various positions and enable efficient ministerial decision-making.
• Experience of delivering competing priorities to tight deadlines. You will need to manage the delivery of a portfolio of complex and sometimes contentious advice subject to statutory deadlines.
• Experience of line management. You should be enthusiastic about developing your team and be comfortable doing so in a novel policy area. You should be comfortable leading teams operating at pace and maintaining delivery against competing priorities. 

Desirable:

• Experience of national security and/or economic security policy. However, this is not an essential criteria and applications from individuals with non-national security backgrounds are strongly welcome provided you can meet the essential criteria.
• Experience of Cross-Whitehall working and collaboration. The ability to coordinate cross-Whitehall positions and bring departments with you.
• Experience of operational policy. We'll need you to deliver novel policy advice with a focus on delivery under time constraints.

You will be expected to undertake Developed Vetting in this role and undergo further clearances. Existing Developed Vetting status is desirable but not essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,800, Cabinet Office contributes £15,876 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 and Strengths.

Selection process details

You will be assessed on Behaviours at application stage and you will be required to complete 250-word behaviour statements on the listed behaviours.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 8th January 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 15th January 2024
Interview location - TBC

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 via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (SC). You will be expected to undertake Developed Vetting clearance in this role, which would normally need 10 years’ UK residency in the past 10 years. 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

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.

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 security check (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.