About the job

Job summary

Business Unit Information

The Government Security Function (GSF) oversees the delivery of protective security across Government. Our Mission is to enable the Government to protect citizens and provide vital public services by understanding and managing security risks. We set the strategy and standards for Government Security, monitor departmental security performance, manage pan-government security incidents, support the delivery of key security capabilities and lead the Government Security Profession.

 The Government Security Group (GSG) is the centre of the Security Function, based within the Cabinet Office. GSG is transforming the Government’s approach to protective security to ensure it is fit to meet the challenges of the digital age. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, dynamic team, with a breadth of stakeholders including in other Government departments, the National Technical Authorities and the Agencies, and to contribute to delivering improved security across Government.

Equality and Diversity 

GSG’s culture embraces a diverse workforce: we come from all walks of life. GSG values the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences and ways of working ultimately bring us together as a more effective team. We strive for a collegiate and inclusive working culture that means our voice at every level is heard. Each one of us has a part to play in helping the Government to keep the UK secure.

GSG also wants to do better at recognising that we have responsibilities outside of work – so that we not only work hard, but we work smart – whether that’s full time, part-time or job sharing, we work flexibly. We promote hybrid working with a combination of time spent in the office and at home, where appropriate.

GSG is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We value and welcome diversity. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential on merit. We will not tolerate harassment or other unfair discrimination on grounds of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, religion or sexual orientation. We promote and support the diversity of our workforce, promote learning and development, and celebrate our successes.

Job description

Role information

The Deputy Head Planning and Performance will play a key leadership role in the Government Security Group, the core of the Security Function. The role will report into the Deputy Director responsible for Resourcing and Planning, with the Government Chief Security Officer as the countersigning officer. The role supports the delivery of our Strategic Outcomes and will achieve this through ensuring that GSG has a functional strategy, an integrated annual delivery plan and a credible monitoring and reporting regime.

 You will be responsible for working with senior stakeholders across Government Security Group and the wider function, to deliver an impactful and informative performance reporting regime. The post holder will be a collaborator and communicator, working across boundaries to influence the direction of Government Security. This post provides an opportunity to be highly visible and influence the senior leadership team through the provision of credible analysis and assurance.

 Acting at the centre of Government Security, the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of planning and performance reporting, developing appropriate reports to ensure key decision-makers have good quality information and insight and ensuring adherence to our corporate reporting requirements.

Key areas of responsibility

The post holder will be responsible for:

•  Overseeing strategic planning for Government Security Group, ensuring that actions coherently and effectively deliver direction and outcomes and allow informed decision making.
• Embedding clear accountabilities for delivery, providing clarity on where decisions are to be made and cohering efforts to streamline our performance reporting process.
• Leading the production of the annual Government Security Group integrated plan setting out our priorities and resources for the year.
• Establish systems to effectively monitor delivery of our priorities and lead quarterly reviews of progress with the Senior Management Team and the Government Chief Security Officer.
• Leading all corporate performance reporting into the wider Cabinet Office, including priority projects, risk management and our contribution into the departmental outcome delivery plan.
• Establishing trust and credibility with leaders and practitioners across Government Security to understand our business and ensure alignment across all our performance reporting activity.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience of strategy formulation and performance reporting frameworks.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work across the breadth of stakeholders to build trust, buy-in and understanding of our strategy and performance reporting.
• Proven, demonstrable leadership skills across complex organisational boundaries, with experience of influencing senior stakeholders.
• Ability to proactively, rapidly and effectively respond to changing situations in complex and often high-profile environments.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills to deliver at pace in a highly complex organisational environment.
• A high degree of personal credibility and resilience, along with enthusiasm and a commitment to delivery.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 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 Experience.

Application process

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Leadership.

Selection process

This vacancy uses Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

 For the application process you will be asked to provide the following:

•  a CV
• statement of suitability to the role - "1,000 words showing how you meet the key requirements for the role".

 We'll assess you against these behaviours during the interview process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – [TBC]
Expected interview date/s – [TBC]
Interview location - Virtual

Reasonable Adjustment

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.

Please note that this role requires DV clearance, 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 /Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

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

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.